• 2012 Commuter Tax$ave Limits Update (12/21/11)
• Tax Sheltered Plans - 2012 Annual Tax Deferral Limits (12/6/11)
• Important State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) Open Enrollment
  & New Health Plans/Tax$ave/Campus Benefits Fairs Announcement (10/25/11)
• Put the Break on Fatalities Day (10/6/11)
• Health Benefit Information on My.UMDNJ portal (10/5/11)
• University Car/Van Pooling/Commuter Alternatives Program! (9/27/11)
• Total Compensation Statements 2011 (9/15/11)
• Recent Legislation Changing Healthcare and Pension Contributions (9/14/11)
• Commuter Tax$ave Program TransitCenter Migration (6/22/11)
• PERS & PFRS Members-Update to
  Members Benefits Online System (MBOS) Logon ID Retrieval Process (4/13/11)
• PERS & PFRS Online Applications for
  Purchase of Service Credit and Requirement for Withdrawal (3/24/11)

2012 Commuter Tax$ave Limits Update (12/21/11)

Attention Transit Center Participants:

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has not confirmed the extension of the current monthly pre-tax Transit benefit cap of $230. The 2011 cap extension is set to expire for the January 2012 benefit, lowering the monthly cap to $125.

Along with the Transit reduction the monthly parking cap will be increased from $230 to $240.

The January Benefit will be deducted in the December 23, 2011 paycheck. To remain in compliance any monthly benefit above the new cap will be reduced for this paycheck.

All participants interested in increasing their pretax parking benefit to $240, may do so during the month of December for the February 2012 benefit month.

If you have any questions, please contact Customer Service at 1-888-618-CHEK (2435).

Tax Sheltered Plans - 2012 Annual Tax Deferral Limits (12/6/11)

As you may know, the University offers tax sheltered plans that are available to eligible employees who wish to have pretax voluntary employee contributions withheld in addition to their mandatory employee pension contributions. Please note there is no University match for employee voluntary contributions. The plans are:

• Alternate Benefits Program 403(b)
• Additional Contributions Tax Sheltered (ACTS) Program 403(b)
• Supplemental Annuity Collective Trust (SACT) 403(b)
• NJ State Employees' Deferred Compensation Plan

Please note the new Annual Tax Deferral limits as it applies to the above-mentioned plans:

* These limits do not include mandatory employee pension pretax contributions, e.g., Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS) employee contribution of 6.5% is not included in the Annual Tax Deferral limit.

Employees with 15 years or more of University service in 2012 may have the opportunity to exceed their annual limit up to an additional $3,000, e.g., employees age 49 with an annual limit of $17,000 in 2012, may be able to tax shelter up to an additional $3,000 or $20,000 contingent upon prior contributions. Please contact your Investment Provider directly to see if you are eligible for this catch up provision.

ABP, ACTS and SACT participants who wish to change their current annual limit and applicable biweekly amount are required to complete a new Salary Reduction/Allocation Agreement Form.

It is due in your Campus Benefits Services Office by December 18, 2011 to affect your January 9, 2012 paycheck.

New Jersey State Employees' Deferred Compensation Plan (NJSEDCP) participants are to contact Prudential Financial at 1-866-NJSEDCP for any contribution changes or log onto www.prudential.com/njsedcp.

For answers to your questions, please contact your Campus Human Resources Benefits Services Office at one of the following telephone numbers:

Important State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) Open Enrollment  
& New Health Plans/Tax$ave/Campus Benefits Fairs Announcement (10/25/11)

The State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) Open Enrollment period for eligible employees began on October 17, 2011, and will end on November 11, 2011.

During the Open Enrollment period, employees can make general changes (adding or deleting dependents, changing coverage levels, etc.) or enroll in a different medical or dental plan. All changes to coverage made during this Open Enrollment period will be effective on January 1, 2012.

Medical and Dental Applications are now being accepted for all changes including the new medical plan designs and the dental plans. The new medical plan applications have been received and are available on our website under the Benefits Forms section.

The new State Medical Plan Designs Comparison Chart for Plan Year 2012 for active employees and rates are also available. Please visit our website for additional information.

Important Tax$ave Open Enrollment Announcement 

The State Employee Tax Savings Program (Tax$ave) Open Enrollment Period began October 1, 2011 and has been extended until November 11, 2011 (to coincide with the end of the SHBP Open Enrollment Period). Tax$ave is a benefit program available to eligible full-time employees who are eligible for the SHBP. Tax$ave can save employees tax money by paying health and dental benefit premiums and eligible unreimbursed medical and/or dependent care expenses with before-tax dollars.

