CERTIFYING OFFICER LETTER — December 15, 2009 TO: Certifying Officers of the Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS), Teachers’ Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF), and Defined Contribution Retirement Program (DCRP) FROM: John D. Megariotis, Deputy Director, Finance SUBJECT: Increase in the Minimum Salary Required for PERS or TPAF Enrollment The attached Certifying Officer Letter has been issued by the Division of Pensions and Benefits to notify employers of the scheduled incease to the minimum annual salary required for enrollment in the Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS) and Teachers’ Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF). The minimum annual salary will be $7,700.00 effective January 1, 2010. DISTRIBUTION OF THIS LETTER Certifying Officers should forward this letter to their Human Resources staff, benefit administrators, and any other staff members responsible for employee pension enrollment or general administration of pension or benefits. The letter is in PDF format and requires Acrobat Reader which is available free from Adobe at: http://www.state.nj.us/acrobat.htm If you are unable to open the PDF file, current and archived Certifying Officer Letters are available for viewing on the Division’s Web site (from the Pensions and Benefits home page: http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/pensions go to “Links for Employers” and then select “Certifying Officer Letters” from the “Letters, Laws, Boards & Other Resources” drop down list). Please note: It is important that the Certifying Officer’s e-mail address is kept current with the Employer Pensions and Benefits Information Connection (EPIC) to assure the accurate and timely delivery of this information. For more information about EPIC or to update your information contact the Division’s Employer Education Unit at (609) 292-7524 or send e-mail to the Division of Pensions and Benefits at: https://www.state.nj.us/treas/pensions/epicmail.shtml CERTIFYING OFFICER LETTER — November 24, 2009 TO: All SHBP and SEHBP Participating Employers FROM: The Division of Pensions and Benefits, Health Benefits Bureau SUBJECT: Announcement of Medco as Administrator of Prescription Drug Benefits and Announcement Letter Attachment for Employees The attached Certifying Officer Letter has been issued by the Division of Pensions and Benefits, Health Benefits Bureau, to provide employers and their employees with the enclosed letter that introduces Medco Health Solutions, Inc. as the administrator of SHBP and SEHBP prescription drug benefits effective January 1, 2010. The Division requests that employers distribute the attached Announcement Letter Adobe PDF (37K) to all employees who are enrolled, or eligible for enrollment, in the SHBP or SEHBP. DISTRIBUTION OF THIS LETTER Certifying Officers should forward this letter to their Human Resources staff, benefit administrators, and any other staff members responsible for health benefits for their employees. Please also reiterate our request to make the Medco Announcement Letter attachment available to all eligible employees. The letter is in PDF format and requires Acrobat Reader which is available free from Adobe at: http://www.state.nj.us/acrobat.htm If you are unable to open the PDF file, current and archived Certifying Officer Letters are available for viewing on the Division’s Web site (from the Pensions and Benefits home page: http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/pensions go to “Links for Employers” and then select “Certifying Officer Letters” from the “Letters, Laws, Boards & Other Resources” drop down list). Please note: It is important that the Certifying Officer’s e-mail address is kept current with the Employer Pensions and Benefits Information Connection (EPIC) to assure the accurate and timely delivery of this information. For more information about EPIC or to update your information contact the Division’s Employer Education Unit at (609) 292-7524 or send e-mail to the Division of Pensions and Benefits at: https://www.state.nj.us/treas/pensions/epicmail.shtml CERTIFYING OFFICER LETTER — September 28, 2009 TO: Retirement System Certifying Officers FROM: Virginia Martucci, Chief of Operations, Division of Pensions and Benefits SUBJECT: Terms and Conditions of Retirement The attached Certifying Officer Letter has been issued by the Division of Pensions and Benefits to address the implementation of "Terms and Conditions of Retirement" for the State-administered retirement systems. DISTRIBUTION OF THIS LETTER Certifying Officers should forward this letter to their Human Resources staff, benefit administrators, and any other staff members responsible for State-administered retirement system benefits for employees. The letter is in PDF format and requires Acrobat Reader which is available free from Adobe at: http://www.state.nj.us/acrobat.htm If you are unable to open the PDF file, current and archived Certifying Officer Letters are available for viewing on the Division’s Web site (from the Pensions and Benefits home page: http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/pensions go to “Links for Employers” and then select “Certifying Officer Letters” from the “Letters, Laws, Boards & Other Resources” drop down list). Please note: It is important that the Certifying Officer’s e-mail address is kept current with the Employer Pensions and Benefits Information Connection (EPIC) to assure the accurate and timely delivery of this information. For more information about EPIC or to update your information contact the Division’s Employer Education Unit at (609) 292-7524 or send