The following is provided by the Human Resources Department.

Retirement planning workshops offered Oct. 20-22

It’s never too early or too late to start saving for the future. The Human Resources Department is hosting information sessions on retirement planning for employees and their partners October 20-22.

See the National Retirement Security Week flier (pdf) for workshop times and locations. Advance registration is requested through the Workshop & Event Registration database.

For more information, contact Alisol V. Martinez, benefits coordinator, at 512-223-7800 or [email protected].

Verify information for ERS

Some employees may have received a letter from the Employees Retirement System of Texas (ERS) indicating the Social Security numbers (SSNs) or Individual Taxpayer Identification numbers (ITINs) for their dependents are missing or invalid.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS), in accordance with the Affordable Care Act, requires employers to report that they provided health insurance benefits to employees and their dependents in the previous tax year.

State employees, retirees, and former employees participating in the Texas employees Group Benefit Program (GBP) in January will receive a Form 1095-B from their medical insurance provider. This form confirms medical coverage for the member and any covered dependent(s). Members must file the information on the form with their income tax returns or be subject to a monetary penalty.

To verify an individual’s insurance coverage, the IRS matches the SSNs and ITINs on their federal income tax return with the information reported by their employer and insurance provider.

It is important to ensure ERS has the correct names, SSNs, ITINs, and addresses for employees and covered dependents. Employees can confirm their ERS account information online through the ERS website www.ers.state.tx.us. For more information, call ERS at 512-867-7711.

Dependent eligibility verification

ERS and Aon Hewitt will conduct a dependent eligibility audit for GBP participants. This helps reduce fraud by ensuring only eligible dependents receive benefits. Participants do not need to re-certify dependents previously identified as eligible.

Before enrolling dependents in any coverage, GBP participants should make sure their covered dependents meet eligibility requirements and they have the appropriate documentation (such as a birth certificate or marriage license).  Unverified dependents will lose group benefits.

Additional information is on the ERS Dependent Eligibility Verification webpage.

Featured employee discounts for October

Check out this month’s featured discounts from the ACC Advantage
Discount Program.

• Join Costco and receive coupons for free products and savings valued at more than $50
• 25 percent off purchases from Rockport
• 15 percent off regularly priced merchandise with a Brooks Brothers corporate membership card. Offer good at stores, by phone, and online.

View discounts on the ACC Advantage Discount Program website or visit the HR Benefits webpage and click Employee Discounts.

Tags: benefits, employee discounts, hr connection