2022 Waiver of Holiday Compensation Election for CSEA, NYSCOBA, PBANYS

The collective bargaining agreements between the State and CSEA,NYSCOPBA, and PBANYS, allow employee waiver of holiday compensation. Consequently, between April 2 and May 15, 2022 employees should notify the payroll office in writing, using the attached form, if they elect to waive holiday compensation and choose to receive instead compensatory time off for holidays worked. The waiver will remain in effect until at least April 1, 2023. Employees may also elect to revoke any waiver of holiday compensation now in effect by filing the attached form with the payroll office by May 1, 2022.

Waiver of Holiday Compensation Election Form (PDF)

America Saves Week (ASW) is Monday, February 21, 2022 through Friday, February 25, 2022!

Monday, February 22 – Save Automatically

Voya has provided the blog post Six Ways to Organize Your Bills and video Savings Strategies AIG offers a Savings Journey digital brochure, featuring a short video for each themed day of ASW.

Tuesday, February 23 - Save of the Unexpected

Voya has provided the blog post How to Build Your Emergency Fund and video Establishing an Emergency Fund. Fidelity offers several thematic webinars (login required) and Save for the Unexpected and Rainy Day Fund flyers (.ppt and .pdf, with link to login) for this day.

AIG offers a Savings Journey digital brochure, featuring a short video for each themed day of ASW. TIAA offers the web pages Prepare for the Unexpected and Building an Emergency Fund

Wednesday, February 24 - Save to Retire

Voya has provided the blog post Five Key Considerations to Craft Your Retirement Plan and videos Retirement Planning if You're Over 40 and Retirement Planning if You're Under 40

Fidelity offers several thematic webinars (login required) and Make the Most of Your Retirement and ASW Starting Early flyers (with link to login) for this day

AIG offers a Savings Journey digital brochure, featuring a short video for each themed day of ASW

TIAA Offers the flyers Your Financial Goal Planner, Saving Early Has Benefits, and Is Your Financial Future Worth 1%? about setting a long-term financial goal, as well as the video Savings Strategies for the Future and recorded webinar The Starting Line

Thursday, February 25 - Save by Reducing Debt

Voya has provided the blog post How to Flip the Debt Snowball: Strategy to Build Emergency Savings Fund Fast and video Prioritizing Debt

Fidelity offers several thematic webinars (login required) for this day.

AIG offers a Savings Journey digital brochure, featuring a short video for each themed day of ASW

TIAA offers the videos Paying Down Credit Card Debt and Paying Down Non-revolving Debt, and the recorded webinar Inside Money: Managing Income and Debt

Friday, February 26 - Save as a Family

Voya has provided the blog post Should Parents Co-sign Student Loans and Financial Literacy flyer

Fidelity offers several thematic webinars (login required) for this day.

AIG offers a Savings Journey digital brochure, featuring a short video for each themed day of ASW

TIAA offers the articles Teaching Kids About Money, Crazy or Cozy: Deciding Whether to Move Closer to Your Family, and How to Save Money on a Child's Wedding

The NYS & CSEA Partnership for Education and Training is pleased to announce the spring 2022 Skills for Success program. Live, instructor-led courses and webinars provide CSEA-represented employees with the knowledge, skills, and tools needed to meet their personal and professional development goals.

Attached is the Skills for Success catalog containing course and webinar descriptions, dates, and start and end times. There are 35 courses and webinars scheduled from February through May 2022. https://www.nyscseapartnership.org/

CSEA-represented employees are encouraged to take advantage of these valuable training opportunities. Employees may enroll through the Statewide Learning Management System or by completing the Partnership’s application form located in the catalog.

The NYS & CSEA Partnership for Education and Training is pleased to announce the Adult Education Basics (AEB) Program—Spring 2022 Online Courses: Math Refresher 1 and Effective Reading Skills 1.

Courses will be delivered via Canvas, a web-based learning management system. Canvas enables instructors to present online learning materials and assess student learning. It also enables students to engage in courses and receive feedback about skill development and learning achievement.

