Paid Up For Life Membership - PUFL

Paid Up For Life Membership Application
Time Payment Plan
Rate Chart

Each summer, when American Legion posts receive their membership cards for the coming year, there will be an increasing number of Legionnaires whose dues are already paid for the coming year and for every year thereafter as long as they live. They are Legionnaires who've voluntarily chosen to become Paid-Up-For-Life members under the National plan.

Most Buy At Dues-Paying Time

The average Legionnaire is most likely to decide to become a Paid-Up-For-Life member at the time when dues are usually paid for the coming year. Post commanders, adjutants, and membership workers are asked to make sure their members know that with one payment they can take care of dues for all future years.

PUFL is Not A Discount Membership

The National Constitution & By-Laws of The American Legion is very clear that "there shall be no form or class of membership except an active membership, and dues shall be paid annually or for life." Everyone must pay their fair share to support the organization. The National Paid-Up-For-Life plan was established for convenience only, giving members an alternative to paying dues on an annual basis.

Post Receives Dues Portion Annually

That part of the total dues now being retained by the Post will be returned every year for all Paid-Up-For-Life members. Many posts are purchasing Paid-Up-For-Life memberships for their long-time members, and in calculating the cost to remit, they may leave out their share of the dues...this will reduce the amount to submit with the application.

Must Be In Good Standing

The member must be in good standing to become a Paid-Up-For-Life member...to be in good standing, he/she must have a valid membership card for the current year. The post adjutant must certify that member's good standing before forwarding the application.

Application Process

The applications for Paid-Up-For-Life membership must be completed and submitted to the post adjutant or finance officer for verification/certification. The member completes the application and turns it over to the post along with the appropriate payment, the same as if paying annual dues. The post will review and endorse the application, forward it to the department headquarters, and from there it is sent to national for final processing.

The PUFL application form can be downloaded in PDF format, or obtained from your post, department headquarters or national headquarters.

Membership Card

Each Paid-Up-For-Life member receives a permanent plastic card, as well as an annual paper membership card, directly from national, to verify continuing membership in The American Legion. The annual card will be mailed in June or July of each year. Upon request, a replacement card can be provided at no charge to the member.

Cost

The cost of a Paid-Up-For-Life membership is based on two factors - the member's age at the time of application and the current annual dues of the post. The total dues of the post include the department and national per capita, plus dues retained by the post. Click here to check the Paid-Up-For-Life Membership Rate Chart. Once the PUFL application is approved and processed at national headquarters, the PUFL fee is non-refundable.

The Department of Kansas does not participate in the national plan, since it sponsors its own life membership program for its members. For more information about the Kansas life membership program, the members and posts can contact their department headquarters.

Members of The American Legion may use the Time Payment Plan to purchase a PUFL membership through national headquarters. The member must make monthly payments, and the total membership fee is to be paid in full within 12 months. No interest or service charge is added to the fee. A minimum payment of 10 percent must accompany the application, and the member will be sent payment coupons to remit monthly to national headquarters.

For more information on the Paid-up-for-Life Membership Plan:
See your post adjutant or finance officer or contact national.