Please refer to the following schedule for dates, times and locations for the Campus Benefits Fairs:

For answers to your questions, please contact your Campus Human Resources Benefits Services Office at one of the following telephone numbers:

Health Benefit Information on My.UMDNJ portal (10/5/11)

As you are aware the employee Premium Share Contribution will go into effect in the October 14, 2011 paycheck. This week our programmers have been setting up the Banner system to calculate the contribution as required under the Pension and Health Benefits Reform Chapter 78 P.L. 2011. These changes have affected the Health Benefit Information on My.UMDNJ portal. Please be aware that the Employee Amount for the Medical and Prescription Drug Program is not the amount that will be deducted from your paycheck. The correct deduction amount can only be seen when viewing your Paycheck Stub.

For answers to your questions, please contact your Campus Human Resources Benefits Services Office at one of the following telephone numbers:

University Car/Van Pooling/Commuter Alternatives Program!  (9/27/11)

The UMDNJ Department of Human Resources Compensation and Benefits Services Office invites you to take Green Steps by participating in the University Car/Van Pooling/Commuter Alternatives Program!

To Drive or Not to Drive: We Can Answer That Question

Tired of high gas prices or hunting for parking when you get to work? Why not look into UMDNJ's Car and Van Pooling Initiative? Many of our area colleges and corporations have successfully tried this "green" alternative and its working.

Your participation will not only support the reduction of traffic congestion that surrounds UMDNJ every single day, you will help to improve the air quality throughout the state. More important, no more driving around seeking those "coveted" parking spaces or running from your office to your car to avoid that dreaded parking ticket

Please REGISTER for the Car/Van Pooling/Commuter Alternatives Program at the following locations:

Total Compensation Statements 2011 (9/15/11)

Total Compensation Statements will be mailed to eligible faculty and staff address on or about September 16, 2011. Eligible employees must be on the payroll as of June 30, 2011.

The Total Compensation Statement provides an overview of the University’s comprehensive Employee Benefits Package. The personalized benefits information provided is as of June 30, 2011. Please visit the University web site at http://my.umdnj.edu to view any benefit plan or personal information changes after July 1, 2011.

The statement also serves as a reminder to make any necessary changes during the annual Open Enrollment in October.

Total Compensation Statement Summary Description Sheet
Total Compensation Statement Sample

For answers to your questions, please call your Campus Benefits Services Office at one of the following telephone numbers:

Recent Legislation Changing Healthcare & Pension Contributions (9/14/11)

As a result of recently enacted legislation, the cost of health insurance benefits and employee pension contributions will be increasing for state employees, including covered employees of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.

Our analysis indicates that:

• Most employees will have no immediate change in their healthcare contributions

• Any immediate increase will be minimal (likely $1 or $2 per pay period).

Health Insurance Benefits: Non-Union Employees and Union Represented Employees With Expired Contracts

Effective October 1, 2011, covered employees will contribute the greater of 1.5% of salary or a percentage of the premium associated with their healthcare coverage. The premium associated with your healthcare coverage is determined by the plan you have (NJ Direct 15 or HMO), the level of coverage (Single, Husband/Wife, Family, etc.) and the employee's salary level.

• For employees hired prior to June 28, 2011, increases in costs will be phased-in over four years.

• Employees hired on or after June 28, 2011, will continue to pay 1.5% of their salary until October 1, 2011. After that point, they will pay either 1.5% of salary or the percentage of premium they would pay in Year 4 of a phased-in schedule, whichever is greater.

Health Insurance Benefits: Union Represented Employees with Active Contracts Expiring in 2012 (CIR (Interns and Residents), IAEP Local 200 (EMS Supervisors) and OPIEU Local 153 (Security Officers & Dispatchers)

• Current and new employees will continue to pay the current 1.5% of salary healthcare contribution.

• Upon expiration of these contracts, employees will pay the costs associated with Year 1 of a four-year, phased-in schedule.

Click below to view details of the State's Percentage of Premium Chart
http://www.umdnj.edu/hrweb/benefits/PremiumChartPercentage.pdf

Click below to view the Current Premiums Associated with Each Coverage Level and Type
http://www.umdnj.edu/hrweb/benefits/PremiumCost.pdf

Please note: Premiums are subject to annual change. The University is typically advised in October of new premium amounts to begin the following January.

