GraduateTeaching Assistant Benefit Orientation

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• Graduate/Teaching AssistantBenefit Orientation
• 2008-2009 Academic Year

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• Office of Human Resources
• Management
• UAB 300
• 437-4729
• http//hr.albany.edu

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Orientation Summary

• Paychecks
• Union Dues
• Attendance Reporting/Sick Leave
• Employee Assistance Program
• Flex Spending Account
• Retirement
• Tax Deferred Savings Plans
• Health Benefits

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Paychecks

• Paid biweekly on Wednesday
• Checks and/or Direct Deposit Advice delivered to
  department
• Review check stub for home address, deductions,
  taxes, year-to-date totals, etc.

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Lag Payroll

• Payroll period starts on Thursday, ends two weeks
  later on Wednesday
• Paychecks arrive two weeks after the end of a
  payroll period
• Lag payroll means you have a check coming after
  you leave payroll
• It is critical that you notify HR of address
  changes

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When Do I Get Paid?

• All GA/TA appointments begin on August 21, 2008
• End of payroll period is September 6
• First check arrives two weeks later on September
  17, 2008
• You must sign for your first paycheck (ask your
  department for details)

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When Does My Appointment End?

• Fall semester appointments end on January 7, 2009
• Last check issued on January 21
• Academic year appointments end on May 27, 2009
• Last check issued June 10

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Union Dues

• Graduate Student Employee Union (GSEU)
• 2 of base salary
• Membership is not required
• Will pay the same amount in agency fee if you do
  not join
• Membership provides ability to vote on elections
  and contracts other benefits
• GSEU will send information

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Attendance Reporting

• Attendance Report sent to department each
  semester
• Must certify presence and record any absences
  each semester

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Sick Leave

• Eligible after one semester of service
• Up to 5 days per year (July 1-June 30) with
  approval
• Sick leave may be granted in units of ¼ day or
  greater
• May be used for illness or death in family

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Employee Assistance Program

• On-Campus confidential assessment and referral
  services on personal and work-related issues
• Self-enhancement/wellness programs
• Book, video, tape, DVD library
• Watch for newsletters announcing upcoming
  programs

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Flex Spending Account

• Dependent Care Advantage Account
• Contribute up to 5,000 in pre-tax dollars
• Day care expenses
• children under 13
• disabled children of any age
• dependent adults living in your home
• Carefully estimate expenses -- use it or lose it

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Flex Spending Account

• Information and enrollment kit is on the Flex
  Spending Account web site
• Enroll within 60 days of appointment for 2009 tax
  year (by October 20, 2008)
• 2009 tax year open enrollment period is September
  22 to November 14, 2008
• To enroll www.flexspend.state.ny.us or
  1/800/358-7202

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Retirement Plan

• ERS

NYS Employees Retirement System www.osc.state.ny.u
s/retire
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Retirement Plan

• Enrollment is voluntary
• May apply at any time
• Date of membership is date of application
• Membership is permanent once enrolled
• Contact HR if you are already a member so your
  service can be credited.

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Employees Retirement System

• Defined Benefit Plan
• Guaranteed benefit based on formula
• At least 5 but fewer than 20 years of service
  final average salary (average of highest 3 years)
  x years of service x 1.66
• 20-30 years of service final average salary x
  years of service x 2
• 30 years of service additional 1.5 for each
  year above 30 years

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Employees Retirement System

• Retire with full benefits at age 62 or at age 55
  with 30 years of service
• Retirement possible at age 55 with fewer than 30
  years of service with a reduction in benefits for
  each year under age 62.

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Employees Retirement System

• Vested after 5 years (guaranteed to a benefit at
  retirement according to formula)
• Employee contributes 3 of salary for first 10
  years of membership
• May withdraw membership and receive a refund of
  contributions plus interest if you leave with
  fewer than ten years of service
• Loans of up to 75 of employee contributions

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Retirement Plan

• Other features
• Portable only within NYS public employment
• Disability retirement ordinary disability and
  accidental disability retirement benefits
• Death benefit up to 3 x salary (1x salary for
  each year of service up to three years max)
• Accidental death benefit 50 of last years
  salary paid annually to surviving dependents as
  defined by law

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• Contact Information
• Diane Reed, 437- 4729 or dreed_at_uamail.albany.edu

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Tax-Deferred Savings

• Participation is optional
• Stop/start any time
• You direct investments
• Available Options
• TIAA-CREF
• NYS Deferred Compensation (NYSDCP)

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Tax-Deferred Savings

• TIAA-CREF
• 403(b) plan
• Tax-Deferred Annuity or Group Supplemental
  Retirement Annuity
• May contribute up to 15,500 in 2008
• Contact Diane Reed, 437-4729 or
  dreed_at_uamail.albany.edu, for additional
  information and enrollment material

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Tax-Deferred Savings

• NYS Deferred Compensation
• 457(b) plan
• Available in all NYS agencies/local governments
• May contribute up to 15,500 in 2008
• Contact Diane Reed, 437-4729 or
  dreed_at_uamail.albany.edu for additional
  information and enrollment material or
• Visit www.nysdcp.com

