Questions and Answers

1) What does H.O.O.P. stand for?
H.O.O.P. is an acronym for Helping our Own People. This program is focused on helping all permanent employees of Bell Aliant as well as our Bell Aliant Pioneer members who are retired. This program is also intended to help with dependant family members.

2) What types of things does H.O.O.P. cover?
H.O.O.P. is intended to assist our Bell Aliant Pioneer members and Bell Aliant permanent employees and dependant family members in time of need. H.O.O.P. isn’t intended to replace existing health care benefits, but to help fill a void for employees in need of assistance. Requests of a medical nature will take precedence.

3) Who can apply?
All Bell Aliant permanent employees (this includes part-time permanent employees) from Bell Aliant and all Bell Aliant Pioneer Members. You cannot apply on behalf of someone outside of your dependent family.

4) Do I have to be a Pioneer to apply for funding?

Employees:
You do not have to be a employee member to apply for funding, however a portion of the annual Pioneer dues from our employee members is used to sustain this project. If you are not a Pioneer, please consider joining. Information about the Bell Aliant Pioneer Volunteers can be found here.
Access our online membership form.

Retirees:
If you are a retiree, you must be an Bell Aliant Pioneer Life member in order to apply for funding.

5) How can I apply?
You can apply on-line by clicking on the on-line application form located at www.bellaliantpioneers.com/hoop or you can print the application and mail to the address on the printed form.

6) Can I only apply for medical assistance?
Medical assistance will take precedence on all requests. Personal debt load requests will not be considered.

7) Can I apply if my requirement is covered through my own insurance?
The H.O.O.P. program isn’t intended to replace existing health care benefits. The intention of H.O.O.P. is to help individuals who may not be able to claim certain medical expenses.
For example, if extensive travel is required for medical or special needs treatment, the travel expenses may not be covered under your existing medical or provincial health care plan. It is this additional expense that H.O.O.P. may provide some assistance for.

8) How much money can I apply for?
The Bell Aliant Pioneer Volunteers have allotted up to $2,000 per individual family for each 12-month period. Funding for the same personal need will only be allocated once.

9) What documents do I need to provide with the application?
Please provide all necessary documents or references that you feel would be necessary for our H.O.O.P. Allocations Committee to make a decision. It would be helpful to indicate how much is covered by existing plans – and how much you are in need of from H.O.O.P.

10) How long does it take to get the money?
The H.O.O.P. allocations committee will meet after receiving each application. The more information you can supply, the faster the turn around is expected to be. Please indicate when funding is needed. Decisions can take up to 90 days, although there may be some delays, it is our intention to have the approved funding provided as soon as possible.

11) If I apply for funding, will my application be confidential?
Yes, we will respect the privacy of all applicants. The only people who will know about the application will be the allocations committee, and based on our constitution, we will keep the identity of all applicants confidential. We will only publish the number of people that we are able to help.

12) How is H.O.O.P. being financed?
H.O.O.P. is being initially funded by a very generous donation from the Bell Aliant Pioneer Volunteers. During our recent computer sale, the Bell Aliant Pioneer Volunteers have earmarked $100,000 to establish this program. In addition to this funding Bell Aliant has contributed $25,000. As well, a portion of the dues gathered from our Bell Aliant Pioneer members is directed to this program.

13) What is the role of the Allocations committee?
This committee is comprised of Bell Aliant Pioneer members who will review all applications for funding. The names of this inter-provincial team will remain anonymous.

14) Can I apply on behalf of another employee or retiree?
This program is a confidential program and intended to assist employees and their dependant families. Only direct requests from the employee or employees on behalf of the dependants will be accepted.