Page 18 - Work Force November 2020

Reminder: Use FSA balance before end of the year
The Flex Spending Account (FSA) is a negotiated employee benefit that helps state employees save money by allowing certain expenses to be paid with pre-tax dollars.
New York State’s FSA (for Executive Branch employees) includes the Health Care Spending Account (HCSA), the Dependent Care Advantage Account (DCAA) and the Adoption Advantage Account. If
you wish to enroll in one of these programs for calendar year 2021, it is important to do so during the open enrollment from Nov. 2 to Nov. 30, 2020.
Before participating in the state’s FSA programs, carefully consider what your eligible expenses for next year might be. Once you have estimated the amount of expenses, determine how much you wish to contribute. Keep in mind that under federal law, any money placed into the FSA must be used for expenses
incurred during the plan year in which it was contributed. For the 2020 plan year, expenses must be used prior to Dec. 31, 2020.
The Health Care Spending Account helps state employees pay for health-related expenses
with tax-free dollars.
Some eligible expenses
can include costs for
medical, hospital,
prescription drug,
dental, vision and
other expenses that
are not reimbursed
by insurance or
other benefit plans.
Effective Jan. 1, 2020, over-the-counter (OTC)
drugs and medicines used
to treat a medical condition or illness no longer require a written prescription from a doctor to be considered an FSA qualified medical expense. Menstrual products are
considered an FSA qualified medical expense. OTC vitamins and dietary supplements continue to be not reimbursable unless recommended by a doctor to treat a medical
condition.
The Dependent Care
Advantage Account helps state employee families
pay for custodial child care, elder
care, or disabled dependent care while they are at work. As a result of
the CSEA Executive Branch agreement
with New York State, many employees are
eligible for an employer contribution to the DCAA account. Based on salary, the employer contribution may provide up to $800 for eligible employees who enroll in the DCAA. Enrollment in the DCAA
can be limited to just the employer contribution amount, or any amount up to the IRS Limit.
The Adoption Advantage Account allows eligible employees to enroll in a flexible spending account for expenses related to the adoption
of an eligible child. Pre-tax payroll deductions contributed to the Adoption Advantage Account can help pay for an adoption that meets the IRS’s definition of a qualified adoption.
If you currently participate in one of New York State’s FSA programs in 2020, now is the time to determine how to use those remaining funds prior to December 31, 2020.
Any questions regarding these programs for calendar year 2020
or 2021 should be addressed to HealthEquity (formerly WageWorks), New York State’s FSA program administrator at 1-800-358-7202 or www.flexspend.ny.gov.
Working Peoples History: Birth of an Association
During the early 20th century, the New York State civil service system was full of corruption and favoritism, and many state agencies also operated without a strong central authority.
This era was also marked by people not only fighting
to end such corruption by establishing regulatory
reforms, but fighting for improvements to living
and working conditions.
The Progressive
Era mindset likely
extended to a group
of New York State employees in October 1910.
On Oct. 24, 1910, this group met at the state Capitol and formed an organization intended to advance the concept of merit and fitness in
the state civil service system and to improve the working lives of state employees. The association appears to have been the first organization of its kind representing the interests
of state employees. According to an Oct.
30, 1910, Albany Knickerbocker
Press article, the founders were
determined to make it one of the strongest such organizations
in the state.
“The Association of State Civil
Service Employees which was formed
Monday night promises to be one of the strongest
organizations in the state,” the article noted.
The newspaper also reported that state workers had been considering the idea of forming the Association for months. “When
the subject was broached several months ago as to the advisability
of forming State civil service employees into an association, the question was raised as to who could be relied upon to take the initial steps to perform the arduous task of developing the plan and perfecting the details of its consummation... Those who were at first reluctant
to join now admit its advantage,”
the newspaper reported, as recounted in
the January/
February 1933
State Employee magazine.
The association’s first president was William M. Thomas, a hearing stenographer for the state Department of Law. He served in the post until 1918.
The association’s earliest accomplishments included fighting for the establishment of New York State Public Employee Retirement System, as well as actively
advocating for an overhaul of state government to establish clearer oversight and accountability. Association membership grew steadily, particularly during the Great Depression.
In 1946, the association
was renamed the Civil Service Employees Association after the association opened membership
to local government members. Westchester County
was the
first local government entity to join.
As we mark our 110th anniversary this year, we are still committed to the same core values that helped us form our union, including fighting for fair pay, strong benefits, retirement security and safer working conditions. While
our fight continues in our second century, we are stronger than ever.
18 The Work Force
November 2020