1. Session 2 Benefits Update Panel  Kaela Black, Iowa State University  Becky Priebe, Washington State University  Celia Rainville, University of Vermont  Mary Fran San Soucie, Montana State University

2. Resources—Sonny Barber  Assigned to the Agricultural Research Service  Works in the Human Resources Branch of the National Capital Region Business Service Center  Contact information sonny.barber@ars.usda.gov 301-504-2396

3. Resources—Sonny Barber Job responsibilities  answer questions from CES Human Resources and Payroll personnel  regarding former Schedule A appointee issues  provide guidance on Federal/USDA policy to CES organizations

4. Changes—CES Personnel Information System (CESPIS)  Data collection for has been discontinued  Data was used to prepare the annual salary analysis report  Prior year’s annual reports available at NIFA website http://www.nifa.usda.gov/about/human_res/cesguide/ceshr_index.html http://www.nifa.usda.gov/about/human_res/cesguide/ceshr_index.html

5. Changes--Appointment of Extension Directors/Admin  No longer require USDA approval  Continue to notify the NIFA Office of the Director when new Extension Director/Administrator is appointed.  The State Extension Service Directors and Administrators Directory http://www.nifa.usda.gov/qlinks/extension/state_directory.html http://www.nifa.usda.gov/qlinks/extension/state_directory.html

6. Send the following information for new Director/Admin (letter format)  Name  Educational background (include degree emphasis)  Effective date of the appointment  University Address, Telephone Number, Fax Number, and E Mail Address.

7. Signing Federal Forms  Federal forms can be signed by a State person  Person signing documents should understand the process  NIFA does not need to give approval for person to sign documents

8. Schedule A Employees Eligible to Enroll in:  Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program  TSP Roth IRA if state participates in TSP

9. Schedule A Employees Not Eligible to Enroll in:  Federal Dental Insurance  Federal Vision Insurance

10. Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program Provides long term care insurance for its enrollees, who are Federal and U.S. Postal Service  Employees  Annuitants  Active and retired members of the uniformed services,  Their qualified relatives

11. Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program Eligibility  All CES employees with Federal benefits  Agency does not have to participate in Fed Employees Health Benefits Program  Agency not required to take deductions.  May apply at any time

12. Roth TSP Contribution Effective May 7, 2012, a Roth became a part of the TSP Plan.  Allows participants to contribute on an after-tax basis to their TSP accounts and  Receive tax-free earnings when they withdraw the funds (assuming certain criteria are met).

13. Roth TSP Contribution When you withdraw your Roth contributions and associated earnings in retirement you will pay no Federal income taxes on them, as long as you are:  at least age 59 ½ and  have been making Roth contributions for a minimum of 5 years. tsp FACT SHEET 06-5 (4/2011)

14. Roth TSP Contribution Elective Deferral Limit 2012  $17,000 combined regular and Roth contributions  $5,500 in combined regular and Roth catch-up contributions, if 50 or older  For a combined total of up to $22,500

15. Roth TSP Contribution Participating Agencies are responsible for:  Notifying participants  Taking deductions  Submitting to TSP Details in TSP Bulletin 10-13

16. Annuitants Should Receive  CSA number 10 days after OPM receives application  PIN soon after CSA number  First interim payment 30 to 45 days after OPM receives application  On average annuitants are in interim status for 6 to 7 months.

17. Annuitants Should Receive  CSA number 10 days after OPM receives application  PIN soon after CSA number  First interim payment 30 to 45 days after OPM receives application  On average annuitants are in interim status for 6 to 7 months.

18. Delay in Retirement Claims Processing  Annuitants do not receive FERS annuity supplement while in interim status  Interim status payments are based on 60% to 80% of agency retirement estimate.

19. Retirement Applications (as of 3-10-12) Average Processing Time  CSRS16 to 18 weeks  FERS24 to 26 weeks

20. Processing Applications  OPM cannot process applications until the Agency certifies the date of separation  Sending application before the date of separation will not speed up application

21. Retirement Services Online https://www.servicesonline.opm.gov/(1blai13th2ik3fmbadze4had)/Default.aspx

26. Changes--Retirement  Effective 1-1-12 the retirement contribution rate for new hires increased.  CES Former Schedule A Employees are not impacted by this change.

