Category: Payroll & Benefits

Live Webinars Scheduled for August

ETF is offering a series of 30-minute, live, interactive webinars designed to increase your understanding of Wisconsin Retirement System benefits. Individuals can also ask questions at the end of these sessions.

Retirement Benefit Calculation Methods This webinar will explain the methods used for benefit calculations and the components of each method. Anyone who has requested or is planning to request an estimate will have a better understanding of how that amount was calculated. Individuals will have the opportunity to ask questions on this topic, at the end of the session.

• Wednesday Aug 05, 2015 12:00 – 12:30 p.m.
• Tuesday Aug 11, 2015 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
• Wednesday Aug 19, 2015 6:00 – 6:30 p.m.
• Thursday Aug 27, 2015 11:00 – 11:30 a.m.

Additional Contributions Find out how making additional contributions to your WRS account can potentially increase your retirement. This webinar also provides examples of how contributions grow over time with interest, how to pay additional contributions (payroll deduction or direct pay), etc.

• Thursday Aug 06, 2015 12:00 – 12:30 p.m.
• Friday Aug 14, 2015 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
• Tuesday Aug 18, 2015 12:30 – 1:00 p.m.

How a Divorce Affects Your WRS Benefits (retired members and alternate payees) This webinar explains how a divorce affects a retired member’s WRS benefits, including what happens when the WRS annuity is split by a qualified domestic relations order, benefit rights of alternate payees, and more.

• Wednesday Aug 12, 2015 12:00 – 12:30 p.m.
• Tuesday Aug 18, 2015 11:00 – 11:30 a.m.

How a Divorce Affects Your WRS Benefits (non-retired members and alternate payees) This webinar explains how a divorce affects a non-retired member’s WRS benefits, including what happens when the earnings and service are divided by a qualified domestic relations order, benefit rights of alternate payees, the importance of keeping beneficiary designations update and more.

• Thursday Aug 20, 2015 12:00 – 12:30 p.m.
• Wednesday Aug 26, 2015 6:00 – 6:30 p.m.

Beneficiary Designations Do you have a beneficiary designation on file with ETF and does it reflect how you’d want your WRS death benefits paid? This webinar reviews the importance of having a beneficiary designation on file and keeping it updated as life events occur. We’ll also review the process of how to correctly complete a designation form, what it means if you do not have one on file with ETF, and how to request a copy of your current form.

• Thursday Jul 23, 2015 11:00 – 11:30 a.m.

WRS Employer and Employee Contribution Rates This webinar will review how employer and employee contributions help keep the WRS fully funded. We will discuss how the contribution rates are calculated, why they change annually, where those dollars go and the contribution rate changes for 2015.

• Wednesday Jul 29, 2015 11:00 – 11:30 a.m.

Overview of the Wisconsin Retirement System This webinar will cover participation in the WRS, vesting requirements, how the WRS is funded and benefits available under the WRS.  Also included is a brief overview of the Core and Variable Trust Funds and how the WRS is structured.

• Tuesday Jul 28, 2015 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

5 Basic Steps to Your Retirement Consider this webinar your quick reference guide to starting the retirement process within the next 12 months. We’ll review: choosing a termination date, how to request a retirement estimate – and how to read and understand it. We’ll also cover how to schedule a retirement appointment and – drum roll here — how to submit the retirement application

• Thursday Jul 23, 2015 12:30 – 1:00 p.m.

 

Register for a webinar

Please contact Human Resources at (920) 465-2390 or payrollandbenefits@uwgb.edu with any questions.

 

On April 1, 2015, the Department of Employee Trust Funds (ETF) authorized the release of new, lower-cost inflation protection options for the Mutual of Omaha, MutualCare Custom Solution long-term care insurance policy. This policy is available to employees, annuitants and their family members. (Spouse, domestic partner, parents and in-laws are all eligible to apply, even if you don’t purchase.)

Each year, many Americans lose significant income, savings and assets because of long-term care expenses. Your group’s long-term care insurance is designed to help protect against the high costs of long-term care if you or a family member can no longer perform activities of daily living without the need of assistance. Health insurance or Medicare will not pay for this type of care. For many, long-term care insurance is an important part of planning for their long-term financial security.

The MutualCare Custom Solution policy offers some very unique built-in benefits that include:

• Cash benefits that can be used any way you choose. You simply receive the full monthly cash benefit you selected to pay for anything at all… family travel expenses, lost income, housekeeping services or other out-of- pocket expenses. There’s no need to collect or submit bills.
• New lower-cost inflation options make the policy more affordable but still increases the value of your policy over time to keep up with inflation.