All employees must receive supervisory approval to attend courses without charge to leave credits unless the courses are held on the employee’s pass day. The application deadline for Math Refresher 1 is February 11, 2022. The application deadline for Effective Reading Skills 1 is April 1, 2022. Please encourage employees to register soon because classes fill quickly. For further information about the AEB Program, please visit www.nyscseapartnership.org

Health Care Spending Account Carryover for Plan Year 2021

Employees will now be able to use up to $550 of monies remaining in their 2021 Health Care Spending Account (HCSA) towards eligible expenses incurred during the 2022 calendar year. Employees must be enrolled as of December 31, 2021 for carryover to occur. The last day to submit claims is March 31, 2023.

Dependent Care Advantage Account Grace Period Extended

The grace period for the 2020 Dependent Care Advantage Account (DCAA) plan year has been extended. The 2020 plan year now covers expenses incurred between January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2021. Employees may seek reimbursement for children who turned 13 during the 2020 plan year. The last day to submit DCAA claims is January 31, 2022 for expenses incurred January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2021 from 2020 DCAAs.

State employees may e-mail fsa@goer.ny.gov or call WageWorks/Health Equity at 1-800-358-7202 for information.

PEP allows eligible employees to exchange previously accrued annual leave (vacation) for a credit to be applied toward their employee share of NYSHIP premiums on a biweekly basis. Eligible full-time employees who enroll in PEP for 2022 will forfeit annual leave at the time of enrollment in return for a credit to be applied toward the employee-share of their NYSHIP premiums, in accordance with PEP guidelines for their employment group (e.g., MC13, UUP). Eligible part-time employees who enroll in PEP will forfeit annual leave in accordance with PEP guidelines for their employment group. In no case can the credit available under the program be applied to the employer share of NYSHIP premiums.

The enrollment period for the 2022 PEP program runs from Monday, November 1, 2021 through Friday, November 26, 2021.

The completed election form must be filed with Human Resource's Office by the close of business on November 26, 2021.

• UUP/MC Enrollment Form

The Productivity Enhancement Program (PEP) for 2022 allows eligible CSEA-represented, DC37-represented, and Management/Confidential (M/C) employees in the Executive branch to exchange previously accrued annual leave (vacation) and/or personal leave in return for a credit to be applied toward their employee share of NYSHIP premiums on a biweekly basis.

The enrollment period for the 2022 PEP program runs from Monday, November 1, 2021 through Friday November 26, 2021.

The completed election form must be filed with Human Resource's Office by the close of business on November 26, 2021.

The PEP summary here and Classified Enrollment form here.

My New York State Health Insurance Program (MyNYSHIP) is the online source to your personal enrollment record as a participant in the New York State Health Insurance Program (NYSHIP).

Once you have registered with MyNYSHIP, you can:

• View the current address contained in your NYSHIP enrollment record.
• View a summary of the health, dental and vision plans in which you and any family members are enrolled.

In addition to being able to view your personal and enrollment information, once you enter your Activation Code, you can also:

• Change your home address with NYSHIP. This will also change your address with your NYSHIP insurance carriers.
• Order ID Cards for yourself and covered family members when enrolled in The Empire Plan.

The Flex Spending Account (FSA) is a state employee benefit that saves you money by allowing you to pay for certain expenses with pre-tax dollars. Under this program, you can choose from three different benefits:

• The Health Care Spending Account (HCSA) lets you set aside any amount from $100 up to $2,750 for the 2022 plan year to pay for health care expenses that are not reimbursed by your health insurance or other benefit plan. However, only medically necessary medical, hospital, dental, vision, hearing, and prescription drug expenses for you, your spouse, and your eligible dependents can be reimbursed by your HCSA.
• The Dependent Care Advantage Account (DCAA) allows your family to set aside up to $5,000 in pre-tax dollars for eligible custodial child care, elder care, or disabled dependent care expenses that are necessary for you and your spouse, if you are married, to work.
• The Adoption Advantage Account lets you pay for expenses related to the adoption of an eligible child with pre-tax dollars.