27. Changes FEGLI Eligible Employee--  Has 60 days to elect new coverage  Can elect any and all coverage based on a qualifying life event (except the employee must elect or have Basic first in order to elect Optional coverage).  Details BAL 12-202

28. Proposed Changes  What is the status of, and the likelihood that the following proposals by congress and/or the President will become law?  And if they do become law, how long will it be for they are implemented? In other words, how long would our people have to ‘get out’ before being impacted?

29. Proposed Changes  HR 3813 – Base annuities on high 5 instead of high 3.  HR 3813 – Increase retirement contribution by 1.5%.  HR 3813 – Reduce annuities by 40% by changing the formula for calculation.

30. Proposed Changes  Obama budget – raises retirement contribution by 1.2% over three years.  Fiscal Committee – erodes inflation protection for COLAs.  Fiscal Committee – high five instead of high three.

31. Proposed Changes  S. 2196 – requires Medicare enrollees to enroll in FEHB, slowly phasing out Medicare.  Fiscal Committee – requires federal employees and retirees and survivors to pay more of the health care premium from 30% to 43% by 2020.

32. Sick Leave Policy  Each University or institution has an individual sick leave policy.  Sick Leave Policies needed to be on file with OPM by January 31, 2003.  Updates can be submitted.  Contact Sonny Barber to request a copy of the policy for your institution.

33. Sick Leave Unused sick leave is not transferable to another Cooperative Extension Service Agency

34. Credit for Unused Sick Leave Under FERS FERS employees separating with title to an immediate annuity or who die leaving an eligible survivor will receive credit for unused sick leave. Effective October 28, 2009 50% of unused sick leave Effective January 1, 2014 100% of unused sick leave

35. Credit for Unused Sick Leave Under FERS FERS retiree with a CSRS component will receive 100% of CSRS frozen sick leave 50% of remainder under FERS

36. Redeposit Refunds FERS Provisions of section 1904 of the NDAA  only apply to employees covered under FERS on or after October 28, 2009, and  only affect annuity benefits based on a separation from FERS coverage on or after October 28, 2009

37. Redeposit Refunds FERS  Employees covered by FERS on or after October 28, 2009, may repay (or redeposit) any FERS deductions previously refunded to them.  They may also redeposit any CSRS deductions previously refunded to them that covered CSRS service that is credited under FERS rules

38. Redeposit Refunds FERS  Payment of the FERS redeposit for FERS service covered by a refund of FERS deductions and CSRS service (that is credited under FERS rules) covered by a refund of CSRS deductions allows the refunded service to be creditable for determining an employee’s retirement eligibility and for computing the amount of an employee’s annuity

39. Redeposit Refunds FERS  Payment not made of the FERS redeposit for FERS service covered by a refund of FERS deductions and CSRS service (that is credited under FERS rules) covered by a refund of CSRS deductions only allows the refunded service to be creditable for determining an employee’s retirement eligibility but it is not creditable for computing the amount of an employee’s annuity

40. Redeposit Refunds FERS  Employees wanting to make a FERS redeposit may complete the current FERS Application to Make a Deposit, SF 3108.  Employees must indicate on the application that the period of service was refunded and send the completed application through their agency for certification.

41. Redeposit Refunds FERS  Employees wanting to make a FERS redeposit for refunded service and a FERS deposit for non- covered service will be assigned two service credit account numbers and will receive two separate statements based on each service credit account calculation.  The two accounts will be set up based on one application – two applications are not necessary.  Payments must be submitted for each account separately.

42. Resources  Video Library at the OPM http://www.opm.gov/Video_Library/Retirement/index.asp  Retirement Readiness NOW Tips http://apps.opm.gov/Listserv_Apps/list-sub.cfm  CES HR List Serve exhrgroup@listserv.montana.edu

43. Resources  Sonny Barber, USDA/ARS/AFM 202-720-7666Sonny.Barber@usda.ars.govSonny.Barber@usda.ars.gov  Kaela Black, Iowa State University 515-294-3283kblack@iastate.edukblack@iastate.edu  Becky Priebe, Washington State University 509-335-2842priebeb@wsu.edupriebeb@wsu.edu  Celia Rainville, University of Vermont 802-656-4003Celia.Rainville@uvm.eduCelia.Rainville@uvm.edu  Mary Fran San Soucie, Montana State University 406-994-6648maryfran@montana.edumaryfran@montana.edu  Regional Contacts