Employee Matters

This column by Employee Compensation and Benefits Services addresses campuswide employment issues. Send your questions to: wisweek@news.wisc.edu.

What are May multiple insurance deductions?
May multiple insurance deductions are taken from your May payroll check dated May 31 if you hold one of the following unclassified appointments and are not terminating in June, July or August:

• Faculty or academic staff academic (nine-month) appointment
• Project or program assistant with an appointment end date in May

Why multiple deductions?
Multiple insurance deductions are taken from May payroll check to ensure that your insurance coverage is continuous during the summer months. Insurance premium deductions are not taken from summer session payroll. Insurance premium deductions will resume on your payroll check dated Oct. 1.

How is the number of deductions determined?
Four deductions will be taken for each insurance program, one each for May, June, July and August unless you retire or terminate in June, July or August.

What about multiple deductions for TSA, DC or ERA?
Multiple deductions are not taken for tax shelter annuities (TSA), deferred compensation (DC) or employee reimbursement accounts. This should be taken into account when you enroll in these programs. Deductions for these will resume with your Oct. 1 check. Changes to your TSA or DC contributions that you want to be effective Oct. 1 must be received by Employee Compensation and Benefits Services no later than Sept. 17.

The salary reduction agreement is available at: http://www.uwsa.edu/hr/benefits/retsav/sraform.pdf.

Contact Deferred Compensation to make changes to your DC account: http://nrsretire.nrsservicecenter.com/nrs/?Site=WisconsinDCP

How do you continue benefits if terminating employment in the summer?
Advise your department benefits coordinator of the date your employment will end as soon you know and request continuation/conversion information and application forms for all benefit plans you want to continue. Do not delay, as continuation/conversion application deadlines apply to each plan.

How do you continue benefits if retiring in the summer?
Make an appointment with a benefits specialist, 262-1212, 7:45 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Or complete an online form: http://www.bussvc.wisc.edu/ecbs/adm-appt-request-form-uw1305.html

A benefits specialist can assist with continuation or conversion of all plans and coordinate conversion of sick leave for continuation of your state group health plan through the Department of Employee Trust Funds.

Are you anticipating a family-status change in the summer?
Notify your department benefits coordinator immediately if a family status change (i.e. marriage, divorce, birth, etc.) occurs during the summer, as most plans have a 30-day deadline for submitting changes. Family status changes can affect a number of your benefit plans (i.e. single-to-family, or family-to-single coverage for health insurance, a change to ERA deductions, beneficiary designation changes, etc).

Questions?
Contact a benefit specialist 263-7556 or 262-5650, employee@bussvc.wisc.edu

More information will be available May 1:
http://www.bussvc.wisc.edu/ecbs/whats-new.html.