HR Connect

If you were covered by the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) in 2015, your WRS Annual Statement of Benefits is now available in My UW System. Go to the Benefit Information module and click on the Statements tab. Click on “2015 ETF Annual Statement of Benefits (WRS) Issued 2016” to view or print your statement.

The WRS Annual Statement of Benefits provides you with information about your WRS account as of January 1, 2016. The Explanation of Annual Statement of Benefits provides you with information to help you understand your statement. The Department of Employee Trust Funds (ETF) has also published an Introductory Letter for the statement.

It is recommended that you review each section of your statement using the explanation as a guide:

• 2015 Earnings and Service
• Years of Creditable Service as of January 1, 2016
• 2015 Employee Required Contributions (Note: In section 3, the small amounts shown in Employer Paid Employee contributions occur due to rounding in calculations used to produce this statement or from the payroll system.  This does not apply to all employees.)
• Additional Contribution
• Primary Beneficiary Designation(s) for WRS Required Account
• Separation Benefit
• Death Benefit
• Formula Benefit Data
• Money Purchase Balance (Total required employee and matching employer contributions, including interest.)
• Retirement Benefit Projections

NOTE: New WRS participants who enrolled in late December 2015, and whose first wages were paid in January 2016, will not receive a statement because no WRS contributions were paid in 2015.

Additional Resources

A schedule of the Live Webinar: Understanding Your Annual WRS Statement of Benefits is available on the WRS Annual Statement of enefits Help Page along with other resources.

Please contact the Human Resources office at 920-465-2390 or payrollandbenefits@uwgb.edu if you have any questions.

In 2016, all covered state group health insurance plans will offer $150 for completing the Well Wisconsin Incentive Program.  There are two steps to completing the program.

1. Participate in a biometric screening.
   • If you participated in the biometric screening on Monday, April 18^th, results will be sent to your health plan on the 15^th day of the following month.  Please allow time for the health plans to process this information, as the turnaround time for these results to be integrated with your Health Risk Survey will vary by health plan.
   • If you did not participate in the on-site screening, you may still complete the biometric portion with your doctor.  A special form will need to be completed by your doctor.  Visit http://wellwisconsin.wi.gov  and click on your insurance plan in the column to the left for a direct link to the form, under the heading ‘”Taking Your Assessment with Your Doctor.”
2. Complete the online Health Risk Survey required by your health plan.
   • Use your biometric screening results to complete the survey.  Visit http://wellwisconsin.wi.gov  and click on your insurance plan in the column to the left for a direct link to the online Health Survey.  This quick, easy survey is designed to help you gauge well-being factors to pinpoint possible health risks.

NOTE:  All participants should check their health insurance provider’s information on the Well Wisconsin website for any additional information and requirements that may be necessary to qualify for the incentive. 

Once the biometric screening and health survey is completed, the $150 incentive is issued by your health insurance provider and sent directly to your address on file.  Please note that it may take up to 12 weeks after the 15^th day of the following month before you receive the incentive payment.   Some health insurance providers pay on a quarterly basis.

Effective January 1, 2016, adult children will no longer be eligible for the Well Wisconsin Incentive program.  The incentive will continue to be available for active employees and retirees participating in the State of Wisconsin Group Health Insurance Program and their enrolled spouse/domestic partner.  This is the result of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s (EEOC) recent ruling on the applicability of Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) to employee wellness programs and the proposed rule amending GINA to allow spouse participation.

Well Wisconsin program and other taxable wellness-related incentives.  According to the federal government and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) financial reimbursements for wellness-related expenses such as gym memberships, fitness classes, the cost to participate in Community Support Agriculture (CSA), and rewards for participating in health or wellness programs or challenges are classified as a fringe benefit that must be treated as a taxable wage subject to income and payroll taxes.

• Federal regulations require the payroll centers to receive financial data regarding incentives issued to employees and their covered family members.  Your health information is protected by federal privacy regulations and will never be shared with your employer.

To learn more about your wellness assessment, go to (wellwisconsin.wi.gov).

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:

Monday, May 23, 2016
8:00 a.m. to 11:00 and 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. for individual scheduled meetings
11:00 a.m to 12:30 p.m. for walk-in sessions, first come first served
Heritage Room, University Union

To schedule a confidential consultation visit www.fidelity.com/atwork/reservations or call 1-800-642-7131.