Open enrollment will run from November 2, 2021 to November 29, 2021 at 10:00 p.m. In addition to the informational flyer, a more detailed brochure and the 2021 FSA enrollment book will be available on the GOER website.

You may also visit the Flex Spending Account website at www.flexspend.ny.gov to view program details online and the enrollment process. You may also call the FSA Hotline at 1-800-358-7202 for more information, where customer service representatives are ready to assist you, or you can email fsa@goer.ny.gov.

Enroll Online HERE

Important Information and Upcoming Dates Poster

The 2021 Open Enrollment period for the Student Employee Health Plan (SEHP) will run from Monday, August 23, 2021 through Tuesday, September 21, 2021. Eligible employees have the following options for enrolling in SEHP:

• Enroll within 45 days of appointment. Coverage is effective as of the date the enrollment form is received in the HR/Benefits office or the date of appointment, whichever is later. Eligible employees on F-1 or J-1 visas and domestic students at campuses where health insurance is mandated will have coverage effective as of the date of appointment.
• Enroll within 30 days of a qualifying event. Coverage becomes effective as of the date the enrollment form is received in the HR/Benefits office or the date of event, whichever is later.
• Enroll during the Open Enrollment period. Coverage becomes effective as of the date the enrollment form is received in the HR/Benefits office.
• Enrollment is otherwise permitted at any time as a late enrollee. Coverage becomes effective 30 days from the date the enrollment form is received in the HR office.

The Open Enrollment period provides employees who were eligible for SEHP last year but chose not to enroll, an opportunity to enroll now, without the 30-day waiting period otherwise required for late enrollment.

2021 premium rates for SEHP are available here. Introductory SEHP information, including the SEHP Summary of Benefits and Coverage, is accessible via the SUNY Benefits Health Insurance Programs web page.
To enroll in SEHP, please complete and return the SEHP enrollment form (PS-404g) along with any required proofs (e.g., copies of birth certificates) to the Human Resources Office in 216 Bray Hall.

This offer is now live. Peloton has a dedicated FAQ page to cover a variety of common questions. As a reminder you can check to see if you are eligible here. UnitedHealthcare announced that they are teaming up with Peloton to offer a free year worth of Peloton membership to people who have “select” UnitedHealthcare insurance plans.

Dept of Financial Services has determined that the premium rate for Paid Family Leave benefits for coverage beginning January 1, 2022 shall total 0.511% of an employee's wages each pay period up to and not to exceed an annual maximum employee contribution of $423.71. If an employee's contributions reach the annual maximum employee contribution of $423.71 before the end of the calendar year, the employee shall not be liable for any additional contributions for that year.

The 2021 Dependent Care Advantage Account (DCAA) has been modified to include two changes allowed by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

1. The maximum contribution levels have been increased from $2,500 to $5,250 for single or married filing separately and from $5,000 to $10,500 for married filing jointly or head of household.

2. Employees are now allowed to prospectively change their DCAA election amounts without a qualifying change in status event reason. The change event reason will appear to employees as: "No reason (Consolidated Appropriations Act)". This change is status event reason is available to employees who want to enroll, change, re-start or terminate their 2021 DCAA. Changes will be applied to the next available payroll date for processing.

Employees who are already enrolled in the benefit will be notified of these changes directly by WageWorks/Health Equity. State employees can change their election amount by submitting a change in status online at https://goer.ny.gov/change-status or by calling a customer service representative at 800-358-7202.

State Employees can email fsa@goer.ny.gov or call WageWorks/Health Equity at 1-800-358-7202 to learn more about the DCAA and these new changes.

As you may be aware, deferred raises for various employee groups will be paid according to a schedule below in the coming weeks and months. The schedule allows employees the ability to defer compensation to the SUNY 403(b) program and/or the NYS Deferred Compensation Program (NYSDCP), ahead of the payment dates. Below is the schedule of upcoming raise payments, along with the respective deferral election windows for the SUNY 403(b) program.

