Employee Benefits - NIH Benefits Information - Did You Know? December 2008
What’s New?
Topics Of Interest:
Where Do I Go If I Have Questions About My Benefits?
1. BENEFITS CALENDAR OF EVENTS
2. THE FEDERAL BENEFITS OPEN SEASON IS ENDING SOON!
The following three programs are participating in this year’s Federal Benefits Open Season for the 2009 plan year: 1) Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program; 2) Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP); and 3) Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) Program. The open season will come to a close on December 8, 2008. You should read the open season announcement thoroughly for information pertaining to each program.
Please remember that there are no longer open seasons for the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP). You may start, stop or change your TSP contributions at any time via myPay (DFAS), provided you are eligible to participate in the TSP.
3. TRY THE FEDERAL EMPLOYEES HEALTH BENEFITS COMPARISON TOOLS!
Consumer Checkbook, the interactive tool that assists in comparing the Federal health plans and dental plans, is available to you. To access this tool, you must log into the HHS internet site. The site will provide you with instructions on accessing and using Consumer Checkbook.
The Office of Personnel Management also has an interactive on-line tool to help you compare available plans. The tool will give you a chance to compare the costs and benefits of the plans available to you.
4. CLOSURE OF NIH FACILITIES DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER
There are emergency closure or dismissal procedures for NIH employees in the Washington, D.C. area in the event of inclement weather or other emergency conditions. If a weather-related or other emergency arises before the workday begins, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) will provide an announcement regarding the operating status as soon as it is determined. If during the workday severe weather conditions or other emergencies arise, OPM may authorize an early dismissal of employees.
5. THE 2009 IRS LIMITS ANNOUNCED FOR THE THRIFT SAVINGS PLAN (TSP)!
The IRS limit for 2009 has increased to $16,500 for regular TSP contributions. If you are covered by FERS, you could lose valuable matching Agency TSP contributions by reaching the limit before the end of the calendar year. If you expect to enter your myPay (DFAS) election for 2009 between December 7- 20*, 2008, and you want equal payments deducted over the calendar year for 26 paydays, you should elect to contribute $635 each pay period. Your election will be effective on December 21st, the first pay period for 2009. If your election is entered after December 20, you will need to adjust this amount. To determine the adjusted amount, use the Elective Deferral Calculator on the TSP website. If you have additional questions, refer them to your Benefits Contact. (*It is recommended that you enter your election by December 18, if you want to ensure an effective date of December 21.)
The IRS limit for 2009 for TSP Catch-up contributions has increased to $5,500. For information pertaining to Catch-up contributions, refer to topic #8 below.
6. CAN I DONATE MY “USE OR LOSE” ANNUAL LEAVE?
As we approach the end of the year, some NIH staff may have annual leave balances above the maximum (most NIH employees' annual leave carryover ceiling is 240 hours) that will not be used by the end of the leave year (January 3, 2009). This is generally referred to as “use or lose” leave. Rather than losing your annual leave, consider donating it to a fellow NIHer. One of the many work/life services available to NIH employees is the Voluntary Leave Transfer Program (VLTP).
This program allows Federal employees to donate their accrued annual leave to others who are faced with a personal or family medical emergency. Our co-workers who have been approved for the VLTP have exhausted their own leave and have a medical emergency that prevents them from working. So if you have “use or lose” leave that you won’t use this year, please consider donating this annual leave to others in need. The VLTP website will give you a listing of NIHers who have been approved for the VLTP; information on the program and how to donate; and the IC contact for the Voluntary Leave Transfer Program.
7. HOW DO I SUBMIT MY CHANGE OF ADDRESS?
If you have moved and have a change of address, you must use myPay (DFAS) to update your personnel records. Once you’ve updated your address in myPay (DFAS), the change will automatically transmit to update your TSP account record; however, it does not automatically transmit to insurance carriers. To update your address with your health carrier, you must contact your carrier directly at the telephone number shown on your health plan ID card. To update your address with your dental and/or vision carrier, you must use the BENEFEDS portal or contact BENEFEDS directly at 1-877-888-FEDS. The change of address also does not update a savings bond inscription nor does it change your state tax withholding. Use the Savings Bond link in myPay (DFAS) to change the address on your savings bond. If you have moved to or from Maryland, you must complete a state tax form for your new state and submit it to the Payroll Liaison Team for processing. You should forward your form to Bldg 31/Rm B3C23 or fax it to 301-496-1209. For movement between other states and/or the District, you must use myPay (DFAS) to change your state tax withholding.
8. CAN I MAKE THRIFT SAVINGS PLAN (TSP) CATCH-UP CONTRIBUTIONS?
In addition to regular TSP contributions, you may also make TSP Catch-up contributions (OPM), if you meet the following criteria: 1) you are age 50 or over (or will be age 50 during 2009); 2) you are in pay status; AND 3) you are contributing an amount towards your regular TSP which will cause you to reach the $16,500 IRS limit by the end of the 2009 calendar year. The 2009 IRS limit for Catch-up contributions has increased to $5,500. Unlike regular TSP elections, a Catch-up election is only valid for one year. Therefore, if you want to make Catch-up contributions each year, you must make a new election each year. To make a Catch-up election for 2009, you may make your election at any time on/after December 7th by using myPay (DFAS). If you have questions, please notify your Benefits Contact.
9. WHY DO I NEED A myPAY PIN?
It is very important to have access to your myPay account so that you can view your Leave and Earnings Statement each pay day. You must also use myPay to make changes to your home address, TSP contributions, direct deposit of pay, allotments, and Federal and state tax withholdings. Additionally, all open season health insurance elections must be accomplished using myPay. If you have misplaced your myPay PIN, you may request a new one in one of two ways. One of which is by selecting “New Pin” on the myPay (DFAS) web site. Please make sure you use the “Go” button to finalize your request. Using this method your PIN will be mailed to your current address of record within 7 to 10 business days.
If you need it sooner, your second option is to send a fax to 216-367-3549. You will need to include in your request your name, a daytime phone number, and a copy of your NIH ID, and you must sign the fax. Upon receiving your fax, the Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS) will reset your PIN using the last 5 numbers of your SSN as your temporary PIN. You will then be able to log in within 3 days using your temporary PIN. Upon logging in, you will be prompted to reset your PIN.
If you encounter problems with your PIN or technical issues using myPay (DFAS), contact the DFAS Centralized Customer Support Unit toll-free at 1-888-332-7411. This support line is available Monday through Friday, 7:00 A.M. to 7:30 P.M. Eastern Standard Time. The Centralized Customer Support Unit can provide assistance on how to use the options available to you in myPay. The Centralized Customer Support Unit will also provide support for establishing and changing your PIN.
10. HOW CAN I GET IN TOUCH WITH MY BENEFITS CONTACT?
Your contact in the Benefits and Payroll Liaison Branch will be able to help you with a variety of issues pertaining to the health and life insurance programs, designating beneficiaries, the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), calculating your retirement annuity estimate, working with you to pay a redeposit for prior civilian service if you previously withdrew your retirement funds, paying a deposit for prior civilian or military service for which retirement deductions were not withheld, etc. To find your benefits contact, review our list of contacts. In addition, the Benefits and Payroll Liaison Branch (BPLB) web site has a wealth of information regarding your Federal benefits. Human resource topics not related to your benefits are normally handled by your Client Services Division HR Representative.
