Employee Benefits

• Long Term Disability Plan Pamphlet and Application
• Medical and Dental Plans Booklet and Application Form
• Term Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance Booklet and Application

Mandatory Deductions

• Form w-4 employee's withholding allowance certificate
• OASI (Social Security and Medicare)
• Medical Aid and Supplemental Pension

Retirement Plans

• Pers Rates (Public Employees' Retirement System)
• TIAA - CREF Information and Application (exempt staff and faculty)

Optional Benefits and Services

• Credit Union Membership
• Deferred Compensation Plans
• Dependent Care Assistance Salary Reduction Plan
• Electronic Funds Transfer (optional)
• Medical Flexible Spending Account

Credit union membership:

Credit Unions are member-owned and their primary objective is to provide a service to their members rather than earn a profit for investors.

As an employee of The Evergreen State College, you can become a member of one of the following credit unions:

• Washington State Employees Credit Union
• Twin County Credit Union
• Washington School Employees Credit Union

Deferred compensation plans:

Deferred Compensation is a method of taking some of the income you earn today and setting it aside for your use during your retirement years when you presumably will be in a lower tax bracket. The portion that you set aside today is not taxed while you EARN it. Instead, it is taxed when you draw it out and USE it.

Evergreen offers you a choice of three different plans:

• TIAA-CREF Supplemental Retirement Annuity
• State of Washington Employee's Deferred Compensation
• VALIC tax deferred annuity

Dependent care assistance salary reduction plan:

This plan allows you to reduce your taxable income by setting aside a "before tax" portion (the amount you set aside is exempt from federal income tax, OASI taxes, and Medicare taxes) of your salary to be used to reimburse dependent care expenses. If you have children or other dependents and are currently paying for their care may want to investigate this plan. Please contact the Payroll Office or DCAP for more information if you are interested. DCAP can be reached at 360-664-7111 or 1-800-423-1524.

Electronic funds transfer:

If you would like to avoid the inconvenience of picking up your paycheck and taking it to your bank on payday, you can sign up to have your funds automatically deposited to your bank account. To sign up, please request the ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFER OF SALARY AUTHORIZATION FORM.

Important notice regarding electronic funds transfer!

After you submit your request for electronic funds transfer, the next one or two paychecks will STILL BE CHECKS WHICH YOU WILL NEED TO PICK UP AT THE CASHIERS' WINDOW. This allows the computer to test post your deposit and verifies that the account and routing numbers are correct. When you turn in your request, the Payroll staff will be able to tell you how many paychecks you will need to pick up before your funds are transferred automatically. It is your responsibility to keep the Payroll Office informed of your mail stop changes.

Long term disability plan pamphlet and application

This insurance will provide you with a portion of your earnings should you become disabled. The college pays for the basic coverage (which will supply a maximum of $240 per month in earnings should you become disabled). Optional Insurance is also available at additional cost to you. When combined with the Basic Benefit, the Option Plan will provide up to 60% of the first $10,000 of your basic monthly earnings should you become disabled. This form needs to be returned to payroll. If you DO NOT want the optional coverage, check the "NO" box sign and date the form. If you DO wish to sign up for the optional coverage please select one of the waiting periods, check the "YES" box, sign and date the form. The amount of your premiums will be dependent upon the length of waiting period you select. (The longer the waiting period, the smaller the premium). Please refer to the pamphlet for complete premium information.

Important note regarding timely submission of all insurance application forms!

It is important that you return your completed forms to the Payroll Office within the eligibility time period.

• Medical/Dental - 31days
• Long-Term Disability forms - 31 days
• Life Insurance forms - 60 days
• Medical Flexible Spending - 30 days mail directly to FBMC

By returning them in a timely manner, you are automatically accepted by most programs and you do not have to furnish evidence of insurability. Applications received after the initial 31 days must be sent to the Health Care Authority for approval and do require evidence of insurability (you are required to complete a medical questionnaire and may be required to have a physical exam).

Form W-4 employee's withholding allowance certificate:

This form is used to calculate the amount of income tax we will withhold from your check. This form must be returned as soon as possible.

Medical aid and supplemental pension:

This deduction is paid to the Department of Labor and Industries. They use the money to pay for the treatment of injured workers. This rate fluctuates annually dependent on injury claims. Ask your payroll representative for current rates.

Medical and dental plans booklet and application form:

This booklet outlines the various medical and dental plans offered by Evergreen. There are 5 medical plans available to Thurston County residents and 7 medical plans available to Pierce County residents; other options may be available to residents of other counties. The State will pay 100 percent of premium for dental, basic life, and basic long-term disability coverage. Employees will be responsible for paying a portion of medical premiums. The plan costs are detailed on the premium rate sheet included with your medical information. You need to select one medical plan and one dental plan. You will also be responsible for the cost of any co-payments or other costs associated with doctors' visits. The Health Care Authority is a great place to look.

