Maine Public Employees Retirement System ESS Employer Self-Service

Maine Public Employees Retirement System

ESS

Employer Self-Service


ESS

Training Status Update

Resource Material Update

Test File Update

Member Applications RULE!

Plan & Rate Customizations

Time Sensitive Deliverables


Training Status Update

ESS training sessions 50 Sessions 450+ attendees 385 Employers Working with last 45 Employers

Training needs at “Go-Live” Written Instructions Web based instructional material Phone assistance Group Meeting? Voluntary hands-on sessions? Your suggestions?


Resource Materials

Posted on web-site before “go-live” Updated EPF Manual - minimal changes Security Administrator Instructions Complete ESS Instruction Manual

Including GLI instructions

Payroll Edit Guide – let’s look at a sample


Test File Update

By the numbers 175 files received 165 test completed 255 files not yet received

What to do to bring more in . . .


ESS – Membership Application

Membership Application Now: Establish Membership/Decline

Membership Application in ESS:

Establish Membership/Decline

Create member Contract

Membership Application = Member

Contract


ESS MA=MC

Member Contract Components

ER Location/Plan/RSN/Position/PSC Reporting Employer Location

Payroll different than current MC requires MA Plan

Payroll different than current MC requires MA RSN

Payroll different than current MC requires MA


ESS MC=MA

Member Contract Components Position Code

PLD payroll different than current MC requires MA

Teacher – only if Authorized or Extra Curricular position code change.

PSC PSC “53” RRTW always requires MAPLD - payroll different than current MC

requires MATeacher – PSC change does not require MA

Maine Public Employees Retirement SystemEmployer Specific Changes

Plan Code “squishing” Teachers – everyone is 11000 PLD – “Special Plans” (F&P) all the same

plan numbers< 25 yrs & > 25 yrs determined by different

RSN

Different Rate Schedule Numbers PLD – “Special Plans” PLD – employer paid employee

contributions

Maine Public Employees Retirement System Time Sensitive Deliverables

Employers Training and Testing complete-May 2010

Access sandbox-May 2010

Name Security Administrator–4 weeks prior

Maine Public Employees Retirement System Time Sensitive Deliverable

MainePERS 8-9 weeks prior to “go live”

Announce date and period affectedSend Security Administrator Request Forms

4 weeks prior to “go-live”Post Final Guides and Instructions on web siteAdditional training

2 weeks prior to “go-live”Contact Security Admin with user/password

GO – LIVE!


Optional Election

Optional Election Update


By the Numbers

#68 requests for member presentations

#58 employers submitted forms#474 actual forms

18 + 10 = status quo


Questions We Hear Most

Employees? How will it impact my Social

Security?? Will I be able to purchase service

for the period I chose not to belong?? Will I be able to refund my

contributions?? Why didn’t I receive a form?


Questions We Hear Most

Employers? What is the real deadline?? What if I give an employee a form

and they refuse to complete it?? Who is eligible?? What if a Sub chooses yes with one

school district and no with another?? What do you mean by “same

employer”?


We Need Your EIN

EINs are important Identifies “same employer”

We need your EIN Helps us to automate member eligibility

How best to proceed with obtaining EINs?


Dates to Remember

Forms due back to youMay 14, 2010

Forms due at MainePERSJune 1, 2010

Last possible date to make a choice

July 11, 2010


GLI

Group Life Insurance


Group Life Insurance

April 1st Changes

Dependent Coverage

Web Calculator

New Laws

Portability Option Under Consideration


GLI Level Questions

Q: Can the participant’s level reduce?

A: Yes, if the employee worked a full year but made less in 2009 than in 2008.

Q: When would it not reduce?

A: If the participant lost pay due to an approved leave of absence or if they were first eligible during 2009.

Q: How do I establish someone’s level if they are approved for coverage through EOI?

A: If they are already a participant and are increasing their coverage the standard rules apply; however, if they are getting coverage for the first time it is based on their current earnings.


Dependent Children

Q: Who is a dependent child?

A: Any, unmarried, natural or legally adopted, born or unborn, member’s child, who is:

Under 19 years of age; or

Under 22 years of age and a full-time student; or

Regardless of age or marital status, any child certified by the medical board to be permanently mentally incompetent or permanent physically incapacitated and determined by the executive director to be unable to engage in substantially gainful employment.


Dependent GLI

Q: Can dependent coverage extend beyond the normal age limitations?

A: Yes, if proof is of permanent disability is provided prior to 31 days after the applicable termination date or 21 days from whenever the Dependent coverage takes effect, whichever is later.

Q: What kind of proof must be provided?

A: Generally a letter from the dependent’s physician is adequate.


MainePERS Web Calculator

Now a question for you??

MainePERS is changing the premium calculator on our website. Would you prefer it calculate the premiums on a:

a.) monthly basis

b.) annual basis


New Laws

Public Law Chapter 513

Makes a spouse and/or dependent child(ren) of a fire fighter potentially eligible for an accidental death benefit if the fire fighter dies as a result of either cardiovascular injury or disease or pulmonary disease.

Public Law Chapter 515

Changes how the System disburses group life insurance proceeds when there is no beneficiary designation. If there is no designated beneficiary or surviving spouse the proceeds go to the appointed executor or personal representative for distribution according to a lawfully executed will.


Portability vs. Conversion

Portability Conversion

Coverage Type Group Term Individual Whole Life

Rates Group Rates Individual Rates

Rate Increases Yes, as risk pool changes

No

Filing Period 31 days from termination 90 days from termination

Age Reductions Yes No

Maximum coverage Up to $500,000 with proof of insurability

Only amount of group coverage being lost

Dependents Yes, until dependent status ceases

Yes

Available to all? Not available is sick, injured or disabled

Yes

Documents

Maine Public Employees Retirement System ESS Employer Self-Service