Life Events:  When Changes Affect Your Benefits or Employment

 

Whether it’s marriage, a new baby, gaining custody of a grandchild, or retiring … life involves change.  Often, life events can affect the benefits you carry at your job.  Sometimes, certain changes must be reported to Human Resources and Employee Benefits, especially to assure timely benefits plan coverage or accurate paycheck information. 

 

Perhaps you need to add a dependent to health insurance, process a name change, or update beneficiary information.  The events listed below gives you things to consider, along with some resources for more information.  A general listing of “Where to Call” is available for you to contact retirement plan carriers, state agencies, and more. 

 

Where to Call   a comprehensive listing of benefits programs, agencies, and plan carriers

Click here for Document

 

 

 

 

Adoption/Legal Guardianship

 

Things to consider: 

Changing from individual to family health plan; adding your new dependent to your health insurance, dental and vision plans; updating your beneficiary forms for life insurance, retirement system, or other plans; flexible spending accounts; college savings plans.    

 

Health insurance change requests must be reported to Human Resources, Employee Benefits on a timely basis in order to avoid waiting periods and non-coverage of medical bills.  If you have an HMO, also contact the insurance carrier for an additional enrollment form.

 

Provide documents to Employee Benefits in order to add a new dependent to your health insurance, vision and/or dental plans. 

 

You may have new or increased eligibility for NYS Flexible Spending Plans, to help with out-of-pocket medical expenses and/or dependent care expenses.  www.flexspend.state.ny.us

1-800-358-7202

 

To start a NYS College Savings Plan, contact  http://nysaves.uii.upromise.com

1-800-420-8580

 

To change your tax status, contact Human Resources, Payroll.

 

For family and medical leave information (FLMA), contact Human Resources.  FLMA information described here:  http://www.dol.gov/esa/whd/fmla

 

 

Birth of Baby

 

Things to consider: 

Changing from individual to family health plan; adding your new dependent to your health insurance, dental and vision plans; updating your beneficiary forms for life insurance, retirement system, or other plans; flexible spending accounts; college savings plans.   

 

Health insurance change requests must be reported to Human Resources, Employee Benefits on a timely basis in order to avoid waiting periods and non-coverage of medical bills.  If you have an HMO, also contact the insurance carrier for an additional enrollment form.

 

Provide documents to Employee Benefits in order to add a new dependent to your health insurance, vision and/or dental plans. 

 

You may have new or increased eligibility for NYS Flexible Spending Plans, to help with out-of-pocket medical expenses and/or dependent care expenses.  www.flexspend.state.ny.us

1-800-358-7202

 

To start a NYS College Savings Plan, contact  http://nysaves.uii.upromise.com

1-800-420-8580

 

To change your tax status, contact Human Resources, Payroll.

 

For family and medical leave information (FLMA), contact Human Resources.  FLMA information described here:  http://www.dol.gov/esa/whd/fmla

 

 

 

 

Coping with Changes

 

The following programs have resources that can help you adjust to changes in life situations, along with a wide variety of personal and work issues. 

 

EAP (Employee Assistance Program)    

http://www.binghamton.edu/eap    777-6655

 

 

LifeWorks   

www.lifeworks.com  (user ID:  NYS,  password:  2670)   

 

NYS Work-Life Services     

www.worklife.state.ny.us

 

                                                           

 College

Things to consider: 

Dependent children can be covered under your health insurance, dental and vision plans up to age 25, as long as they are a full-time student.  Coverage is void during times when they are not full-time students, after age 19.  Proof of student status (typically provided by their college’s Registrar office) is required for any changes to your insurance plans.  Coverage may be provided for up to 3 months after the month in which they complete requirements for graduation; you must request this extension in coverage. You may also request COBRA information to continue coverage for a newly ineligible dependent. Again, you must request COBRA coverage if needed. Contact Human Resources, Employee Benefits for changes in status.  

 

For details on student status, go to the NYS Dept. of Civil Service web site;  select your bargaining unit, for example UUP, CSEA, etc.

http://www.cs.state.ny.us/ebd/ebdonlinecenter/newgib/uup/03who.cfm?section=hi&group=uup

 

 

NYS College Savings Plan, contact  http://nysaves.uii.upromise.com

1-800-420-8580

 

Contact your union for information on scholarships for family members. 

 

For employees, there are tuition benefit programs available, depending upon your union affiliation/bargaining unit, CSEA Partnership, M/C Tuition Reiumbursement, PEF’s Public Service Workshop Programs, and more, described on the NYS Governor’s Office of Employee Relations site.

http://www.goer.state.ny.us/train/tuition/index.html

http://humanresources.binghamton.edu/currentnewsdocs/Educational%20Assistance%20Summary.htm

 

 

At Binghamton University, the Space Available and Tuition Waiver programs are also available.  Contact Human Resources, Employee Benefits. 

 

Death

Things to consider: 

When an employee dies, or an employee’s family member dies, Human Resources, Employee Benefits will summarize information for the family contact, including retirement system and health insurance options.  Please call Employee Benefits for assistance. 

 

When an employee dies, direct deposit is inactivated.  Paychecks and any other NYS employer refunds/payments will be re-processed in the name of the next of kin. Human Resources will contact the family to provide form Affidavit for next-of-kin. 

 

Other considerations:  switching from a family to individual health insurance plan; dependent survivor benefits; changing your tax withholding; updating beneficiary forms; life insurance payments.

 

 

Disability/Illness

 

Things to consider: 

 

Sick leave accruals are used during times of illness or disability; as employees of the State of New York, we are not eligible for the NYS short-term disability program.  In cases where there are not enough accruals to cover the period of your illness or disability, contact Human Resources for options, including the leave donation program.   Contact your union for other short-term disability programs that can be purchased at group rates. 

