January 2012 - Benefits Newsletter
What's New?
Topics Of Interest:
Where Do I Go If I Have Questions About My Benefits?
1. Benefits Calendar of Events
2. How Can I Confirm My Federal Benefits Open Season Election(s)?
The Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Open Season elections and the 2012 FEHB rate changes 
(OPM) were effective on January 1, 2012. You will see these changes reflected on your Leave and Earnings Statement (LES) that will be available to you in myPay (DFAS) on January 20, 2012. Additionally, the Open Season elections for the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) and the Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) Program were effective on January 1, 2012. The FSA change was reflected on your LES for January 6, 2012, and the FEDVIP change will be reflected on your LES that will be available to you on January 20, 2012.
You can access your LES through myPay (DFAS). Please verify that all appropriate changes are reflected on your LES. You will see changes in pay and deductions identified in green. If you scroll over or click on the green entry, it will show you what the entry was on your last LES and to what it has been changed on the LES you are viewing. Also, the information identified in blue will allow you to get additional information regarding the entry.
3. How Can I Confirm That My Home Address is Accurate In myPay?
Your W-2 for 2011 will soon be mailed to your home address of record. Please verify the accuracy of your home address by accessing myPay(DFAS) and selecting Correspondence Address. If your address is incorrect, make the change and select Save. Currently, you are able to print your 2011 W-2 by using myPay(DFAS) . Any address change you make in myPay will automatically transmit to update your TSP account record. However, this information does not automatically transmit to your health insurance carrier. 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 1-877-888-3337. To update your address for your Flexible Spending Account (FSA), you must log into your account on the FSAFEDS homepage or contact them directly at 1-877-372-3337. The change of address also does not update your state tax withholding. If you have moved to or from Maryland, you must complete a state tax form for your new state and submit it for processing to Bldg 31/Rm B3C23. For movement between other states and/or the District, you must use myPay(DFAS) to change your state tax withholding.
4. Can I Make Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) Catch-Up Contributions?
In addition to regular TSP contributions, you may also make TSP Catch-up contributions (TSP) , if you meet the following criteria: 1) you are age 50 or over (or will be age 50 during 2012); 2) you are in pay status; AND 3) you are contributing an amount towards your regular TSP which will cause you to reach the $17,000 IRS limit by the end of the 2012 calendar year. The 2012 IRS limit for Catch-up contributions remains at $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 2012, you must make your election by using myPay (DFAS). Be certain to enter the amount you want withheld from your pay each pay period. If you have questions, please notify your Benefits Contact.
5. Important Benefits Notes For Administrative Officers!
When An Employee Enters Leave Without Pay (LWOP) Status – If an employee will be on LWOP for more than 30 consecutive days, a personnel action must be processed. For guidance, please contact your Client Services Division HR Representative. Because non-pay status can severely impact an employee's benefits, it is also very important that you notify your Benefits Contact as soon as you are notified that the employee is going on LWOP.
When An Employee Dies In Service – In the event of the death of an employee, please notify your Benefits Contact immediately. The Benefits Contact will counsel the employee's surviving family member(s) on available benefits and assist in the preparation and timely submission of death benefits claim forms.
6. If I Get Married Or Have A Child, What Changes Can I Make To My Benefits?
If you already have a self and family enrollment under the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program
(OPM) and you wish to continue with the same health plan, you should contact your health plan directly to have the name of your new family member added. If you do not have a self and family enrollment or you want to switch plans, complete a Health Benefits Election Form, SF-2809 . Your completed SF-2809 must be received in the Benefits & Payroll Liaison Branch (BPLB) within 31 days prior to the date of the change in family status or within 60 days afterwards. If you are adding a spouse and want the coverage effective on the date of the marriage, you must submit your SF-2809 the pay period prior to the anticipated date of the marriage.If you are adding a child, the effective date of your coverage is the first day of the pay period in which the child becomes a family member. As supporting documentation, you must provide a copy of your marriage certificate or your child's birth certificate as appropriate. Please note that the certificates may follow the submission of the SF-2809.
