Travel Benefit

If you are an active member in good standing and have been referred through the International Job Bank, you may be eligible for a Travel Benefit through SASMI. This benefit can pay you up to $1,800 if you need to travel for work because you are unemployed or threatened with unemployment in your home local union’s jurisdiction. Non-SASMI members and newly organized members immediately qualify when dispatched to a SASMI-contract area.

Benefit Amount

The amount you’ll receive depends on the number of days you work at the job you’ve traveled. The benefit consists of a maximum of three payments:

1. $600 after the local you’ve traveled to certifies that you’ve established yourself on the project.
2. $600 when the local where the job you travel to certifies that you remained on the project for 2 weeks (14 calendar days) after getting established on the project.
3. $600 when the local where the job you travel to certifies that you remained on the project for an additional two weeks (a total of 28 calendar days).

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible to receive the Travel Benefit:

• You need to be available for work in your Home Local Union.
• You need to be dispatched to a job call that was posted on the International Job Bank.
• For intra-local travel, the travel needs to be outside the contract area where you would be listed on an out-of-work list.
• You must be threatened with unemployment in your home local area.

If you travel for a job prior to an International Job Bank posting, SASMI will look back up to 30 days to confirm you qualify for the benefit.

What You Need to Do

First, visit your home local to be dispatched.

• Visit the SMART Incentive Portal to complete the SASMI Travel Application form. Complete the entire Section A.
• Don’t forget to electronically sign and date the application. The submitted form will automatically be sent to your home local.
• Complete the SASMI Travel Benefit Direct Deposit Authorization Form via the member portal and attach proof of account ownership (image, pdf, etc.).
• Don’t forget to electronically sign and date the application. This form will only need to be completed one time when you initially travel, to allow SASMI to electronically deposit the Travel Benefit into your account.
• The submitted form will automatically be sent to SASMI for review. Please note that proof of account ownership must be provided (voided check, deposit slip). If you change your bank account information, you will need to complete the form again and provide us a new voided check or deposit slip.

If Your Claim for the Travel Benefit Is Denied

If your request for the Travel Benefit is denied, it may be because:

• You were not dispatched to a job call that was posted on the International Job Bank,
• You were not threatened with unemployment in your home local area,
• You did not fully and accurately complete an application and a Direct Deposit Authorization form including proof of account ownership,
• You traveled less than 100 miles for the job, or
• The job was not guaranteed for 30 days.