UW Staff Benefits

University of Wisconsin-Extension

Payroll and Benefits Office

State Health Insurance Accumulated Sick Leave Program Studies show that employees consider

heath insurance the Number 1 benefit of importance

Retirement benefits come in a distant second

State Health Insurance Accumulated Sick Leave Program

Wisconsin’s State Group Health Insurance plan is excellent

Sick leave credits may be used to pay for future health insurance premiums at retirement-unique to Wisconsin• Employees who terminate with 20 years of service do not

lose sick leave credits

Health insurance is the number one expense for most retirees

State Health Insurance Accumulated Sick Leave Program To be eligible for post-retirement sick leave credits

you must participate in the State of Wisconsin Group Health Insurance plan as a subscriber or a dependent of a state/UW employee and:• Retire and receive a lump sum benefit or• Begin a WRS annuity immediately after

termination or• Terminate employment with 20 years of WRS

creditable State Service but defer application for retirement benefit

State Health Insurance Accumulated Sick Leave Program

The sick leave you accumulate over your working career will help pay your health insurance premiums after you retire

Three components:• Highest hourly rate• Hours of unused sick leave• Supplemental sick leave credits linked to your

years of continuous state service

State Health Insurance Accumulated Sick Leave Program What are Supplemental Sick Leave Credits?

• Credits are computed at retirement• To qualify, you must have 15 years of adjusted

continuous UW and/or other state service• For each full year of service up to 24 years you

receive 52 hours of supplemental credits• For each full year of service over 24 years you

receive 104 additional hours • Total supplemental hours cannot exceed your

accumulated sick leave balance

State Health Insurance Accumulated Sick Leave Program

Supplemental Sick Leave Credit Maximums15 years = 780 hours 21 years = 1092 hours16 years = 832 hours 22 years = 1144 hours17 years = 884 hours 23 years = 1196 hours18 years = 936 hours 24 years = 1248 hours19 years = 988 hours 25 years = 1352 hours20 years = 1040 hoursFor each full year up to 24, you receive 52 hoursFor each full year over 24, you receive 104 hours

State Health Insurance Accumulated Sick Leave Program

Sick Leave Credits (classified)Example 1

Hours Earned Bi-Weekly 5Pay Periods per Year 26Hours Earned Per Year 130Years of Employment x 10Total Sick Leave Hours 1,300

State Health Insurance Accumulated Sick Leave Program

Financial Value

Total Sick Leave Hours 1,300Hourly Rate of Pay X $ 16.50

Value $ 21,450.00

State Health Insurance Accumulated Sick Leave Program

Sick Leave Credits (classified)Example 2

Hours Earned Bi-Weekly 5Pay Periods Per Year 26Hours Earned Per Year 130Years of Employment x 20Total Sick Leave Hours 2,600

State Health Insurance Accumulated Sick Leave Program

Financial ValueTotal Sick Leave Hours 2,600Supplemental Hours52 hrs x 20 years 1,040Total Hours 3,640Hourly Rate of Pay x $ 16.50Value $60,060.00

State Health Insurance Accumulated Sick Leave Program

Example 3 30 years of service Sick Leave Balance 2,850 hrs Match 52 hrs/yr. for yrs 1-24 1,248 Match 104 hrs/yr. >24 years 624 Total Hours 4,722Hourly Rate of Pay $ 26/hrValue $122,772

State Health Insurance Accumulated Sick Leave Program

Sick Leave’s Real Value

$122,772/2850 hours = $43.09 per hour

IT’S A TAX FREE BENEFIT TOO!!!

State Health Insurance Accumulated Sick Leave Program

How long will it last?