If you already have Basic coverage under the Federal Employees Group Life Insurance Program (OPM), you may elect Options A, B, and/or Option C or increase your multiples of Option B and/or Option C by completing a Life Insurance Election form, SF-2817 . If you are not enrolled in the program, you may elect Basic, plus any or all Optional insurance. Your completed SF-2817 must be received in the BPLB within 60 calendar days after the change in family status. You must also provide a copy of your marriage certificate or your child's birth certificate. For additional information, speak with your Benefits Contact.
If you already have supplemental dental (OPM) and/or vision (OPM) coverage and want to add your spouse or child, contact BENEFEDS at 1-877-888-FEDS within 31 days before or 60 days after the date of the change in family status. To enroll or increase the amount of your Flexible Spending Account (OPM), contact SHPS at 1-877-FSA-FEDS within 31 days before or 60 days after the date of the change in family status. To apply for Long Term Care Insurance (OPM), contact the LTC Partners at 1-800-LTC-FEDS.
You may complete designation of beneficiary forms at any time. If you have already filed designation forms, make sure they are up to date. You may view some of your forms on-line by accessing your electronic Official Personnel Folder (eOPF). Designation of beneficiary forms may be completed for unpaid compensation , life insurance , retirement (CSRS or FERS), and the Thrift Savings Plan . You must have your beneficiary forms signed by two witnesses prior to submitting them. Please note that a witness is not eligible to receive payment as a beneficiary. The unpaid compensation, life insurance, and the FERS forms should be forward to the BPLB. The CSRS and TSP forms should be mailed directly to the address indicated on each form. If you are satisfied with the Order of Precedence (OPM) as set by law, you do not need to file designations.
The Benefits & Payroll Liaison Branch (BPLB) is located at 31 Center Drive, Bldg 31, Rm B3C23, MSC 2215, Bethesda, MD 20892-2215. (Note: NIEHS employees located in North Carolina should submit their forms to Donna Fisher, MSC K1-01, Rm 1108, 530 Davis Drive.) If you have questions, please notify your Benefits Contact.
7. Why Do I Need A myPay PIN And How Can I Get One?
It is very important to have access to your myPay (DFAS) account so that you can view your Leave and Earnings Statement (LES) each pay day to verify that the correct deductions are being withheld and that your leave balances on your LES match the balances in ITAS. You must also use myPay to make changes to your home address, TSP contributions, direct deposit of pay, allotments, Federal tax withholdings, and Open Season health benefits elections. Additionally, some state tax withholdings must be made via myPay (DFAS). If you move to or from Maryland, you must complete a state tax form for your new state and submit it to the Payroll Liaison Team (Bldg 31/Rm B3C23) for processing. However, for movement between other states and/or the District, you must use myPay (DFAS). Additionally, all open season health insurance elections must be accomplished using myPay (DFAS).
To access the system, you will need your Login and Password. If you have forgotten your Login or Password, click the "Forgot Your Login ID?" or "Forgot or Need a Password?" link on the left side of the myPay (DFAS) screen. Using this method, your Password can be e-mailed to you if you pre-registered your e-mail address, or it can be mailed to your current home address of record within 7 to 10 business days
A second option for requesting a Password is to send a fax to 216-367-3549. You will need to include in your request your name, SSN, a daytime phone number, a copy of your NIH ID Card, and you must sign the fax. Upon receiving your fax, the Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS) will reset your Password using a temporary Password. Your temporary Password will be 8 numbers, the last 4 numbers of your SSN twice. You will not receive a notice from DFAS that your Password has been reset. Simply wait at least two business days before logging into myPay (DFAS) to use your temporary Password. Upon logging in, you will be prompted to reset your Password. Information pertaining to establishing an acceptable Login and Password can be obtained at myPay FAQs (DFAS).
If you encounter problems with your Login and/or Password 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 6:30 P.M. Eastern Standard Time. They can provide assistance on how to use the options available to you in myPay. They will also provide support for establishing and changing your Login and/or Password.
8. Where Can I Find Information On Pay And Leave?
You can find a wealth of pay and leave information on our website. Additionally, you can find information on the most frequently asked payroll questions.
9. 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) website has a wealth of information regarding your Federal benefits. Don’t forget to check out the Benefits FAQs section.
Human resource topics not related to your benefits are normally handled by your Client Services Division HR Representative.