e-mail to the Division of Pensions and Benefits at: https://www.state.nj.us/treas/pensions/epicmail.shtml EPIC E-MAIL MESSAGE — September 28, 2009 TO: All Employers participating in the SHBP and SEHBP FROM: The Division of Pensions and Benefits, Health Benefits Bureau SUBJECT: NEW APPLICATION — HEALTH BENEFITS REPORTS ON EPIC The Division of Pensions and Benefits is pleased to announce a new online application for Health Benefits Reports to be accessible through the Employer Pension and Benefit Information Connection (EPIC). Providing this information to employers online will allow for greater security of employee information, allow easier access to the information to employers, reduce paper and mailing costs for the Division and save employer reproduction and storage costs. SHBP/SEHBP LIST OF COVERED EMPLOYEES Effective with the October 2009 coverage report (issued in September), the new, online, HB List of Covered Employees application will be available to employers who provide coverage in the State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) – for State and Local Government Employers - or the School Employees’ Health Benefits Program (SEHBP) – for Local Educational Employers. This includes employers who do not participate in the SHBP/SEHBP but who pay for coverage of certain retirees under an Early Retirement Incentive. The Alpha List, Activity Report, and the Local or State Monthly Bill are now available to employers through EPIC. The online applications mirror the paper versions of the documents that you now receive through the mail. All of the information you currently receive will be available online. You will be able to review, print or download (and save) the reports from EPIC. The system will maintain historical data for 11 months in addition to the current month. This application will be available on EPIC beginning September 29, 2009, for the October 2009 billing period. Employers will be able to compare the paper bill to the online system for that billing period. Employers will no longer receive a paper Alpha List or Activity Report after the September mailing. The Local or State Monthly Bill will continue to be sent through the mail. Please make sure that your employees who require access to these reports have the appropriate EPIC access prior to the September release date. Information and links for assigning EPIC applications is provided below. As always, keep the EPIC security access of your employees up-to-date. Be sure to terminate access for those employees who leave your employment or whose duties change and who no longer require EPIC access. Information about using EPIC applications
is available in the EPIC User’s Guide at: http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/pensions/epickit.htm
ASSIGNING ACCESS TO NEW EPIC APPLICATIONS Your designated EPIC Security Officer must
assign access to new EPIC applications to users registered
through your employing location. (Note: the
Certifying Officer can assign the applications to the Security
Officer.) For information about how to assign access to new
applications, see the EPIC Security Help Page at:
http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/pensions/epic-security.htm
If you experience problems logging onto
or using EPIC, you may e-mail the EPIC Help Desk at: CERTIFYING OFFICER LETTER — September 10, 2009 TO: State Departmental Certifying Officers; State Human Resources Directors; State Biweekly Human Resources Representatives FROM: New Jersey State Health Benefits Program SUBJECT: SHBP Open Enrollment 2009 — State Biweekly Employers The attached Certifying Officer Letter has been issued by the Division of Pensions and Benefits to announce the SHBP Fall Open Enrollment. Open Enrollment dates are October 1 - 30, 2009, with plan changes effective January 2, 2010 for State Biweekly employees. DISTRIBUTION OF THIS LETTER Certifying Officers should forward this letter to their Human Resources staff, benefit administrators, and any other staff members responsible for the administration of health benefits for employees. The letter and attachments are in PDF format and require Acrobat Reader which is available free from Adobe at: http://www.state.nj.us/acrobat.htm If you are unable to open the PDF file, current and archived Certifying Officer Letters and individual attachments are available for viewing on the Division’s Web site (from the Pensions and Benefits home page: http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/pensions go to “Links for Employers” and then select “Certifying Officer Letters” from the “Letters, Laws, Boards & Other Resources” drop down list). Please note: It is important that the Certifying Officer’s e-mail address is kept current with the Employer Pensions and Benefits Information Connection (EPIC) to assure the accurate and timely delivery of this information. For more information about EPIC or to update your information contact the Division’s Employer Education Unit at (609) 292-7524 or send e-mail to the Division of Pensions and Benefits at: https://www.state.nj.us/treas/pensions/epicmail.shtml CERTIFYING OFFICER LETTER — September 10, 2009 TO: State Monthly Certifying Officers; State Monthly Human Resources Representatives FROM: New Jersey State Health Benefits Program SUBJECT: SHBP Open Enrollment 2009 — State Monthly Employers The attached Certifying Officer Letter has been issued by the Division of Pensions and Benefits to announce the SHBP Fall Open Enrollment. Open Enrollment dates are October 1 - 30, 2009, with plan changes effective January 1, 2010 for State Monthly employees. DISTRIBUTION OF THIS LETTER Certifying Officers should