Financial Resources and Other Assistance
Chaplain’s Fund
The Chaplain’s Fund has existed since 1992 to issue one-time grants to employees who are facing unforeseen financial emergencies. Funds are issued to the employee’s creditors/vendors directly, rather than to the employee.
The Chaplain’s Fund is a benefit available to regular, benefits-eligible, part-time and full-time employees with a minimum of one year of service. The maximum grant available is $1,200.
Apply
To apply for assistance from the Chaplain’s Fund, please fill out the application form below and contact the Scott Center for Spiritual and Religious Life at (802) 443-5626 or email Ellen McKay Jewett at emckay@middlebury.edu .
The Chaplain’s Fund was recently strengthened by a generous gift from the Class of 2019/2019.5, and by Student Government Association funds that were unspent during Middlebury’s shift to remote education due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Please note that grant assistance through the Chaplain’s Fund is considered taxable income and as such will be recorded as imputed employee income to ensure federal, state, Medicare and social security taxation.
Income Advance Loan
Middlebury has partnered with NorthCountry Federal Credit Union to provide employees with guaranteed access to up to $1,500. The loan allows you to get your money fast. The loan is repaid through bi-weekly payroll deductions.
The program has helped many with reducing stress, improving credit scores and increase savings. When the loan is repaid, you have the option to end your payroll deduction or let it continue and have the funds redirected to your savings account and build a financial buffer for future emergencies.
Eligibility:
- Current employment of at least 6 months
- Valid photo ID
- Repayment option of payroll deduction/direct deposit
Details:
- Payback term: 12 months
- Maximum loan: $1,500
- 16.99% fixed APR*
*rates and fees subject to change.
Apply:
Complete the North Country Loan Application
A colleague in HR will review and send directly to NorthCountry Federal Credit Union.
Contact Cathy Vincent in Human Resources at (802) 443-5624 or email vincent@middlebury.edu if you have questions.
TIAA Voluntary Retirement Plan Loan
If you are an active employee of the College and have chosen to contribute to the voluntary plan, you may request a loan by contacting TIAA directly at https://www.tiaa.org/public/tcm/middleburycollege or (800) 842-2252.
A Plan loan is limited generally to an amount which is at least $1,000, but does not exceed the lesser of (a) $50,000, reduced by the excess, if any, of the highest outstanding balance of loans to you from the Plan during the one-year period prior to the date of the loan, over the current outstanding balance of loans, or (b) 45% of your Plan account balance that is attributable to your own contributions.
TIAA will determine the applicable loan interest rate based on published corporate bond yields at
the time of the loan. The loan interest rate may change, depending upon changes in the corporate bond yield rate during the term of the loan. Loans must be repaid in at least quarterly installments over a period of five years or less. As an exception, if the purpose of the loan is for acquiring your principal residence, the maximum repayment period is 10 years.
Medical Leave Assistance Fund
Employees have the opportunity to save accrued time as Sick Leave Reserve (SLR) in anticipation of the unexpected emergency.
However, catastrophic illness is an event for which we are generally unable to plan. There are times when available Combined Time Off (CTO) and SLR are exhausted before an employee is able to return to work.
At such times, if the employee meets the prerequisites, he/she may apply to the Medical Leave Assistance Fund for up to 160 hours of paid sick leave reserve within a 12-month period.
Application Prerequisites
- The employee must be employed at Middlebury for six months.
- The employee must be benefits eligible.
- Prior to application to the fund, the employee must have exhausted his/her CTO and SLR.
- During the time away from work, the employee must not be receiving any disability benefits, or other type of Middlebury-related payments.
- The employee must have received no warnings or reprimands during the year prior to the request to the Medical Leave Assistance Fund.
My Secure Advantage
My Secure Advantage offers free access to a professional, personal, unbiased, and confidential Money Coach and other financial education tools. It is a program that supports financial wellness. To activate your MSA benefit, call (888) 724-2326 between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. PST or 9 a.m. and 11 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday.
Counseling
Middlebury’s Employee and Family Assistance Program, through InvestEAP, provides confidential counseling and referral services to reduce stress, including financial stress. To access their comprehensive resources, use the user name Middlebury College and password midd or call (866) 660-9533. Available 24/7.
State Resources
Vermont 2-1-1 is a simple number to dial for information about health and human service organizations in your community. Callers speak with a real person every time for confidential telephone assistance available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.