Sick Leave Value $ 122,772Family Premium $ 1,700/monthCoverage in Months 72 monthsCoverage in Years 6 years

State Health Insurance Accumulated Sick Leave Program

How long will it last? The answer depends on the type of

coverage you have (family or single, Medicare eligible or not), the plan you select and inflation

Your insured dependents can continue to use your credits after your death

State Health Insurance Accumulated Sick Leave Program

You are eligible continue the state health insurance plan for as long as you live

Premiums: From your accumulated sick leave account until it is

exhausted Deducted from your retirement annuity Pay directly to the insurance carrier who will bill you

for the premiums

State Health Insurance Accumulated Sick Leave Program

If your spouse is a state or university employee:• You may elect to transfer your family health

insurance coverage to your spouse• Your sick leave credits will be placed in an

inactive account until your spouse retires and depletes his/her sick leave credits

• Your sick leave credits will then be used

State Health Insurance Accumulated Sick Leave Program

If your spouse is NOT a state or university employee• If your spouse’s health insurance plan has

comparable coverage, you are eligible to escrow (delay using) your sick leave credits indefinitely

• To escrow, submit a Sick Leave Escrow Application to the Department of Employee Trust Funds at the time of retirement.

State Health Insurance Accumulated Sick Leave Program You may defer the use of your sick leave credits

indefinitely by applying to “escrow” the credits. You may escrow sick leave at any time if you have comparable health insurance coverage elsewhere, e.g. from another job or through a spouse

To “unescrow” sick leave credits, you must apply during the annual fall Dual Choice period unless your comparable coverage is involuntarily lost

State Health Insurance Medicare in retirement

When you are retired and turn 65, you become eligible for Medicare Part B• IF you have the State Group Health insurance,

you must sign up for Medicare Part B Health coverage remains the same as before

Medicare coverage became effective• State Group Health insurance is designed to

supplement, not duplicate the Medicare coverage Medicare Part D

State Health Insurance Medicare in retirement

Failure to enroll in Medicare Part B will result in termination of State Group Health insurance coverage

Medicare Part B premium is $96.40/month• But the cost of State Group Health is reduced as well

Non Medicare Rate Medicare Rate

Single Family Single Family 2 Family 1

$555.80 $1385.80 $397.40 $792.30 $950.70

Types of Retirement Income Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) Annuity Tax Sheltered Annuity/Wisconsin Deferred

Compensation Individual Retirement Account (IRA) Social Security Retirement plan from other employers Post-retirement employment-30 day break in

service if WRS employer

Wisconsin Retirement SystemEligibility for Retirement At least age 55 Termination of all WRS covered employment Must not be on a leave of absence or temporary

layoff Must submit a completed retirement application to

the Department of Employee Trust Funds

Wisconsin Retirement System WRS Retirement Benefit Calculation

• Two methods• Formula Calculation• Money Purchase Calculation

WRS automatically pays the higher of the two amountsLump sum availability is restrictedMinimum $171- Maximum $348

Wisconsin Retirement System Formula Calculation:

• Calculated by multiplying four factors:• “Final Average” monthly earnings• Years of creditable service• Age at retirement• “Formula Multiplier” which is set by statute

• 1.765% pre-2000 years of service• 1.6% post-1999 years of service

Wisconsin Retirement System WRS Terms to Understand:

• Final Average Earnings(FAE): average of 3 highest years earnings

• Formula Factor: established by statute• .016 for years after 1999• .01765 for years prior to 2000

• Years of creditable service: amount of WRS service based on number of hours worked in a year

• Age Reduction Factor: factor based on age and years of service

• Option Conversion Factor: a figure used to calculate annuity options after basic benefit is determined

Wisconsin Retirement SystemSample Formula Benefit Calculation for

Employee age 56 and 25 years of service(20 pre-2000 and 5 post-1999)

Final Average Earnings $ 2500 $ 2500Formula Multiplier x 1.765% x 1.6%Creditable Service x 20 x 5Age Reduction Factor x .952 x .952

$840.14 + $190.40Life Annuity Option $1030.54

Wisconsin Retirement System Formula Calculation

• Increases in monthly earnings• Increases in creditable service

• Buying separated (forfeited) service• Buying qualifying service• Buying other governmental service• Active military service