forward this letter to their Human Resources staff, benefit administrators, and any other staff members responsible for the administration of health benefits for employees. The letter and attachments are in PDF format and require Acrobat Reader which is available free from Adobe at: http://www.state.nj.us/acrobat.htm If you are unable to open the PDF file, current and archived Certifying Officer Letters and individual attachments are available for viewing on the Division’s Web site (from the Pensions and Benefits home page: http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/pensions go to “Links for Employers” and then select “Certifying Officer Letters” from the “Letters, Laws, Boards & Other Resources” drop down list). Please note: It is important that the Certifying Officer’s e-mail address is kept current with the Employer Pensions and Benefits Information Connection (EPIC) to assure the accurate and timely delivery of this information. For more information about EPIC or to update your information contact the Division’s Employer Education Unit at (609) 292-7524 or send e-mail to the Division of Pensions and Benefits at: https://www.state.nj.us/treas/pensions/epicmail.shtml CERTIFYING OFFICER LETTER —September 10, 2009 TO: State Health Benefits Program Participating Local Government Employers FROM: New Jersey State Health Benefits Program SUBJECT: SHBP Open Enrollment 2009 — Local Government Employers The attached Certifying Officer Letter has been issued by the Division of Pensions and Benefits to announce the SHBP Fall Open Enrollment. Open Enrollment dates are October 1 - 30, 2009, with plan changes effective January 1, 2010 for Local Government employees. DISTRIBUTION OF THIS LETTER Certifying Officers should forward this letter to their Human Resources staff, benefit administrators, and any other staff members responsible for the administration of health benefits for employees. The letter and attachments are in PDF format and require Acrobat Reader which is available free from Adobe at: http://www.state.nj.us/acrobat.htm If you are unable to open the PDF file, current and archived Certifying Officer Letters and individual attachments are available for viewing on the Division’s Web site (from the Pensions and Benefits home page: http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/pensions go to “Links for Employers” and then select “Certifying Officer Letters” from the “Letters, Laws, Boards & Other Resources” drop down list). Please note: It is important that the Certifying Officer’s e-mail address is kept current with the Employer Pensions and Benefits Information Connection (EPIC) to assure the accurate and timely delivery of this information. For more information about EPIC or to update your information contact the Division’s Employer Education Unit at (609) 292-7524 or send e-mail to the Division of Pensions and Benefits at: https://www.state.nj.us/treas/pensions/epicmail.shtml CERTIFYING OFFICER LETTER —September 10, 2009 TO: School Employees' Health Benefits Program Participating Local Education Employers FROM: New Jersey School Employees' Health Benefits Program SUBJECT: SEHBP Open Enrollment 2009 — Local Education Employers The attached Certifying Officer Letter has been issued by the Division of Pensions and Benefits to announce the SEHBP Fall Open Enrollment. Open Enrollment dates are October 1 - 30, 2009, with plan changes effective January 1, 2010 for Local Education employees. DISTRIBUTION OF THIS LETTER Certifying Officers should forward this letter to their Human Resources staff, benefit administrators, and any other staff members responsible for the administration of health benefits for employees. The letter and attachments are in PDF format and require Acrobat Reader which is available free from Adobe at: http://www.state.nj.us/acrobat.htm If you are unable to open the PDF file, current and archived Certifying Officer Letters and individual attachments are available for viewing on the Division’s Web site (from the Pensions and Benefits home page: http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/pensions go to “Links for Employers” and then select “Certifying Officer Letters” from the “Letters, Laws, Boards & Other Resources” drop down list). Please note: It is important that the Certifying Officer’s e-mail address is kept current with the Employer Pensions and Benefits Information Connection (EPIC) to assure the accurate and timely delivery of this information. For more information about EPIC or to update your information contact the Division’s Employer Education Unit at (609) 292-7524 or send e-mail to the Division of Pensions and Benefits at: https://www.state.nj.us/treas/pensions/epicmail.shtml CERTIFYING OFFICER LETTER — August 18, 2009 TO: State Biweekly Certifying Officers, State Monthly Agency and Authority Certifying Officers, State College and University Certifying Officers, State Human Resource and Benefit Administrators FROM: John D. Megariotis, Deputy Director, Finance SUBJECT: TAX$AVE 2010 — Open Enrollment for the New Jersey State Employees Tax Savings Program The attached Certifying
Officer Letter has been issued by the Division of Pensions
and Benefits to announce the Open Enrollment for the New Jersey
State Employees Tax Savings Program The dates for the Open Enrollment are October 1 — 31, 2009 with plan benefits and changes effective January 1, 2010. Fringe Benefits Management Company (FBMC) is the administrator for the Tax$ave Flexible Savings Account Plans. Read more about FBMC, the FSA plans, and the other Tax$ave benefits available to you and your employees in the letter and related attachments.
