Benefits
The Following Article and Sub articles shall apply for all Members
ARTICLE IV. BENEFITS
4.1. RIGHTS OF A MEMBER
1. A member has the right to attend and participate in General Assembly meetings, to give his opinions, and to elect officers as well as to be elected to the offices of The Afooshaa.
2. A member shall have one vote directly or by proxy.
3. A member can at any time and for any reason discontinue his/her membership. A member who discontinues his/her membership has no right to claim a refund of membership contributions, registration fees, and any other contributions.
4. If a member is suffering serious disability or illness and cannot pay the membership contributions, he/she may request a waiver from membership contributions. All requests must be made in writing and providing legal evidence to The Afooshaa Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall grant the waiver by a majority vote for a maximum period of 3 (three) months. If the disability or illness lasts longer than 3 months, the Executive Committee shall present the case to the General Assembly for alternative solutions.
4.2. FINANCIAL BENEFITS
1. If a member, his/her spouse, or a legal/biological child under 18 residing in the Canada, dies, The Afooshaa shall provide, in the hand of a nominated representative, $500 (Five Hundred Dollars) to cover burial costs.
2. If a dependent under 18 residing outside the Canada dies, he/she shall be treated as “Bossissu” and the primary member would be entitled to the corresponding benefits.
3. If a member’s and/or spouse’s registered relative, as defined in 3.2.3, dies, irrespective of their place of domicile, the case shall be treated as “Bossisuu” and shall be accorded the benefit prescribed for the latter.
4. In the case of “Bossisuu”, The Afooshaa shall arrange for the supply of food and beverages, one time during the first week at the family residence where bereavement takes place. The total expense for this shall not exceed $400.00 (Four Hundred Dollars). A member shall receive no other financial benefit associated with “Bossisuu”.
4.3. SOCIAL SUPPORT BENEFITS
1. The Executive Committee shall designate 5 members each day, which will provide company to the family of the deceased for the first three days.
2. All members shall attend the local burial ceremony.
3. All members shall visit the family of the deceased at least once during the first week of bereavement, both for the death of a family member/dependent as well as the death of a relative, as defined under 3.2.3 above.
4. The Afooshaa does not directly assume responsibility for arranging funeral home, Mosque ceremonies, burial place or handling burial operations. It only assists close relatives and members of the bereaved who perform these duties
4.4. WAITING PERIOD TO RECEIVE FINANCIAL BENEFITS
1. The waiting period before a member is eligible to receive the financial benefit specified in 4.2 above is 6 (six) months from the day an applicant becomes a member of Afooshaa. During the said waiting period, a member and qualified dependents (under the age of 18) shall not be eligible for financial assistance for burial services. However, all social support benefits shall be provided as stipulated in this bylaw.
2. A waiting period for reinstatement shall be 6 (six) months. In the first three months, there will be no benefit; the second three months will have a 50% benefit.
4,5. GENERAL LIMITATIONS ON FINANCIAL BENEFITS
1. In the unfortunate event involving multiple deaths from the same family due to an accident or incident, The Afooshaa shall pay a single benefit per primary member.
2. In the event that The Afooshaa cannot pay out benefits from its own treasury due to a large number of deaths in any given year, members shall make voluntary contributions towards covering burial costs.