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State of Arizona Employee News

Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) Contribution Rate Increase

Posted on 06/03/2020

As of July 1, 2020, the total contribution rate of the ASRS Retirement Pension & Health Insurance Benefit for both the employer and the employee has increased slightly from 11.94% to 12.04% for fiscal year 2021. Likewise, the Long Term Disability Income Plan has increased very slightly from .17% to .18% for both the employer and the employee for fiscal year 2021.  Contribution rates are actuarially determined and adjusted annually to ensure the plan remains fiscally sound and able to meet current and future obligations.  For more information, please visit ASRS's website at  https://www.azasrs.gov/.

 

Virtual Deferred Compensation Meeting June 18, 2020

Posted on 05/20/2020

Enrolling in your deferred compensation plan can help you meet your financial goals. The contributions you make may help supplement your pension income
in retirement.

Attend the June 18, 2020 virtual meeting hosted by Nationwide to see why the deferred compensation plan may be right for you.

You can obtain more information and register for the meeting by clicking on the link below.

https://hr.az.gov/sites/default/files/Deferred%20Compensation%20Virtual%20Meeting%20June%2018.2020.pdf

 

Families First Coronavirus Response Act 

Posted on 03/31/2020
In light of the situation created by the Coronavirus/COVID-19, a new law entitled Families First Coronavirus Response Act was enacted April 1, 2020.  In effect until December 31, 2020, it provides two types of paid leave to employees who are impacted in certain ways due to COVID-19.  Your Human Resources Office has tools for the administration of these new types of leave, and more specific information is available at:
 
https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/WHD/posters/FFCRA_Poster_WH1422_Non-Federal.pdf
 
 

Calendar Year 2020 has 27 paydays - What Does That Mean For You?

Posted on 02/06/2020

Calendar Year 2020 has 27 paydays

 

Calendar years typically have 26 bi-weekly paydays.  January 2, 2020, was the first pay day of 2020.  The State pays bi-weekly (every 2 weeks) and the final pay day of 2020 will be December 31, 2020. 

 

What does an extra bi-weekly payday in a calendar year mean?

 

The additional payday could show gross wages more than an employee’s annual salary on their final pay stub and federal taxable wages on the W-2 could be greater in 2020 than 2019 even with no job or pay change.  Because IRS regulations require that employers report wages in the calendar year when paid, not earned, wages reported in 2020 will likely be more than normal.

 

Please be aware of the impacts of a 27th payday in 2020 for your specific situation and plan accordingly.

 

The IRS recommends that employees complete a Paycheck Checkup for accurate tax withholding from their paychecks and to avoid tax filing surprises. 

 

The newly revised IRS Form W-4 is available on the Y.E.S. website and can be updated by employees at any time if the employee feels a change is necessary. 

 

For additional information, you can visit the General Accounting Office (GAO) site at https://gao.az.gov/calendar-year-2020-has-27-paydays-updated-2020-irs-form-w4-available-yes-and-hris-training-updated  

 

Social Security 101 - Everything You Want To Know

Posted on 02/06/2020

A FREE workshop from the Social Security Administration will be held on Wednesday, February 26, 2020 at 11:30 A.M.

The workshop covers:

  • When are you eligible to receive benefits?
  • How does early retirement affect your benefits?
  • Do you qualify for disability, survivors, and spouse benefits?
  • How do you get the most from your benefits?
  • What is the future of Social Security?
  • When should you file for Social Security?

Learn how to use my Social Security online account and other online services.

Click here to see the workshop flyer.  The flyer has a link to register for the workshop and includes steps you need to take to prepare for the workshop.

 

2019 W-2 and 1095-C Information

Posted on 01/03/2020

W-2 Statements:

 

Online W-2s

Employees who have consented to receive their W-2 online will have access up to 3 weeks earlier than those who receive their W-2 by mail. If you have already consented, it is not necessary to consent again, since your consent is effective until you revoke it. An email will be sent to you to notify you as soon as your W-2 is available online. Your W-2 will not be emailed. If your email address has changed, please login following the instructions on the GAO 2019 W-2 Advisory document and select “Change Secondary Email.”

 

Paper W-2 Mailing

Employees who have not consented to receive their W-2 online will be mailed their 2019 W-2 by January 31, 2020. Please ensure your mailing address in YES is accurate. Mailing addresses in YES as of Tuesday, December 31, 2019 at 2:00 PM will be used for the mailing. Any duplicate W-2s that are needed will be available via the YES website (https://hr.az.gov/YES/) starting February 1, 2020. W-2s for prior years (2006-2018) are also available via YES at (https://hr.az.gov/YES/).

 

1095-C Statements:

 

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires the State of Arizona to send an annual statement to all employees eligible for coverage, describing the insurance available to them. A 1095-C statement will be generated by the State of Arizona to serve as your documentation to the IRS about coverage offered to you. The IRS will use the information from your 1095-C to determine whether you have health care coverage.

 

Statements are scheduled to be placed in the mail to employees’ home addresses by January 31, 2020, so employees should expect them in early February 2020. If you believe you should have received a 1095-C but did not, please contact Benefits Services Division at 602-542-5008.  For further information, please see the 2019 1095-C Advisory Flyer.

 

 

HIP Happenings

Posted on 12/10/2019

We're counting down to the new year, but we don't want to count you out for 2019 HIP points! You still have time to get to 500 points and earn the $200 incentive, and have until December 31 to make sure all your points are logged for the year. Activities for 2019 will not be accepted after that date. If you have already hit 500+ points, you do NOT need to do anything else at this time, but we do encourage you to continue to log activities you complete between now and the end of the year.

Our program runs through 12/31/19 and following the end of the program we will audit all participants who have reached 500 points. We audit on the back end utilizing both vendor and claims files, so if we need any additional documentation from you, we will reach out via your HIP login email address and the email will come from [email protected]. Our audit will begin in mid-February. Please do not send proof of completion unless you receive a notice requesting you to do so in mid-February. The audit process will not be complete until approximately mid-March in 2020. The incentive checks will be included within in your regular paycheck by the end of March.

Excess Annual Leave - Final Reminder 

Posted on 10/25/2019

Excess Annual Leave - Final Reminder

Excess annual leave must be used on or before Friday, January 10, 2020, to avoid forfeiture of any excess hours.  For agencies, boards and commissions under the State Personnel System, the maximum number of annual leave hours an employee may carry over into a new calendar year is 320 hours for uncovered employees and 240 hours for covered employees.  Any hours in excess of the maximum carryover limits are subject to forfeiture. Employees and managers can monitor annual leave balances by logging in to YES and clicking on Leave Activity.