Pension Changes

• Public Employees Retirement System (PERS): Effective October 1, 2011, the contribution rate increases from 5.5% to 6.5% of pensionable salary. Additionally, this rate is subject to an increase of one-seventh of one percent (1/7%) in each of the next seven years.

• Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS): Effective October 1, 2011, the contribution rate increases from 8.5% to 10% of pensionable salary.

Please continue to monitor the Human Resources website for additional details and benefits news.

Commuter Tax$ave Program TransitCenter Migration   (6/22/11)

We have been notified by TransitCenter that UMDNJ will migrate to the new TransitChek Account Management System (TAMS) for the September 2011 Benefit month.

Starting June 16 through June 30, 2011, employees will not be able to make any changes or enroll in the current system. The current website premiumenrollment.com will no longer be accessible.

Current participants:

Will not need to re-enroll but starting July 1, can register for a username and password in TAMS by following the directions below:

1. Log onto www.transitcenter.com and click the "TransitChek Premium" link at the bottom of the page under Manage Your Account.
2. Click on "Register Now" in the First Time Users box.
3. Enter Company Code – TEU11.
4. Enter Employee Number (which is your University ID- which may be found on my.umdnj-under University ID)
5. Enter Date of Birth.
6. Review your contact information and fill in all of the required fields.
7. Create a Username and Password.

Eligible employees interested in enrolling:

• Enrollment begins on the first of the month through the end of every month
• You'll need to do the following to enroll:
  1. Follow steps 1 – 7 above.
  2. Take the enrollment survey.
  3. Provide the names of your transit provider(s) [and parking facilities].
  4. Choose a product.
  5. Complete and confirm enrollment.

Current Transit Quick-Pay Cardholders will receive a new card the end of August for September's Benefit. Employees should call TransitCenter customer service if the cards are not received timely. The old QuickPay card may still be used until the new card is received.

Premium TransitChek MetroCard (PMC) (yearly annual MetroCard) users will continue to use their current PMC.

Those employees receiving TransitChek Vouchers will continue to receive the vouchers on a monthly basis. However, the vouchers will not be accepted by MTA- Long Island Rail Road or MTA- MetroNorth after July 1, 2011. TransitCenter suggests that these employees change to a Quick-Pay card.

For additional information please contact the TransitCenter's Customer Service at 888-618-2435 or contact your campus Human Resources Benefits Services Office at one of the following telephone numbers:

PERS & PFRS Members-Update to
Members Benefits Online System (MBOS) Logon ID Retrieval Process (4/13/11)

Attention Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) and Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS) members.

Effective April, 2011, a new option has been added to the MyNewJersey Portal to allow users who cannot remember their Logon ID to automatically request that it be e-mailed to them. The MyNewJersey Portal is the access point through which State-administered retirement system members sign on to the Member Benefits Online System (MBOS) or the Employer Pensions and Benefits Information Connection (EPIC).

1. The Logon ID retrieval option, along with the option that allows registered users to reset their MyNewJersey Password, should eliminate a significant number of help desk calls — and the associated wait times — from users who cannot remember their Logon ID (in addition to inquiries if the member had already created one).

2. The Logon ID retrieval process is similar to the password reset feature and uses the same user-defined challenge question, response, and e-mail address for confirmation and contact.

For additional information about MyNewJersey, or to contact the MyNewJersey Support Staff, visit: www.nj.gov/mynj/myNJRestrHelp.html

For questions about registering for or using the Member Benefits Online System (MBOS), visit: www.state.nj.us/treasury/pensions/mbosregister.shtml or call the Division's MBOS Help Desk at (609) 777-0534.

PERS & PFRS Online Applications for  
Purchase of Service Credit and Requirement for Withdrawal (3/24/11)

Attention Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) and Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS) members.

Effective April l, 2011, applications to Purchase Service Credit or for Withdrawals will no longer be available as a printed form or through the Division of Pensions and Benefits' Web site. Applications received by mail as of April 1, 2011, will be returned to the members.

Members who wish to purchase service credit or upon termination of employment, make a withdrawal, will be required to make the request online using the Purchase or a withdrawal application that will be accessible through a personal account with the Division of Pensions and Benefits' Member Benefits Online System (MBOS).

Please see the PERS/PFRS Summary of Online Applications for Purchase of Service Credit and Withdrawals for detailed information or contact your campus Human Resources Benefits Services Office at one the following telephone numbers.

"Transforming the Delivery of Human Resources Services"