DISTRIBUTION OF THIS LETTER Certifying Officers should forward this letter and attachments to their Human Resources staff, benefit administrators, and any other staff members responsible for the administration of pension or health benefits. The letter and attachments are in PDF format and require Acrobat Reader which is available free from Adobe at: http://www.state.nj.us/acrobat.htm If you are unable to open the PDF file, current and archived Certifying Officer Letters and individual attachments are available for viewing on the Division’s Web site (from the Pensions and Benefits home page: http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/pensions go to “Links for Employers” and then select “Certifying Officer Letters” from the “Letters, Laws, Boards & Other Resources” drop down list). Please note: It is important that the Certifying Officer’s e-mail address is kept current with the Employer Pensions and Benefits Information Connection (EPIC) to assure the accurate and timely delivery of this information. For more information about EPIC or to update your information contact the Division’s Employer Education Unit at (609) 292-7524 or send e-mail to the Division of Pensions and Benefits at: https://www.state.nj.us/treas/pensions/epicmail.shtml CERTIFYING OFFICER LETTER — August 7, 2009 TO: State Departmental Certifying Officers and State Monthly Certifying Officers FROM: New Jersey State Health Benefits Program SUBJECT: DEPENDENT ELIGIBILITY VERIFICATION AUDIT REMINDER The attached Certifying Officer Letter has been issued by the Division of Pensions and Benefits, Bureau of Health Benefits, as a reminder of the approaching deadline for the Dependent Eligibility Verification Audit being conducted for the State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) by Aon Consulting. DISTRIBUTION OF THIS LETTER Certifying Officers should forward this letter to their Human Resources staff, benefit administrators, and any other staff members responsible for the administration of health benefits for employees. The letter is in PDF format and requires Acrobat Reader which is available free from Adobe at: http://www.state.nj.us/acrobat.htm If you are unable to open the PDF file, current and archived Certifying Officer Letters are available for viewing on the Division’s Web site (from the Pensions and Benefits home page: http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/pensions go to “Links for Employers” and then select “Certifying Officer Letters” from the “Letters, Laws, Boards & Other Resources” drop down list). Please note: It is important that the Certifying Officer’s e-mail address is kept current with the Employer Pensions and Benefits Information Connection (EPIC) to assure the accurate and timely delivery of this information. For more information about EPIC or to update your information contact the Division’s Employer Education Unit at (609) 292-7524 or send e-mail to the Division of Pensions and Benefits at: https://www.state.nj.us/treas/pensions/epicmail.shtml E-MAIL MESSAGE — July 31, 2009 TO: State Monthly Certifying Officers FROM: The New Jersey Division of Pensions and Benefits SUBJECT: TAX$AVE SEMINARS FOR YOUR EMPLOYEES The annual Open Enrollment for the New Jersey State Employees Tax Savings Program (Tax$ave 2010) will be conducted from October 1 through October 31, 2009. Full-time employees of the State, State authorities, State universities, and State colleges who are eligible for participation in the New Jersey State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) may participate in Tax$ave. Tax$ave consists of three components:
