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/.

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.

Read More

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.

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.

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

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.

• HIP - New Resiliency Scale Assessment - The ability to “bounce back” from setbacks is key to mental health and overall well being. Now through Sept 22, the HIP program is offering a Resiliency Scale Assessment consisting of a 10-question survey that creates a personal assessment report with your resilience score and tips to develop a personal resilience improvement plan. HIP participants earn 25 HIP points after completing the scale. If you complete the Resiliency Scale, you will be entered into a drawing for a FitBit Charge 3! This opportunity is only available for Q3 (6/24-9/22). Learn more about our award-winning HIP program and the up to $200 incentive.
• Webinars: There are two webinars offered each month for 25 HIP points each! Upcoming webinars are listed here. Can’t make the date? Earn 25 HIP points by watching recordings. See wellness.az.gov > Classes Tab for links.

Excess Annual Leave is Subject to Forfeiture (Posted 08/19/19)

Employees are expected to manage and use their annual leave throughout the year to ensure any excess annual leave is used by the end of the year.  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. 

It is important that employees closely manage their annual leave balances through the remainder of the year and schedule leave with their supervisor, so that impacts on end of year coverage will be minimal and carryover exception requests are significantly reduced.  There should not be any expectation that unused excess leave will be approved for carryover, even if it has been approved in the past. Employees and managers can monitor annual leave balances by logging in to YES and clicking on Leave Activity. 

Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) Contribution Rate Increase 

As of July 1, 2019, the total contribution rate of the ASRS Retirement Pension & Health Insurance Benefit for both the employer and the employee has increased slightly from 11.64% to 11.94% for fiscal year 2020. Likewise, the Long Term Disability Income Plan has increased very slightly from .16% to .17% for both the employer and the employee for fiscal year 2020.  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/.

Do you ever wonder about the total value of your compensation package as an employee of the state?  An employee’s total compensation consists not only of the money earned for the work performed (pay), but it also includes the State’s cost to provide a comprehensive benefits package (including government-mandated benefits) to an employee and his or her family.  

You can access your personalized Total Compensation by logging in to YES.  From the main menu, choose Pay, then Total Compensation.  This statement provides your estimated total annual compensation, based on your current pay rate and elections, and is updated each pay period.

If you have any questions regarding your estimated statement, please contact your agency Human Resources Office for assistance.