Members of the SUNY family may be eligible for group discounts and offers from a variety of vendors, merchants, and providers. The following information outlines a few of these discount programs. https://www.suny.edu/benefits/discounts/

* Please note that SUNY does not endorse, support, or benefit from any of the programs or offers listed, and that this information is provided strictly for your information and further exploration. You should carefully review and research any programs or offers before enrolling or providing any personal information. Only representatives from each program, vendor, or merchant are knowledgeable and experienced enough to address your questions or to assist you with their respective programs.

The Deferred Compensation Plan is a voluntary retirement savings program, created by Federal and state law, enabling public employees to defer a portion of their gross pay. The following provides an overview of the plan: NYS Deferred Compensation Plan. For greater detail on the Plan and its benefits, visit the Plan Website at www.nysdcp.com or call the Plan HELPLINE at 1-800-422-8463.

For Pre-Retirement Planning check out the following link: Pre-Retirement Planning. Also, when you are ready to retire, contact Ellen Brown in Human Resources.

The collective bargaining agreement between the State and UUP, allows employees to waive holiday compensation for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's. To elect to make a change to your current election (waive holiday pay or receive compensatory time off for holidays worked), please fill out the UUP Waiver of Compensatory Time for Holiday Work form and return this waiver to the Payroll office at statepayroll@esf.edu, no later than May 17, 2021. The waiver will remain in effect until at least April 2, 2022.

2021 UUP Waiver of Compensatory Time for Holiday Work

Members can now have video consultations with a NYSTRS representative using their own personal electronic device: personal computer, laptop, smartphone or tablet. The choice is yours!

Book your appointment today through your MYNYSTRES account at NSTRS.org or by calling 800 -348- 7298 EXT 6100.

NYS employees who contributed to a "Flex Spending Account" (FSA) in 2019, that you must submit all unpaid claims on or by March 31, 2021 for all qualifying expenses incurred by December 31, 2020. If you fail to submit appropriate receipts for any unused funds, by the March deadline date, you will forfeit such contributions and will not receive reimbursement or credit.

To avoid the rush for reimbursement, please mail your 2020 FSA claims along with your receipts to:

WageWorks, PO BOX 14766, Lexington, KY 40512-4766 or Fax: (800) 743-3271 Submit Online: www.myFBMC.com

To download claim forms or other documents, please go to https://goer.ny.gov/program-information#claims-process (for Health Care Spending and Dependent Care).

As a result of recently enacted federal law, beginning April 1, 2020, every New York State employee, regardless of Attendance Rules coverage and bargaining unit, will be eligible for up to two weeks of paid sick leave if unable to work or work from home because the employee:

Federal Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act (FEPSLA)

1. Is subject to a federal, state, or local quarantine or isolation order related to COVID-19;
2. Has been advised by a health care provider to self-quarantine because of COVID-19;
3. Is experiencing COVID-19 related symptoms and is seeking a medical diagnosis;
4. Is caring for an individual subject to either an order, as described above in (1), or self-quarantine, as described above in (2);
5. Is caring for the employee's child whose school or place of care is closed, or whose childcare provider is unavailable, due to COVID-19; or
6. Is experiencing any other condition specified by the federal government; however, the federal government has not yet identified anything in this category.

Benefits:

• Leave for numbers 1, 2, and 3 above will be paid at 100% of an employee's regular rate of pay, up to $511.00 daily, capped at $5,110.00 for the two-week period. Leave for numbers 4, 5, and 6 above will be paid at two-thirds of the employee’s regular rate of pay, up to $200.00 daily, capped at $2,000.00 for each two-week period.

FEPSLA leave does not carry over and expires on December 31, 2020.

Federal Emergency Expanded Family and Medical Leave (EFMLA)

In addition to the leave described above, New York State employees who have been employed for at least 30 days prior to their request for leave may be eligible for EFMLA. Eligible employees are entitled to 12 work weeks of public health emergency leave from April 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020.