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NYS Health Insurance Program (NYSHIP)

• Administered state-wide by NYS Department of
  Civil Service
• Campus Administrator Office of Human Resources
  Management
• UAB 300
• 437-4729

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NYSHIP Student Employee Health Plan (SEHP)

• Eligibility
• half assistantship
• 4,122 annual stipend (2,061/semester)
• Benefit information is mailed in c/o department
  as soon as we receive appointment forms
• Must enroll within 45 days after date of
  appointment (by October 5, 2008)

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SEHP

• F-1 International Students
• You are required to enroll in SEHP (not the
  International Students Scholars Insurance Plan)
• We will notify Student Accounts and International
  Education of your eligibility as soon as we
  receive your enrollment form the International
  Insurance fee will be removed from your bill

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SEHP

• F-1 International Students
• You are still required to pay the medical
  evacuation/repatriation fee
• Request a refund of the International Insurance
  fee if you have already paid it
• Coverage is effective on date of appointment
  regardless of date of application

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SEHP

• J-1 International Students
• You are not eligible for SEHP
• You will be enrolled automatically in the
  International Students and Scholars Insurance
  Plan
• We will notify Student Accounts of your
  eligibility for a 90 employer contribution
  toward your premium

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SEHP

• J-1 International Students
• You are also eligible for a contribution of up to
  75 toward the additional cost of dependent
  coverage
• pay only the medical evacuation/ repatriation fee
  and 10 of the mandatory insurance fee
• You will receive a refund if you already paid the
  full cost of mandatory insurance

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SEHP

• Domestic Student/Permanent Resident
• Enrollment in SEHP is optional
• Enrollment in student accident/sickness plan is
  also an option (no employer contribution toward
  this plan)
• May request cancellation and refund from Student
  Accounts if you already purchased optional
  student insurance and prefer to enroll in SEHP
  (cancellation deadline applies contact
  University Health Center)

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SEHP Coverage

• Individual or Family
• Eligible Dependents
• Spouse or Domestic Partner (separate paperwork
  required for domestic partner contact HR for
  information)
• Children (natural, adopted, stepchildren)
• Other Children (statement of dependence required)
• Unmarried children covered to age 19

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SEHP How to Enroll

• Review NYSHIP SEHP Benefit Summary
• Read Pre-Tax Contribution Program Fact Sheet
• Complete and sign Health Insurance Transaction
  Form (PS404G)
• Return form to HR, UAB 300, on or before October
  5

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SEHP How to Enroll

• Provide the following proofs
• Copy of birth certificate or passport for self
  and all enrolled dependents
• Copy of Social Security card for self and all
  enrolled dependents
• Copy of marriage certificate if enrolling a spouse

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SEHP Effective Dates for New Enrollments

• If you apply
• Prior to or on date of appointment
• coverage begins on date of appointment
• After date of appointment but before deadline
  coverage begins on date application is received
  in Human Resources
• After deadline
• coverage begins 30 days after date application
  is received in Human Resources

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SEHP Summer Enrollment

• Coverage continues over the summer if you are
  expected to return to an eligible appointment in
  the fall
• Verification from department is required
• HR will contact enrollees with details
• Extra deductions are taken from the last 3 checks
  in spring

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SEHP Re-enrollment

• You must re-enroll if
• You were enrolled with Research Foundation and
  funding was changed to State
• Your coverage with SUNY SEHP lapsed over the
  summer
• You currently have SEHP coverage under COBRA and
  need to change back to active coverage

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SEHP Ending Dates

• Fall semester appointments
• Last day of coverage is February 14, 2009
• Academic year or spring semester appointments
• Last day of coverage is June 24, 2009

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Health Insurance Premiums

• Biweekly Cost
• 5.44 individual 46.25 family
• Rates change every January
• Premiums paid up front
• Example deduction from check dated September 17
  pays for coverage from September 18-October 1
• Arrears taken, if necessary, for coverage prior
  to first deduction
• 7-day rule if you have coverage for 7 days of a
  payroll period, you owe a premium

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Health Insurance Premiums

• Pre-Tax Contribution Program
• SEHP premiums are paid before taxes are computed
• Cannot cancel or lower level of coverage
  arbitrarily
• Tax change period in November
• can change between pre- and post-tax
• can cancel or lower level of coverage arbitrarily
• change is effective beginning of next year

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SEHP Health Benefits

• For health benefits information,
• visit www.cs.state.ny.us/ebd/epgseu/hb.cfm

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University Health Center

• University Health Center is NOT a participating
  provider in SEHP
• Two ways to receive medical care
• as a student (through the Health Center)
• as an employee (through SEHP)

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Dental and Vision Benefits

• For dental and vision benefits information, visit
  www.cs.state.ny.us/ebd/epgseu/ob.cfm

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Insurance ID Cards

• ID Card(s) mailed to home address
• one health insurance card for each family member
• separate from dental ID card
• Keep HR informed of address changes

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Questions

• Contact Human Resources
• UAB 300
• 437-4729
• http//hr.albany.edu