Medical coverage can be waived for you and any or all dependents if they have other coverage. Employees with spouses who have coverage under another plan may choose to waive coverage on their spouse, thus avoiding the spousal premium charge. If you waive coverage on yourself or dependents, your enrollment forms still need to be completed, as you will be covered for dental insurance. If we do not receive your enrollment forms, you will default to Uniform Medical and be responsible for their premiums effective your eligibility date.

Your medical coverage will start the first of the month following your date of hire unless employment begins the first working day of the month.

Important notice to tesc staff and their dependents concerning their COBRA (consolidated omnibus budget reconciliation act of 1985) RIGHTS.

This letter informs you and your dependents of your rights for continuation of State Employees Benefits Board (SEBB) Medical and Dental Coverage's through self-payment in the event that you or your dependents become ineligible for coverage by the college subsidized plan.

Medical flexible spending account:

A Flexible Spending Account is an ASI approved, tax-free account that saves you money on eligible medical expenses. You authorize per-pay-period deposits to your FSA from your before-tax salary. The amount you set aside is exempt from federal income tax, OASI tax, and Medicare tax. Then, as you incur eligible expenses, you request tax-free withdrawals from your account to reimburse yourself. Establishing a Medical Expense FSA will save valuable tax dollars on eligible medical expenses. Please contact the Payroll Office or ASI for more information if you are interested.

OASI (Social Security and Medicare):

When you receive your paycheck, you will notice a deduction from your check and a contribution (designated by a "C") for OASI. This deduction is for Social Security. The Social Security Tax Rate is currently 6.20% each for employees and employers on the first $97,400 of wages paid during the calendar year for OASI (Old Age Survivors and Disability Insurance) and 1.45% of all wages for Medicare Insurance. The composite rate is 7.65%.

Pers Rates (public employees' retirement system):

WASHINGTON STATE PUBLIC EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM BOOKLET AND APPLICATION FORM (ALL CLASSIFIED STAFF AND EXEMPT STAFF WHO CHOOSE TO REMAIN ACTIVE MEMBERS IN THE STATE PERS OR TRS PLAN):

As a new classified employee with no prior state service , you can choose between PERS Plan 2 or Plan 3.

PERS Plan 2 is a defined benefit plan. It provides a guaranteed lifetime monthly retirement benefit based on length of employment and salary.

PERS Plan 3 has two components-a defined benefit plan and a defined contribution plan. The defined benefit plan is the same as PERS 2 but provides half the guaranteed lifetime monthly retirement benefit. The defined contribution plan is based on the amount you contribute and the performance of the investments you select.

You will have 90 days to make your choice between PERS Plan 2 or Plan 3. If you do not choose a plan during your first 90 days, you will automatically default to Plan 3. Once you are in Plan 2 or Plan 3, you will remain in that plan through your career with the state of Washington.

A new classified employee with PERS 2 membership prior to March 1, 2002 will automatically be enrolled in PERS 2. You will have the option to transfer into PERS 3 every January.

Exempt staff who come to Evergreen as active PERS or TRS (State retirement plan members) may remain in their present plan or they can elect to participate in the College Retirement Plan, TIAA-CREF. If you would like to switch to TIAA-CREF, please request a TIAA-CREF application form .

The Department of Retirement booklet explains in depth the differences in the two plans. How the two plans vary in the amount withheld from you check is as follows:

Contributions are based on your gross salary amount. Your contributions are treated as reductions from your salary. Therefore, you do not pay income tax on that portion of your earnings now. It will be taxed upon withdrawal.

Contributions are as follows:	Your Contribution	Evergreen Contribution
PERS I (Plan I) (Must have joined the system prior to October 1, 1977. Must be hired into a PERS eligible position or previously In PERS/TRS if exempt.)	6.00%	6.12%
PERS II (Plan II) (Must be hired into a PERS eligible Position or previously in PERS. TRS If exempt.)	4.15%	6.12%
PERS III (Plan III) (Must be hired into a PERS eligible Position or previously in PERS. TRS If exempt.)	See Handbook	6.12%

Term life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance booklet and application:

Evergreen pays for Part A, $25,000 in Basic Life and $5,000 in Accidental Death and Dismemberment; the other parts are available at additional cost to you. The booklet contains the rate information. This form must be completed and returned to the Payroll Department even if you do not elect optional coverage. Please designate a beneficiary in the appropriate section.

TIAA - CREF information and application (exempt staff and faculty):

This is the retirement plan Evergreen offers members of the faculty and exempt staff. Initial participation is optional. You have two years from your date of hire to begin participation. If you already have a TIAA contract upon employment, you must start immediately.

Your contributions can either be deductions (your contributions are taxed now) or reductions (your contributions will be taxed when you withdraw the finds). If you want to have your contributions treated as reductions (taxed upon withdrawal) you will need to complete the enclosed SALARY REDUCTION AGREEMENT form. Salary reductions begin the month after this form is signed and dated.