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
• 437-4727
• 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 January 8th, 2009
• End of payroll period is January 21st, 2009
• First check arrives two weeks later on February
  4th, 2009

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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 16,500 in 2009
• 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 16,500 in 2009
• 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
• 437-4727

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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 February 20th, 2009)

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SEHP

• F-1and J-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 appointment form from your
  department the International Insurance fee will
  be removed from your bill

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SEHP

• F-1and J-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
• You are also eligible for a contribution of up to
  75 toward the additional cost of dependent
  coverage
• Coverage is effective on date of appointment
  regardless of date of application

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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 February
  20th, 2009

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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 4, 2009
• Academic year or spring semester appointments
• Last day of coverage is June 24, 2009

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Health Insurance Premiums

• Biweekly Cost
• 5.74 individual 51.73 family- (Reflects new
  rates for 2009)
• Rates change every January
• Premiums paid up front
• Example deduction from check dated February
  4th, 2009 pays for coverage from February 5th ,
  2009 through February 18th , 2009
• 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
• 437-4727
• http//hr.albany.edu