Upon request, Fringe Benefits Management Company (FBMC) will provide educational employee seminars at your workplace to explain the Tax$ave Flexible Spending Accounts. The seminars are about 60 minutes in duration and include time for questions and answers. These seminars have proven to be very successful educational tools and we strongly encourage you to make one available to your employees (please note that we ask for a minimum of 25 employees). The Tax$ave Seminar Request Form is attached. To schedule a seminar with a FBMC representative, please return the completed request to FBMC no later than August 15, 2009. Additional information about the Tax$ave Open Enrollment will be provided to employers and employees at a later date; however, contact FBMC today to request a seminar for your employees! Certifying Officers should forward this message to their Human Resources staff, benefit administrators, and any other staff members responsible for the administration of Tax$ave benefits for employees. Current and archived messages are available for viewing on the Division’s Web site at: http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/pensions. At the home page, go to “Online Employer Services - EPIC” and then select “Archive of E-Messages” link at the lower left portion of the page. E-MAIL MESSAGE — July 15, 2009 TO: State Biweekly Certifying Officers FROM: The New Jersey Division of Pensions and Benefits SUBJECT: TAX$AVE SEMINARS FOR YOUR EMPLOYEES The annual Open Enrollment for the New Jersey State Employees Tax Savings Program (Tax$ave 2010) will be conducted from October 1 through October 31, 2009. Full-time employees of the State, State authorities, State universities, and State colleges who are eligible for participation in the New Jersey State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) may participate in Tax$ave. Tax$ave consists of three components:
Upon request, Fringe Benefits Management Company (FBMC) will provide educational employee seminars at your workplace to explain the Tax$ave Flexible Spending Accounts. The seminars are about 60 minutes in duration and include time for questions and answers. These seminars have proven to be very successful educational tools and we strongly encourage you to make one available to your employees (please note that we ask for a minimum of 25 employees). Additional information about the Tax$ave Open Enrollment will be provided to employers and employees at a later date; however, contact FBMC today to request a seminar for your employees! The Tax$ave Seminar Request Form is attached. To schedule a seminar with a FBMC representative, please return the completed request to FBMC no later than August 1, 2009. Certifying Officers should forward this message to their Human Resources staff, benefit administrators, and any other staff members responsible for the administration of Tax$ave benefits for employees. Current and archived messages are available for viewing on the Division’s Web site at: http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/pensions. At the home page, go to “Online Employer Services - EPIC” and then select “Archive of E-Messages” link at the lower left portion of the page. E-MAIL MESSAGE — July 15, 2009 TO: Certifying Officers and Benefit Administrators FROM: The New Jersey Division of Pensions and Benefits SUBJECT: Employers Contacting the Division The Division of Pensions and Benefits wants to remind you of the resources available to assist Employers who need information from the Division.
Certifying Officers should forward this message to their Human Resources staff, benefit administrators, and any other staff members responsible for the administration of pension or health benefits for employees. Current and archived messages are available for viewing on the Division’s Web site at: http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/pensions. At the home page, go to “Online Employer Services - EPIC” and then select “Archive of E-Messages” link at the lower left portion of the page.
