The Senate Benefits and Welfare committee wants to make sure Pitt employees know about the services available to them. While the questions in Ask Benefits and Welfare are made up (for now), the answers are definitely real and filled with useful information. If you have your own questions, send them to utimes@pitt.edu and we’ll forward them to the committee. Note that this monthly column is not produced or approved by the Office of Human Resources; it is entirely the responsibility of the Senate Benefits and Welfare committee.
Dear Benefits and Welfare Committee:
I’m drowning. No, I’m sinking. I don’t know what phrase I’m supposed to say. Maybe I’m in hot water. The point is, I’m in over my head. I don’t earn a fortune working at Pitt and during the months of working from home during COVID, I started buying a lot of stuff online. And, ever since then, everything has just gotten more and more expensive. I can’t pay my bills. My ear has been sore and slushy all week, but I can’t go to the doctor because of the co-payment. I haven’t been to the dentist since before the quarantine for the same reason — I can’t afford it. I’ve tried getting an evening or weekend job, but nobody will hire me for the few hours that I am available while working here full time. What can I do?
Sincerely,
Broke in Brookline
Dear Broke:
Get that ear checked! Do you hear me? Get that ear checked! You can schedule a free appointment at the UPMC MyHealth@Work Center on the Oakland campus. If they prescribe something or you need a medical procedure, there will be a copayment, but these are worthwhile and minimal expenses.
And get your teeth checked too, checked and cleaned. The Pitt Dental School has a whole assortment of clinics for cleaning teeth and treating dental problems. If you truly can’t scrape together the money even for these relatively not expensive dental services and if your teeth feel OK, at least watch for the dental students’ ads for free dental services at the end of the school year.
As for the debt situation, our great benefits package at Pitt includes free finance and debt management coaching with GreenPath which will help you keep your head above water. In fact, if your debt situation is really problematic and you need a bridge over troubled waters, they will advocate for you through a debt management plan. There is a small monthly fee if you have a debt management plan, but it will be more than offset by the creditor fees, interest and hassles that the plan saves you. Land ho, dear Brookline friend! The shore is in sight!
Truly yours,
The Benefits and Welfare Committee