For more information please contact Ellen Brown at 315-470-6613 or at ebrown@esf.edu.

During this period, employees enrolled in the New York State Health Insurance Program (NYSHIP) may change their NYSHIP coverage status and/or NYSHIP plan option for the 2021 plan year, change participation status in the Pre-Tax Contribution Program (without a qualifying event), and enroll in Young Adult Option (YAO) coverage for children up to age 30 who no longer qualify for dependent-status NYSHIP coverage. Please see the links below for NYSHIP information, plan options, and employee share premium rates for 2021:

• Option Transfer Information
  2021 Planning for Option Transfer
• Health Insurance Plan Choices
  All Groups (UUP, CSEA, APSU, NYSCOPBA, M/C, PEF)
  Supplement for PEF-and APSU-represented employees
• Health Insurance Rates
  2021 NYSHIP Premiums for UUP, CSEA, NYSCOPBA & M/C
  2021 NYSHIP Premiums for APSU & PEF
• Summaries of Benefits & Coverage
• Young Adult Coverage (for children of employees & retirees of NYS agencies)
• Pre-Tax Contribution Program (PTCP) Change Chart & Fact Sheet

The Opt-out Program allows eligible employees who have other employer-sponsored group health insurance, to opt out of their NYSHIP coverage in exchange for an annual incentive payment of $1,000 for waiving individual coverage, or $3,000 for waiving family coverage. For eligibility and additional program information, see the 2021 NYSHIP Choices booklet. To enroll in the Opt-out Program, complete and submit the following forms to HR/Benefits office by Thursday, December 31, 2020:

• NYS Health Insurance Transaction Form (PS-404)
• Opt-out Program Attestation Form (PS-409)

The Pre-Tax Contribution Program (PTCP) allows enrollees to have their health insurance premium deducted from wages before taxes are withheld, which may lower their taxes. Enrollment also restricts changes that can be made to the NYSHIP coverage (e.g., cancelling or switching to individual coverage) to situations in which a qualifying event takes place. Not enrolling in PTCP offers no tax benefit, but allows greater flexibility to make changes to NYSHIP coverage through the plan year. For additional information, see the 2021 NYSHIP Choices booklet.

Option Transfer and PTCP changes can be requested either online or via a completed NYS Health Insurance Transaction Form (PS-404) submitted to HR/Benefits office, no later than Thursday, December 31, 2020.

The State University of New York Voluntary Savings Plan 2021 UNIVERSAL AVAILABILITY NOTICE

The State University of New York ("SUNY") provides employees with the opportunity to save for their retirement through the SUNY Voluntary 403(b) Savings Plan (the "Plan"). Participation in the SUNY Voluntary Savings Plan is a great way to build your retirement savings through pre-tax and/or post-tax payroll deduction contributions.

• The State University of New York Voluntary Savings Plan 2021 UNIVERSAL AVAILABILITY NOTICE (PDF)

2021 Cost of Living Adjustment

On October 26, 2020, the Internal Revenue Service issued Notice 2020-79: The 2021 dollar limits are attached.

• Cost of Living Adjustments 2021 (PDF)

ATTENTION ALL EMPLOYEES: Time allowed employees to vote on Election

N.Y. ELECTION LAW SECTION 3-110I STATES THAT:

If you do not have 4 consecutive hours to vote, either from the opening of the Polls to the beginning of your working shift, or between the end of your working shift and the closing of the polls, you may take off up to 2 hours, without loss of pay, to allow you time to vote, if you are a registered voter.

• YOU MAY TAKE TIME OFF at the beginning or end of your working shift, as your employer may designate, unless otherwise mutually agreed.
• YOU MUST NOTIFY your employer not less than 2 days, but not more than 10 days, before the day of the Election that you will take time off to vote.

