Page 17 - Work Force November 2021

Summary of September Board of Directors Meeting
Editor’s Note: The Work Force publishes
the COVID-19 pandemic, CSEA has • Approved Local 836, Orange canceled in-person meetings and County, to enter into a five- this meeting was held via Zoom. In year extension agreement official business, the board: between A & D Management of
(Metropolitan Region) and Chris Franks, Local 860 (Southern Region) to their Region Political Action Committee, as contained in the Standing Legislative Political Action Committee Report to the Board of Sept. 23, 2021.
Approved the Directors’ Personnel Committee Report to the Board of Sept. 23, 2021.
Questions concerning the summary should be directed to Statewide Secretary Richard Bebo, CSEA Headquarters, 143 Washington Ave., Albany, NY 12210. (800) 342- 4146 or (518) 257-1253.
a summary
of actions
taken by
CSEA’s Board
of Directors.
The summary
is prepared
by CSEA
Statewide
Secretary
Richard Bebo for union members.
ALBANY — To comply with state social gathering restrictions due to
•
Approved Local 856, Ulster Middletown, N.Y. located at 465 County, to enter into a five-year East Main Street, Middletown, extension agreement between N.Y. The lease is for five years NYSUT Building Corporation commencing October 1, 2021, to
at 800 Troy-Schenectady Road, Sept. 20, 2026. As this lease term • Latham, N.Y. 12110-2455 located runs past the Local Officers’
at 256 Clinton Avenue, Kingston, current term, the Board’s
N.Y. 12401. The lease is for five approval is necessary for this years commencing July 1, 2021, lease.
and ending June 30, 2026. As • Approved the Standing Legal this lease term runs past the Committee Report to the Board Local Officers’ current term, the of Sept. 23, 2021.
Board’s approval is necessary • Approved the appointment of for this lease. Delphine Moultrie, Local 460
Bebo
Important dates to remember for 2022
NYSHIP enrollees should start thinking about their health care expenses for next year.
Do you currently participate in the Flex Spending Account or the Productivity Enhancement Program (PEP)? If you don’t, now is the
ideal time to get more information about these cost-saving benefits
as enrollment begins in November (enrollment is time sensitive and end dates vary).
Flex Spending Account Open Enrollment Period: Nov. 2 - 29, 2021
The Flex Spending Account 2022 plan year will begin on Jan. 1, 2022. The Flex Spending Account is a negotiated employee benefit for state employees. A flex spending account offers a way to pay for your dependent care, health care expenses, or adoption expenses with pre-tax dollars.
The Flex Spending Account website www.flexspend.ny.gov contains more information about eligibility and program rules. You can visit www.goer.ny.gov/FSA or call 1-800-358-7202 to enroll. If you are currently enrolled in the Flex Spending Account program, you
must re-enroll to continue your participation in 2022.
Productivity Enhancement Program Enrollment Period: Nov. 2 - 29, 2021
The Productivity Enhancement Program (PEP) allows eligible full and part-time state employees to exchange previously accrued annual and/or personal leave in return for
a credit to be applied toward their NYSHIP premium. If you are eligible and elect this program, the credit will be included in your biweekly paychecks and divided evenly during the plan year.
During the last round of negotiations, CSEA was successful negotiating an increase to the PEP amounts. For calendar year 2022, CSEA active state members can receive up to a $600 credit or $1,200 credit determined by salary grade and number of days forfeited.
To elect PEP for 2022, you must apply between Nov. 2 and 29, 2021. Ask your agency Health Benefits Administrator for details and an application. If you are currently enrolled in PEP and remain eligible, you must re-enroll to continue receiving in 2022.
PTCP Election Period: will run concurrently with the official NYSHIP Option Transfer Period for Health Insurance
The Pre-Tax Contribution Program is a voluntary program that allows your share of the health insurance premium to be deducted from wages before taxes are withheld. In exchange
for this reduction in
tax liability, you
agree to maintain
the same pre-tax
health insurance
deduction for
the entire plan
year, unless you
experience a
qualifying event
and provide
timely notification.
Participation in the
PTCP can be chosen
when first eligible for
health insurance benefits and may also be selected to participate or decline participation in PTCP each year during the PTCP election period.
Requests made during the PTCP election period become effective at the beginning of the 2022 plan year.
If you want to change your PTCP election for 2022, complete a NYS Health Insurance Transaction Form PS-404 and submit to your agency Health Benefits Administrator before the PTCP election period deadline.
Per IRS rules, this election period is the only opportunity to
change your PTCP status for 2022; arbitrary,
mid-year status changes are not
allowed. Should a qualifying PTCP
event occur mid-year, you may be able to change your
health option or coverage
type (family
to individual) or cancel coverage, if all
requirements are met. Any PTCP qualifying event request to
change your benefits during the
tax year must be submitted within 30 days of the event (or within the waiting period, if newly eligible); delays may be costly. No action is required to keep your current PTCP status.
November 2021 The Work Force 17