 

For illness of family members, up to 15 days per calendar year of your sick leave accruals may be used. 

 

For family and medical leave information (FLMA), contact Human Resources.  FLMA information described here:  http://www.dol.gov/esa/whd/fmla

 

Medical documentation may be required for absences; please contact Human Resources for the Confidential Medical Statement. 

 

Using your health insurance benefits efficiently is especially important during times of illness or disability.  Read plan documents, and contact your insurance carrier(s) with any questions or confusion.  Be sure to follow their policies for pre-authorizations and other plan rules.

 

Long-term disability programs are available depending upon your bargaining unit.

 

 

 

Divorce

 

Things to Consider: 

 

For a name change, contact the Social Security Administration www.socialsecurity.gov. 

Tax withholding changes; changing designation of beneficiaries for life insurance and retirement plans. 

 

Once divorced, your ex-spouse cannot be covered under the New York State Health Insurance Program, which includes all our health insurance carriers.  An application for COBRA coverage can be considered.  If there are no children, you may switch to an individual only plan.  Contact Employee Benefits for options and forms.  Your former spouse will no longer be eligible for your dental and vision plans.

 

 

Domestic Partner

 

Things to Consider: 

 

To add or remove a domestic partner, forms are completed in Employee Benefits.  When adding a domestic partner, consider costs of imputed income, which means that a portion of the health insurance premium becomes taxable income; along with a possible change from individual to family coverage.  Various proofs of shared financial and residential status are required, along with your partner’s identification documents such as Social Security card, and date of birth document.

 

Eligibility guidelines may be found on the NYS Department of Civil Service web site.  Please select your bargaining unit affiliation; for example, UUP, CSEA, etc. 

http://www.cs.state.ny.us/ebd/ebdonlinecenter/newgib/uup/03who.cfm?section=hi&group=uup

 

 

Job Change

 

Things to Consider: 

 

An increase or decrease in your percentage of work, or salary, can affect your eligibility for benefits or leave accruals.  Changing from one bargaining unit to another can also change the kinds of plan, or plan carriers, for which you are eligible. 

 

For complete details, visit the “Benefits” section of the Human Resources web site.  In most cases, there is a seamless transition among benefits programs.  You can call Human Resources with questions about your particular job change. 

 

 

Marriage

 

Things to Consider: 

 

For a name change, contact the Social Security Administration www.socialsecurity.gov.  Then, report the name change to your department; and Human Resources, Employee Benefits, along with a copy of your new Social Security card.

Also consider tax withholding changes; changing designation of beneficiaries for life insurance and retirement plans. 

 

Health insurance, dental and vision plans:  to add your new spouse without a waiting period, contact Employee Benefits within 7 days of the date of marriage to complete a PS-404 form, along with marriage certificate, Social Security card, and date of birth documents for your spouse. 

 

 

Moving

 

Things to Consider: 

 

For an address change, contact your local post office.  http://www.switchboard.com/usps.1355/dir/6_0/index.htm?mem=1355

 

Report your address change to your department; Human Resources, Employee Benefits, and retirement system plans. 

 

Update all your plans that you might carry through unions or other agencies. 

 

 

Name Change

 

Things to Consider: 

 

For a name change, contact the Social Security Administration www.socialsecurity.gov.  Then, report the name change to your department; and Human Resources, Employee Benefits, along with a copy of your new Social Security card.  Report the change to other plans that you might carry through unions or other agencies. 

 

 

Retirement

 

General Planning and Things to Consider: 

 

The New York State Governor’s Office of Employee Relations has an online pre-retirement planning guide:

http://www.goer.state.ny.us/train/onlinelearning/pr/intro.html

 

In addition, the Governors’ Office of Employee Relations now provides an online version of Directions at: http://www.worklife.state.ny.us/preretirement/selfhelpguide/

 

 

Health Insurance in Retirement:

 

For matters related directly to health insurance options, Employee Benefits has booklets and videos from the NYS Department of Civil Service. 

 

The NYS Insurance Plan discusses State retiree health insurance at:

http://www.cs.state.ny.us/ebd/ebdonlinecenter/preretresource/index.cfm

 

Social Security Administration (including Medicare): http://www.ssa.gov/

 

 

Pension Estimates and Options:

 

Contact your retirement plan and annuity carriers for specific information on your retirement options and pension estimates. 

 

NYS Employees’ Retirement System members can project their pension benefits at:

http://www.osc.state.ny.us/retire/members/projmodl.htm

 

NYS Employees’ Retirement System has retirement planning resources at: http://www.osc.state.ny.us/retire/members/planningcover.htm

 

NYS Employees’ Retirement System maintains a listing of useful retirement related links at: http://www.osc.state.ny.us/retire/links.htm

 

NYS Teachers’ Retirement System has retirement planning resources at:

http://www.nystrs.org/main/retirementplanning.html

 

TIAA-Cref sponsors this site: http://www.tiaa-cref.org/support/planning/index.html

 

ING provides retirement planning resources at:

http://www6.ingretirementplans.com/SponsorExtranet/SUNY/Education/index.html

 

AIG Valic provides retirement planning resources at:

http://aigvalic.com/valic2003/aigvalic.nsf/contents/edu_retire

 

MetLife provides retirement planning resources at: http://198.65.242.50/metlife/

 

Fidelity provides retirement planning resources at:

http://personal.fidelity.com/planning/retirement/retirement_planning.shtml.cvsr?bar=c

 

Social Security Administration (including Medicare): http://www.ssa.gov/