* Employers: Not less than ten working days before any Election Day, every employer shall post conspicuously in the place of work where it can be seen as employees come or go to their place of work, a notice setting forth the provisions of this law. Such notice shall be kept posted until the close of the polls on Election Day. https://www.cs.ny.gov/attendance_leave/TimeOffToVoteNotice.pdf

Health Insurance Premium

Pre-Tax Contribution Program (PTCP)

Under IRS rules, health insurance changes which result in corresponding changes in pre–tax contributions may be made only under specific circumstances.

All changes made after a “change in status event” must be requested within 30 days of the event to qualify for a change in the pre–tax deduction. The only exception to this is newly hired or newly benefits–eligible employees, who have a 42– or 56–day New Hire Waiting Period to make this election. All changes made after these allowable time frames will not qualify for the PTCP and will result in a late enrollment period of five payroll periods.

Important Information & Dates

November 2–30, 2020: Productivity Enhancement Program (PEP)* For eligible New York State employees who are Management/Confidential or represented by CSEA, DC–37 or UUP; Legislature and Unified Court System (UCS)

November 2–30, 2020: Flex Spending Account (FSA) For eligible employees of the State of New York Executive Branch who are Management/Confidential or represented by CSEA, Council 82, DC-37, NYSCOPBA, PBA, PBANYS, PEF, PIA or UUP; Legislature and UCS

Reminders: The Pre–Tax Contribution Program Election Period and the Option Transfer Period now run concurrently. It is no longer necessary to reenroll in the Opt–out Program each year. The NYSHIP Rates & Deadlines for 2021 have not yet been announced.

Please watch for additional details and instructions.

TIAA Retirement Services

TIAA Retirement Services are presently offering discussions via conference calls or virtually. Darryl Fiasconaro the TIAA representative plans to offer several meetings monthly. RSVP today, as space is limited. Register by visiting www.TIAA.org/schedulenow or calling 800-732-8353, weekdays, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (ET).

6/8/2020

AIG Retirement Services

AIG Retirement Services are presently offering discussions via phone, facetime or WebEx. Janet Lake the AIG representative plans to offer meetings, at your convenience monthly. Below are links to register for an appointment, attend webinars and instructions on how to join a WebEx meeting. You may contact Janet directly at 518-727-8538 or 518-783-6464 or janet.lake@aig.com.

• Advisor contact (PDF)
• Event and Appointment Registration
• Upcoming Webinars
• Retirement Pathfinder Video: Pathfinder
• step-by-step instructions on how to join an online WebEx meeting and stay connected with your financial advisor.

5/29/2020

The Empire Plan's new telehealth benefit to help access health care services remotely.

The Empire Plan is doing all they can to support its enrollees through this unprecedented time and has introduced a new telehealth benefit to help them access health care services remotely. LiveHealth Online lets enrollees stay home and have a video visit with a board-certified doctor or licensed therapist on their smartphone, tablet or personal computer.

If enrollees are concerned about leaving their homes to receive medical care or their ability to access care, The Empire Plan will cover telehealth visits at no cost. See the attachment for additional information and step-by-step instructions to register or enrollees who are already registered can login to www.empireblue.com/nys to get a coupon code to cover the full cost of their LiveHealth Online visit. For additional assistance, enrollees should be encouraged to call The Empire Plan at 1-877-7-NYSHIP (1-877-769-7447) and select option 2 for the Hospital Program.

Note: A postcard regarding this new benefit will also be mailed to enrollees in the coming week.

3/26/2020

VOYA Retirement Contact:
Stephen Donella, Jr. CFP
P: (315) 682-3532
Email:stephen.xonellajr@voyafa.com

Keeping cool may be hard to do when the market goes on one of its periodic roller-coaster rides. It may be useful to have strategies in place that prepare you both financially and psychologically to handle market volatility. The links below discusses methods investors may wish to use to prevent themselves from making hasty decisions that could have a long-term impact on their ability to achieve financial goals.

Coronavirus Concern (PDF)

Stay the Course (PDF)

Weathering the Storm (PDF)

11 Ways to Keep Cool in a Crazy Market (PDF)

3/23/2020