4J BENEFITS AND WELLNESS NEWSLETTER
Prepared by Julie Wenzl • 541-790-7682 • wenzl@4j.lane.edu • November 2, 2016 • Issue Number 291
TAX SHELTERED ANNUITY (TSA) VENDOR FAIR
You are cordially invited to attend a 403(b) Tax Sheltered Annuity (TSA) Vendor Fair. This drop-in style format event will be a great opportunity to gather information on tax deferred retirement savings plans. This event will take place in the Ed Center Auditorium between 3:30 and 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 15, 2016.
There will be experts on hand from many of the vendors who work with 4J employees, all together in one place. If you have been meaning to start your TSA, now is the time. If you already have a TSA going and have questions, this is a great opportunity to connect directly with your vendor.
All 4J employees are eligible to set up an account under the 403(b) Plan with any vendor who is on the District list of approved vendors: http://www.ncompliance.com/guest_employervendors.aspx?EmployerID=12
4J Retirement Plan A eligible employees (hired into a licensed position before July 1, 1998) do not receive a TSA contribution from 4J.
4J Retirement Plan B eligible employees (hired on or after July 1, 1998) are eligible to receive a TSA contribution from 4J:
- First year of eligibility – $50 / month
- Third year of eligibility – $75 / month
- Sixth year of eligibility – $100 / month
- Tenth year of eligibility – $150 / month
- Thirteenth year of eligibility – $175 / month
FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNT ROLLOVER
If you had a 2015-16 Flexible Spending Account and did not use all of your FSA money set aside for unreimbursed eligible health-related expenses, up to $500 of that unused money will roll over into the new 2016-17 plan year.
Because you have until December 31, 2016, to submit receipts for expenses incurred during the October 1, 2015 – September 30, 2016, plan year, the funds have not yet been released to cover expenses incurred on or after October 1, 2016. PacificSource Administrators (PSA) allows a run out period of 90 days to submit claims for the recently concluded plan year. The rollover of remaining funds will happen automatically after December 31, 2016.
Need your rollover amount sooner than January 1, 2017? PSA will grant requests to roll funds early; however, once the funds rollover, no additional reimbursement requests can be submitted for the 2015-16 FSA plan year. Please be advised that any early rollover requests take 7-10 days to complete.
If you had a Dependent Care FSA for the October 1, 2015 – September 30, 2016, plan year, any unused money left in that account at the end of the plan year was forfeited, as per IRS regulations. Like with the health FSA, you have until December 31, 2016, to submit requests for reimbursement from this account.
If you have any questions, the PacificSource Administrators Customer Service number is 541-485-7488. You can access the PSA website at http://psa.pacificsource.com/PSA/.
RETIRING THIS YEAR?
If you are considering retirement sometime during or at the end of the school year, please make sure you are aware of the requirements and timelines. There are two steps you’ll need to take to complete your retirement:
- Contact PERS to begin your Service Retirement process.
- Contact Julie Wenzl (541-790-7682 or wenzl@4j.lane.edu) to learn about your 4J retirement benefits and complete your 4J retirement paperwork.
To get advice regarding your PERS retirement, you’ll need to work with your financial planner or directly with PERS. 4J does not give PERS advice. The phone number for PERS is 888-320-7377 and the website is http://oregon.gov/PERS/. You can find a great deal of information on the PERS website, and can download forms and sign up for education sessions as well.
Article 4.9 of our contract specifies that you must give the District at least 60 days notice of your intention to retire:
The District will provide two supplemental retirement plans for eligible unit members. A unit member hired and employed as a bargaining unit member prior to July 1, 1998 and continuously a bargaining unit member until the date of retirement from District employment, is eligible for Supplemental Retirement Plan A. A bargaining unit member hired and employed on or after July 1, 1998, is eligible for Supplemental Retirement Plan B. A unit member who elects supplemental retirement must provide the District with at least sixty (60) days advance notice of retirement. Notice may be revoked or waived with District consent.
Article 4.9.1.b of our contract outlines an additional timeline requirement for plan A retirees:
By April 1st, unit members must give the District Human Resource Department a written commitment which specifies a retirement date if they intend to retire during the period from April 1st through November 15th. If unit members provide this commitment by April 1st, they shall be advanced two payments of the monthly supplemental retirement stipend in the first month following termination from the District. If unit members do not provide this commitment by April 1st and retire during the period from April 1st through November 15th, the unit members shall not be paid the monthly supplemental retirement stipend or the District insurance contribution during the first two months following retirement.
Regardless of participation in 4J retiree insurance, licensed employees must provide a 60-day written notice of intent to leave 4J employment as required by ORS 342.553 (1).
QUICK TIP – FROZEN FISH
The fastest and safest way to thaw frozen fish if you’re in a hurry: put it in a zipper bag, push out as much air as possible, zip closed, submerge in a bowl of cold water, and weigh down with a plate.
STILL NEED A FLU SHOT?
If you missed the 4J flu shot clinics and have OEBB/Moda insurance, you can receive a flu shot at a network pharmacy – no copayment necessary!
Call ahead of time to make sure the pharmacy has the vaccine you need. Show your Moda Health ID card to the pharmacist for billing before receiving a vaccine – otherwise it may not be covered.
The following participating chain pharmacies provide vaccines: Rite Aid, Fred Meyer, Albertson Savon, Safeway, Target, and Bi-Mart.
For a complete list of network pharmacies or if you have questions, call Moda Health Pharmacy Customer Service at 866‐923‐0411.
DO YOUR SHOES FIT PROPERLY?
Ill-fitting shoes can cause many problems, from minor injuries to permanent deformity. When you are looking for your next pair of shoes, keep in mind:
- Have your feet measured regularly: as you grow older, their size may change. The end of the day is the best time to have your feet measured, as your feet tend to swell during the course of the day.
- When measuring your feet, make sure there is enough space for your longest toes at the end of the shoe when you are standing up.
- Many people have one foot that is larger than the other. Be sure to buy shoes that fit the larger foot.
- Select shoes that feel right regardless of what size the shoe is.
- Buy shoes that are shaped like your foot.
- The widest part of the shoe is at the ball of your foot. If that part fits well, the whole shoe will fit well.
- Do not expect shoes to stretch to fit your feet. Squeezing your feet into shoes that are too tight can cause foot pain and damage.
- Shoes should also be fitted well to your heel. Make sure that your heel does not slip out of the back of the shoe when you walk.
Soreness, blisters, calluses, and, with time, permanent disfigurements can be caused by habitually crowding your feet into shoes that don’t fit properly. With shoes that fit properly, you can prevent pain and discomfort in your feet caused by injuries and conditions such as painful bunions, hammertoes, and other deformities.
WELLNESS CLINIC CLOSURE
The 4J Wellness Clinic will be closed for Thanksgiving: November 24 – 25. Regular clinic hours are Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. The clinic is closed for lunch from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. The phone number for the clinic is 541-686-1427.
The information in this newsletter has been summarized. It is presented as information – not advice or counsel. In all instances, the benefits, conditions, and limitations as outlined in the 4J Master Contracts prevail over this representation. Please refer to your Benefits booklet or master contracts available at the District offices for additional information regarding your benefits plans.