HealthChoice also provides CareOptions services to all State, University of Wisconsin and UW Hospitals & Clinics Employees, Annuitants and their family members at no charge. CareOptions can assist you and your family with issues related to wellness, illness, disability or aging. Additionally, CareOptions can help you and your families create Living Wills (advance directives for healthcare) as well as allow you to conduct healthcare provider searches, provider background checks, medical information research and long-term care planning, 24 hours a day.

To receive a complete information packet regarding your long-term care insurance options and access to the new CareOptions resources, simply click here to request an information packet. You may also call HealthChoice toll-free at 1-800-833-5823 or in the Madison area at 833-5823 or email info@healthchoice.com. Direct information link; click or paste in your web browser’s address line: http://www.healthchoice.com/reply1

HealthChoice has worked with the Department of Employee Trust Funds (ETF) since 1995 providing excellent service and the highest quality long-term care insurance plans to State, University of Wisconsin and UW Hospitals & Clinics Employees, Annuitants and their family members.

 

CareOptions® is registered trademarks of NavGate Technologies®, a division of CareQuest® Inc. The CareOptions system is owned and operated by NavGate Technologies and provided by HealthChoice Insurance Solutions as a service to its group members at no cost. CareOptions is a consumer driven wellness and care planning system – CareOptions is not insurance nor is it owned or operated by any insurance company, HMO or care provider.

This insurance plan has been authorized by the Group Insurance Board for the purpose of offering long term care insurance to eligible State of Wisconsin employees and retirees under authority granted by Wis. Stats. § 40.55. The criteria the Board uses include, but are not limited to: documentation of financial stability, demonstration of a reasonable ratio of claims paid to the premium level, authority to conduct business in the State of Wisconsin, agreeing to conditions for the rate-making process and other administrative conditions. ETF staff and the Board’s actuary review proposals for participation prior to Board approval. However, the Board does not require competitive bids or a benefit comparison with similar products from other vendors. Authorization for payroll deduction should not be construed as an endorsement of this plan by either the Group Insurance Board or the Department of Employee Trust Funds. This insurance has exceptions, limitations and reductions. This letter is used as a source of leads in the solicitation of insurance and you may be contacted by an insurance agent.

Insurance products are offered through HealthChoice. HealthChoice is not affiliated with any insurance company or HMO. Long-Term Care Insurance is underwritten by Mutual of Omaha Life Insurance Company, Omaha, Nebraska 68175.

Policy form ICC13-LTC13

ICC13-M28385-WIAG

 

583 D’Onofrio Drive 101 • Madison, Wisconsin 53719 • (800) 833-5823 • Fax (608) 833-7540 E-mail: info@healthchoice.com • www.healthchoice.com

Academic Staff and Limited employees who have completed ten years of qualifying service as of 6/30/2014 have the option to bank unused vacation up to 40 hours.  Those who have completed 25 years of qualifying service as of 6/30/2014 can bank unused vacation up to 80 hours.  The unused vacation hours are taken from the 2013-14 FY balance first, then from the 2014-15 FY, until the elected or maximum hours are reached (pro-rated for part-time employees).

 

New this year, the ALRA election will be submitted through Employee Self Service on the My UW System Portal, similar to entering leave.  

To submit your ALRA election, you will need to complete the following steps:

1. Log into the My UW System Portal and click on the Enter Absence link under the Time and Absence section.
2. You will now see the Request Absence page.  This is where you fill out the specific information for your ALRA conversion.
   1. Start Date:  7/11/15  (Please use 7/11/15 as both the start and end date, we need to use a weekend date in July for ALRA entry, and to maintain consistency will all employees, we are requesting you use 7/11/15)
   2. End Date: 7/11/15
   3. Filter by Type: Leave it set to All
   4. Absence Name: Select Convert Vac to ALRA
3. After selecting the Absence Name, a convert field will appear for you to fill out.  Enter the hours you would like to convert.  As a reminder, converting must be in whole hours.  HRS will verify eligibility and availability before converting vacation to ALRA.
4. Click Submit.  Conversion is auto approved.

ALRA designations should be entered through the Request Absence screen by 8/5/15.

 

 

Live Webinars Scheduled for July

ETF is offering a series of 30-minute, live, interactive webinars designed to increase your understanding of Wisconsin Retirement System benefits. Individuals can also ask questions at the end of these sessions.

