Category: Payroll & Benefits

Benefits Specialists will be on hand to answer any questions regarding hte open enrollment period, 2016 changes and online eBenefits election process.  All sessions will be held in IS 1004.

 

If you are covered under the State of Wisconsin Group Health Insurance program, you are eligible for a financial incentive to complete biometric testing and health risk assessment.  You can learn more information about the benefits available to your by accessing wellwisconsin.wi.gov.

Per guidance from the federal government and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), these benefits are classified as taxable fringe benefits.  This means that any financial incentive you receive from the program is taxable income for state and federal tax purposes.

What this means for you:

• Financial incentives will be reported as taxable wages and will be subject to applicable withholdings and taxes.  You will see withholdings for all incentives issued so far in the current calendar year reflected on your October 1st paycheck.  This will include incentives issued to your eligible family members.
• Withholding will include 7.65% for Social Security and Medicare and may include withholding for federal and state taxes, depending on the number of exemptions you claim on your W4.
• A new earnings code has been created to help distinguish the health wellness taxable fringe from other taxable fringe amounts.  This taxable income pay line wil be processed with the code: XHM (Tax Fr-Health/Wellness)

Please contact Human Resources at x2390 or hr@uwgb.edu if you have any questions.

The Department of Employee Trust Funds (ETF) has just released the 2016 health insurance premium rates. One of the changes for 2016 is adjustments to the health plan names:

The Uniform Dental Benefits for 2016 will be offered by Delta Dental instead of through the health plans.  As a result, you will now have the option to select health insurance with or without uniform dental benefits.

2016 Monthly Health Insurance Premiums

Please see ETF’s news release for additional information regarding premiums.  We will continue to provide more information on the 2016 Open Enrollment Period and benefits changes as they become available.  Please contact Human Resources at x2390 or hr@uwgb.edu if you have any questions.

 

 

Wisconsin Retirement System Presentation for Employees Who Are Nearing Retirement

A representative of the Department of Employee Trust Funds will present retirement benefit information for members who anticipate retiring during the next five years.  Learn about topics that are important to the process and the decisions that need to be made when retiring in the WRS, including:

• Annuity Options/Lump Sum Option
• Beneficiary Designation Forms
• Retirement Benefit Calculations
• Core Trust Fund and Variable Trust Fund
• Purchasing Service
• Annual Annuity Adjustments
• Additional Contributions
• Return-to-Work Rules
• Health Insurance/Life Insurance

Date: Monday, September 14, 2015
Time: 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Location: Northeast Wisconsin Technical College
                 Room SC-128 (Executive Dining Room)
                2740 West Mason Street, Green Bay

No registration is required, visit etf.wi.gov for other learning opportunities.

 

 

Fidelity Investments is offering individual counseling sessions where you can confidentially discuss your financial situation with a Fidelity representative.  These sessions will give you the opportunity to:

• Explore your plan benefits in more depth
• Consolidate retirement account into the UW 403(b) retirement plan
• Explore distribution options for pre-retirees
• Tap into Fidelity’s experience and expertise
• Make decisions that help you meet your goals

David Eichler, Fidelity Planning & Guidance Consultant will be coming to campus on:

Thursday, October 22, 2015
8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Wequiock Room, University Union

To schedule a confidential consultation with your Fidelity Investments representative, David Eichler, call 1-800-642-7131 or go to www.fidelity.com/atwork/reservations.

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.