Wisconsin Retirement System Money Purchase Calculation

• Calculated by multiplying the Employee contributions plus the matching Employer contributions by an actuarial factor based on your age when the annuity begins

Wisconsin Retirement SystemSample Money Purchase Benefit CalculationAge 56 years and 8 months

Money Purchase Balance $220,000 Money Purchase Factor x .00590

Life Annuity Option $1,298.00

Wisconsin Retirement SystemRetirement Benefit

Compare:Formula Benefit Calculation = $1030.54Money Purchase Calculation = $1298.00

Always get the larger of the two calculated amounts

Wisconsin Retirement System Female retires at age 56 Lives to age 85 or 29 years Monthly Benefit$ 1,298 Months Paid (29 x 12) 348 Total Benefit Paid $451,704*

• * Without Dividends• Dividends have averaged 2% per year over past 10

years• Currently 602 retirees are over age 95

Wisconsin Retirement System• Variable Fund

• Comprised wholly of stocks

• In most situations, if enrolled in Variable Fund, half of all contributions are invested in Variable Fund and other half to Core Fund

• Interest is credited once per year but there is no smoothing mechanism like the Core Fund. Investment returns are fully recognized each year

• Investment gains/losses will have a much larger and more immediate impact on those who participate in Variable Fund

Wisconsin Retirement System• There is an “ongoing” variable excess or deficiency amount recorded

on account of current variable participants. Calculated by comparing actual account balance to what balance would be if participant had never participated in the Variable Fund. The variable excess/deficiency balance changes each year, based on contributions to the account and the investment returns of the Core and Variable Funds.

• At retirement the variable excess/deficiency is used to increase or decrease formula retirement benefit. Variable investment results are already reflected in money purchase balance.

• The variable excess/deficiency is shown on the annual ETF Statement of Benefits.

Wisconsin Retirement System Variable Fund

• Formula Calculation• Excess/Deficiency: increases or decreases

calculated amount

• Money Purchase Calculation• Variable investment results are already

reflected in money purchase balance

Wisconsin Retirement System Choosing a WRS Annuity Option

• 7 annuity options available

• Accelerated options if under age 62

• All options are payable for your lifetime

• Selected annuity option determines death

benefit

Wisconsin Retirement System Annuity Options Annuitants Life Only Life Annuity – 60 payments guaranteed Life Annuity – 180 payments guaranteed Joint Survivor Annuity – 75% continued to named joint

survivor Joint Survivor Annuity – 100% continued to named joint

survivor Joint Survivor Annuity – reduced 25% on death of annuitant

or named joint survivor Joint Survivor Annuity – 100% continued to named joint

survivor with 180 payments guaranteed

Wisconsin Retirement SystemWRS "Accelerated" Payment Option• Retire prior to age 62• Higher WRS benefit until age 62• WRS benefit reduced month after 62nd

birthday • Reduction in WRS benefit approximately

equal to age 62 social security benefit

Wisconsin Retirement System Considerations For Choosing an Annuity

Option• Your (spouse/dependent) age• Marital status• Health considerations• Other pensions and/or investments• Estate considerations• Taxes

Wisconsin Retirement SystemPost Retirement Changes

May change option selected up to 60 days after date of first payment

Annuity Payment Statements Annual Adjustments-Dividends

• Based on investment earnings• No cost of living adjustments• Will vary depending on Core/Variable participation

Wisconsin Retirement SystemTaxability of Annuity

Taxable as ordinary income for federal and state taxes

May change tax withholding at any time Receive 1099R form in January for tax

purposes

QUESTIONS???? Please contact the UW Extension Payroll and

Benefits Office if:• you note a discrepancy• need forms• want to enroll in additional benefit plans • want general information• want retirement information

Telephone (608)262-4857 or (608)262-0531 Email payroll@uwex.edu