Beneficiary Designations Do you have a beneficiary designation on file with ETF and does it reflect how you’d want your WRS death benefits paid? This webinar reviews the importance of having a beneficiary designation on file and keeping it updated as life events occur. We’ll also review the process of how to correctly complete a designation form, what it means if you do not have one on file with ETF, and how to request a copy of your current form.

• Tuesday Jul 07, 2015 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
• Wednesday Jul 22, 2015 12:00 – 12:30 p.m.
• Thursday Jul 23, 2015 11:00 – 11:30 a.m.

WRS Employer and Employee Contribution Rates This webinar will review how employer and employee contributions help keep the WRS fully funded. We will discuss how the contribution rates are calculated, why they change annually, where those dollars go and the contribution rate changes for 2015.

• Thursday Jul 09, 2015 6:00 – 6:30 p.m.
• Thursday Jul 16, 2015 12:00 – 12:30 p.m.
• Tuesday Jul 21, 2015 11:30 a.m.- 12:00 p.m.
• Wednesday Jul 29, 2015 11:00 – 11:30 a.m.

Overview of the Wisconsin Retirement System This webinar will cover participation in the WRS, vesting requirements, how the WRS is funded and benefits available under the WRS.  Also included is a brief overview of the Core and Variable Trust Funds and how the WRS is structured.

• Wednesday Jul 15, 2015 12:00 – 12:30 p.m.
• Tuesday Jul 21, 2015 6:00 – 6:30 p.m.
• Tuesday Jul 28, 2015 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

5 Basic Steps to Your Retirement Consider this webinar your quick reference guide to starting the retirement process within the next 12 months. We’ll review: choosing a termination date, how to request a retirement estimate – and how to read and understand it. We’ll also cover how to schedule a retirement appointment and – drum roll here — how to submit the retirement application

• Wednesday Jul 08, 2015 12:00 – 12:30 p.m.
• Tuesday Jul 14, 2015 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
• Wednesday Jul 15, 2015 6:00 – 6:30 p.m.
• Thursday Jul 23, 2015 12:30 – 1:00 p.m.

 

Register for a webinar

Please contact Human Resources at (920) 465-2390 or payrollandbenefits@uwgb.edu with any questions.

The Annual Benefit Enrollment (ABE) period is the only time when you are able to make changes to your benefits unless you have an eligible family (e.g. marriage, birth, divorce…) or employment change during the year.

The ABE period for 2016 will take place October 5 to October 30, 2015. Eligible benefits changes elected during this time period are effective January 1, 2016.

To review the main changes expected for 2016 and see additional information on benefit changes as available, please review the UW System ABE website.

For 2015, July 4th falls on many employee’s regularly scheduled day off (Saturday), therefore the time is granted as a Floating Legal Holiday.  Floating legal holiday time can be used any time during the calendar year it’s earned for. With supervisor approval, employees may use this day as an additional day off at their discretion.  Please see these helpful directions for how to record and account for this time.

For questions on this process, please contact Payroll and Benefits at (920) 465-2196 or PayrollandBenefits@uwgb.edu.

 

The Department of Employee Trust Funds Group Insurance Board met on May 19, 2015 and approved changes to the state employee health insurance program. The Department of Employee Trust Funds (ETF) will be summarizing the changes made to employee benefits for 2016 in an upcoming communication. This article is intended to assist you with understanding the benefit changes prior to the official summary from ETF. The changes affect participants’ deductibles, out-of-pocket limits, copays and drug costs. Review this article for more specifics on the upcoming changes.

As we near the end of the 2014-2015 academic year, please be sure to enter all monthly online absence entries (formerly leave reports).  Online absence entries should be entered by the 5^th of each ‘following’ month.

Please review your My UW System Portal under the Time and Absence section to ensure you are not missing any monthly leave reports.  Under the Time and Absence section, in the Leave Reports tab, there will be a ‘Outstanding Missing Leave Reports’ link.  By clicking on the link a pdf file will open, listing any months that are missing absence entries.

Missing absence entries must be submitted online for your supervisor’s approval.  Please review the Unclassified Absence Entry Instructions for step by step details on how to enter leave.

Please remember that you must make a monthly absence entry, even if you did not take any leave during that month:

“No Leave Taken” entries should always use the first day of the month as the start date and the end date.  This provides accurate leave reporting for both instructional and non-instructional employees.  Your “No Leave Taken” entry should have the following components:

• START DATE: First day of the month (e.g., 2/1/15 for a February leave report)
• ABSENCE NAME: “No Leave Taken”
• END DATE: First day of the month – same as the start date (e.g., 2/1/15 for a February leave report)

Information on 2015 summer leave reporting will be sent in the next couple weeks.