E-MAIL MESSAGE — May 13, 2009 TO: All Employers participating in the SHBP and SEHBP FROM: The Division of Pensions and Benefits, Health Benefits Bureau SUBJECT: New Health Benefits Termination Code for COBRA-ARRA Subsidy Eligibility A new termination code has been added to the SHBP/SEHBP Transmittal of Deletions application on the EPIC. The new code "8" permits employers using the application to identify employees who are "involuntarily terminated" and who may be eligible for the COBRA premium subsidy provided under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. All other employer notification provisions under COBRA and the ARRA remain unchanged, These are described in the Certifying Officer Letters of March 11 and April 9, 2009. Certifying Officers should forward this message to their Human Resources staff, benefit administrators, and any other staff members responsible for the administration of health benefits and COBRA benefits for employees. Current and archived messages are available for viewing on the Division’s Web site at: http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/pensions. At the home page, go to “Online Employer Services - EPIC” and then select “Archive of E-Messages” link at the lower left portion of the page. E-MAIL MESSAGE — April 24, 2009 TO: State Certifying Officers FROM: The New Jersey Division of Pensions and Benefits SUBJECT: Personal Benefit Statements Personal Benefit Statements for State employees are being shipped to State employing locations. Delivery is expected for Monday, April 27 or Tuesday April 28, 2009. Upon receipt, please distribute the statements to your employees. Certifying Officers should forward this information to Benefit Administrators, Human Resource Representatives, and to any other individuals on your staff who administer pension for employees. Current and archived messages are available for viewing on the Division’s Web site at: http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/pensions. At the home page, go to “Online Employer Services - EPIC” and then select “Archive of E-Messages” link at the lower left portion of the page. CERTIFYING OFFICER LETTER — April 9, 2009 TO: All Employers participating in the SHBP and SEHBP FROM: The Division of Pensions and Benefits, Health Benefits Bureau SUBJECT: COBRA and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 — Employee Notification The attached Certifying Officer Letter has been issued by the Division of Pensions and Benefits to address the responsibilities of employers in the notification of employees eligible for expanded COBRA benefits under the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The letter also includes attachments of updated COBRA information and applications. DISTRIBUTION OF THIS LETTER Certifying Officers should forward this letter to their Human Resources staff, benefit administrators, and any other staff members responsible for the administration of health benefits and COBRA benefits for employees. The letter is in PDF format and requires Acrobat Reader which is available free from Adobe at: http://www.state.nj.us/acrobat.htm If you are unable to open the PDF file, current and archived Certifying Officer Letters are available for viewing on the Division’s Web site (from the Pensions and Benefits home page: http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/pensions go to “Links for Employers” and then select “Certifying Officer Letters” from the “Letters, Laws, Boards & Other Resources” drop down list). Please note: It is important that the Certifying Officer’s e-mail address is kept current with the Employer Pensions and Benefits Information Connection (EPIC) to assure the accurate and timely delivery of this information. For more information about EPIC or to update your information contact the Division’s Employer Education Unit at (609) 292-7524 or send e-mail to the Division of Pensions and Benefits at: https://www.state.nj.us/treas/pensions/epicmail.shtml E-MAIL MESSAGE — March 20, 2009 TO: Certifying Officers FROM: The Division of Pensions and Benefits, Office of Client Services SUBJECT: Scheduled Pension and Benefits Appointments The Division of Pensions and Benefits, Office of Client Services (50 West State Street, First Floor, Trenton, NJ), will begin to take appointments for its in-person counseling services. This service — the newest in the Division’s efforts to improve customer service and reduce waiting times — is scheduled to begin on or about April 1, 2009. Appointments will be available for both active and retired members of the various State-administered retirement systems. How to Schedule an Appointment When issues related to your benefits arise that warrant the time and attention of a pension counselor, active and retired members (or beneficiaries for death claims) should schedule an appointment with the Office of Client Services. Appointments are made online from the Division of Pensions and Benefits Web site at: www.state.nj.us/treasury/pensions From the Division’s home page, click on “Counseling Appointments.” Then select the type of visit you need and the appointment date and time from a list of available options. Appointments are required for detailed assistance with the following:
Basic membership information is also required prior to submitting the appointment request so that the counselor can be better prepared for your visit. When the registration is complete, you will receive confirmation of your scheduled appointment via e-mail. When Appointments are Not Needed Selected "quick services," such as the drop-off of completed forms, are available without an appointment during normal business hours. In addition, members who have not scheduled an appointment may still be able to speak with a counselor, but one-on-one counseling cannot be guaranteed without an appointment. Therefore, it is recommended that you schedule an appointment when you need the time and attention of a pension counselor. DISTRIBUTION OF THIS MESSAGE Certifying Officers should forward this message to their Human Resources staff, benefit administrators, and any other staff members responsible for the administration of pension and benefits for employees. The accompanying flier Adobe PDF (62K) requires Acrobat Reader which is available free from Adobe. Please note: It is important that the Certifying Officer’s e-mail address is kept current with the Employer Pensions and Benefits Information Connection (EPIC) to assure the accurate and timely delivery of this information. For more information about EPIC or to update your information contact the Division’s Employer Education Unit at (609) 292-7524 or send e-mail to the Division of Pensions and Benefits at: https://www.state.nj.us/treas/pensions/epicmail.shtml CERTIFYING OFFICER LETTER — March 11, 2009 TO: Certifying Officers of Local Government Employers in the SHBP and Local Education Employers in the SEHBP FROM: The Division of Pensions and Benefits, Health Benefits Bureau SUBJECT: COBRA and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 — Request for Information The attached Certifying Officer Letter has been issued by the Division of Pensions and Benefits to address expanded COBRA benefits under the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which became law on February 17, 2009. DISTRIBUTION OF THIS LETTER Certifying Officers should forward this letter to their Human Resources staff, benefit administrators, and any other staff members responsible for the administration of health benefits and COBRA benefits for employees. The letter is in PDF format and requires Acrobat Reader which is available free from Adobe at: http://www.state.nj.us/acrobat.htm If you are unable to open the PDF file, current and archived Certifying Officer Letters are available for viewing on the Division’s Web site (from the Pensions and Benefits home page: http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/pensions go to “Links for Employers” and then select “Certifying Officer Letters” from the “Letters, Laws, Boards & Other Resources” drop down list). Please note: It is important that the Certifying Officer’s e-mail address is kept current with the Employer Pensions and Benefits Information Connection (EPIC) to assure the accurate and timely delivery of this information. For more information about EPIC or to update your information contact the Division’s Employer Education Unit at (609) 292-7524 or send e-mail to the Division of Pensions and Benefits at: https://www.state.nj.us/treas/pensions/epicmail.shtml CERTIFYING OFFICER LETTER — March 11, 2009 TO: State Biweekly and State Monthly Certifying Officers FROM: The Division of Pensions and Benefits, Health Benefits Bureau SUBJECT: COBRA and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 — Request for Information The attached Certifying Officer Letter has been issued by the Division of Pensions and Benefits to address expanded COBRA benefits under the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which became law on February 17, 2009. DISTRIBUTION OF THIS LETTER Certifying Officers should forward this letter to their Human Resources staff, benefit administrators, and any other staff members responsible for the administration of health benefits and COBRA benefits for employees. The letter is in PDF format and requires Acrobat Reader which is available free from Adobe at: http://www.state.nj.us/acrobat.htm If you are unable to open the PDF file, current and archived Certifying Officer Letters are available for viewing on the Division’s Web site (from the Pensions and Benefits home page: http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/pensions go to “Links for Employers” and then select “Certifying Officer Letters” from the “Letters, Laws, Boards & Other Resources” drop down list). Please note: It is important that the Certifying Officer’s e-mail address is kept current with the Employer Pensions and Benefits Information Connection (EPIC) to assure the accurate and timely delivery of this information. For more information about EPIC or to update your information contact the Division’s Employer Education Unit at (609) 292-7524 or send e-mail to the Division of Pensions and Benefits at: https://www.state.nj.us/treas/pensions/epicmail.shtml CERTIFYING OFFICER LETTER — March 4, 2009 TO: Certifying Officers, State and County Colleges and Universities FROM: Joseph Zisa, Manager 1, Fiscal Resources, Division of Pensions and Benefits SUBJECT: Pension Eligibility — Adjunct Faculty and Part-Time Instructors — Supplemental Questions and Answers — 2nd Set The attached Certifying Officer Letter has been issued by the Division of Pensions and Benefits to provide additional supplemental information regarding the enrollment eligibility of adjunct and part-time instructors at State and County Colleges and Universities. DISTRIBUTION OF THIS LETTER Certifying Officers should forward this letter to their Human Resources staff, benefit administrators, and any other staff members responsible for the administration of pension enrollment for employees. The letter is in PDF format and requires Acrobat Reader which is available free from Adobe at: http://www.state.nj.us/acrobat.htm If you are unable to open the PDF file, current and archived Certifying Officer Letters are available for viewing on the Division’s Web site (from the Pensions and Benefits home page: http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/pensions go to “Links for Employers” and then select “Certifying Officer Letters” from the “Letters, Laws, Boards & Other Resources” drop down list). Please note: It is important that the Certifying Officer’s e-mail address is kept current with the Employer Pensions and Benefits Information Connection (EPIC) to assure the accurate and timely delivery of this information. For more information about EPIC or to update your information contact the Division’s Employer Education Unit at (609) 292-7524 or send e-mail to the Division of Pensions and Benefits at: https://www.state.nj.us/treas/pensions/epicmail.shtml CERTIFYING OFFICER LETTER — February 24, 2009 TO: Local Certifying Officers
