We now have a generation of police officers who were CLEAT members from the day they started working as a police officer until the day they retired.
They always enjoyed the protection of the CLEAT Legal Plan and at the request of Retired Officers who wanted CLEAT Legal Protection once they retired, CLEAT created the CLEAT Retiree Association (CRA). And while it does offer the great legal protection so many retirees had as active officers, it also has many benefits for those who no longer carry. The Legal Plan for Retirees does not cover Line of Duty so if you have gone back to work as an officer, to get the legal coverage you will need to join Cleat to get full coverage.
The cost $14.50 per month or pay by the year ($150.00) and save $24.00.
Who Can Join the CRA?
The CLEAT Retiree Association (CRA) is available to all Honorably Retired Texas Peace Officers as well as all Retired Law Enforcement Civilians whose job assignment required a TCOLE (formerly TCLEOSE) license. While any can join, the coverage is limited to Texas due to the fact all CLEAT attorneys are licensed in Texas.
Legal consultation and coverage
If you are legally carrying a weapon you get the same coverage CLEAT has provided to officers for years. The coverage is limited to Texas and you get both criminal and, if not covered by your homeowner’s policy, civil coverage as well. If you carry, don’t risk everything you have worked for all these years. Be sure to get covered in the event you have to use your weapon. This does not cover line of duty so if you went back to work as an officer, you will need to join CLEAT for the full coverage.
$1,000.00 in Life Insurance!
Most you see life insurance advertised on TV and it comes with a one or two year waiting period and the cost would probably be more than the $12.50 a month you can get CRA membership for, if you pay by the year, and with the CRA the $1,000.00 death benefit comes with membership.
This is NOT an accidental death policy, it is simply a $1,000.00 benefit paid out when a member dies. If you are looking for value for your dollar, as many are now days, at $14.50 per month you would have to pay CRA dues for over 5 ½ years to have paid in the $1,000.00. Pay by the year which is $12.50 a month and it bumps it up to 6 ½ years.
Dental and Vision Coverage Available
You are also eligible for Dental and Vision coverage through CLEAT at a discounted cost.
Free preparation, execution and probate of wills for member and spouse by CLEAT Attorneys.
If you want to check out what a great deal this is, call around and find out what an attorney will charge you for a Will and/or a Will Probate. You can get simple Wills free all over the Web but to get a detailed Will it normally involves an attorney. And it is hard to get a Will Probated without an attorney.
Legislative representation at the Capitol protecting your pension and retirement benefits.
CLEAT has been there for years fighting for police officers and they have a great track record. We all know we are facing more and more legislation aimed at our retirement systems and benefits and the Retirees being organized statewide can only help with this fight. Having CLEAT there to lead the fight is a benefit you can’t really put a price on, but it is included in the membership.
So even if you have not yet joined the CRA you can still help protect our retirement systems and get on the CRA e-mail list. It is simple and free, just send a message to Randy Malone (Retired Austin PD) at randy@randymalone.com. Let him know what department you retired from and let him know you want to be added to the e-mail listings for retired officers. If you are a CRA member and you sent in your e-mail address with your application, you should already be listed.
Your assistance is Needed!
We have found that many Retirement Systems will not provide us with even a list of the names of the retired officers from departments they represent which makes getting the word out about this new CLEAT group, very hard to do.
If you use e-mail you probably have e-mail contact or Facebook contact with officers you worked with, some active, others retired. Please forward this information on to them all, the actives need to know about the CRA too, so when they retire they can walk out the door armed not only with their weapon but with CLEAT Legal protection.
To join the CRA or to get more information go to: www.cleat.org/retiree-association
If you do not have an e-mail address or access to the internet, contact Randy Malone (512-658-0692) and we can get an application to you!
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