– Teachers’ Pension and Annuity Fund, Public Employees’
Retirement System & FROM: John D. Megariotis, Deputy Director, Finance, Division of Pensions and Benefits SUBJECT: Future Reporting of Retroactive Salary Increases The attached Certifying Officer Letter has been issued by the Division of Pensions and Benefits to provide information about new procedures for the Internet-based Report of Contributions (IROC) which limits the reporting of retroactive salary increases. The reporting change will be effective with the first calendar quarter report for the period covering January 1, through March 31, 2009. DISTRIBUTION OF THIS LETTER Certifying Officers should forward this letter to their Human Resources staff, benefit administrators, and any other staff members responsible for the administration of the reporting of pension contribituons for employees to the Division of Pensions and Benefits. The letter is in PDF format and requires Acrobat Reader which is available free from Adobe at: http://www.state.nj.us/acrobat.htm If you are unable to open the PDF file, current and archived Certifying Officer Letters are available for viewing on the Division’s Web site (from the Pensions and Benefits home page: http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/pensions go to “Links for Employers” and then select “Certifying Officer Letters” from the “Letters, Laws, Boards & Other Resources” drop down list). Please note: It is important that the Certifying Officer’s e-mail address is kept current with the Employer Pensions and Benefits Information Connection (EPIC) to assure the accurate and timely delivery of this information. For more information about EPIC or to update your information contact the Division’s Employer Education Unit at (609) 292-7524 or send e-mail to the Division of Pensions and Benefits at: https://www.state.nj.us/treas/pensions/epicmail.shtml CERTIFYING OFFICER LETTER — February 5, 2009 TO: State Departmental Certifying Officers, State Departmental Human Resources Directors, State Biweekly Human Resources Representatives FROM: New Jersey State Health Benefits Program SUBJECT: DEPENDENT ELIGIBILITY VERIFICATION AUDIT The attached Certifying Officer Letter has been issued by the Division of Pensions and Benefits, Bureau of Health Benefits, as a reminder of the Dependent Eligibility Verification Audit being conducted for the State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) by Aon Consulting. DISTRIBUTION OF THIS LETTER Certifying Officers should forward this letter to their Human Resources staff, benefit administrators, and any other staff members responsible for the administration of health benefits for employees. The letter is in PDF format and requires Acrobat Reader which is available free from Adobe at: http://www.state.nj.us/acrobat.htm If you are unable to open the PDF file, current and archived Certifying Officer Letters are available for viewing on the Division’s Web site (from the Pensions and Benefits home page: http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/pensions go to “Links for Employers” and then select “Certifying Officer Letters” from the “Letters, Laws, Boards & Other Resources” drop down list). Please note: It is important that the Certifying Officer’s e-mail address is kept current with the Employer Pensions and Benefits Information Connection (EPIC) to assure the accurate and timely delivery of this information. For more information about EPIC or to update your information contact the Division’s Employer Education Unit at (609) 292-7524 or send e-mail to the Division of Pensions and Benefits at: https://www.state.nj.us/treas/pensions/epicmail.shtml CERTIFYING OFFICER LETTER — February 5, 2009 TO: State Monthly Certifying Officers, State Monthly Human Resources Representatives FROM: New Jersey State Health Benefits Program SUBJECT: DEPENDENT ELIGIBILITY VERIFICATION AUDIT The attached Certifying Officer Letter has been issued by the Division of Pensions and Benefits, Bureau of Health Benefits, as a reminder of the Dependent Eligibility Verification Audit being conducted for the State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) by Aon Consulting. DISTRIBUTION OF THIS LETTER Certifying Officers should forward this letter to their Human Resources staff, benefit administrators, and any other staff members responsible for the administration of health benefits for employees. The letter is in PDF format and requires Acrobat Reader which is available free from Adobe at: http://www.state.nj.us/acrobat.htm If you are unable to open the PDF file, current and archived Certifying Officer Letters are available for viewing on the Division’s Web site (from the Pensions and Benefits home page: http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/pensions go to “Links for Employers” and then select “Certifying Officer Letters” from the “Letters, Laws, Boards & Other Resources” drop down list). Please note: It is important that the Certifying Officer’s e-mail address is kept current with the Employer Pensions and Benefits Information Connection (EPIC) to assure the accurate and timely delivery of this information. For more information about EPIC or to update your information contact the Division’s Employer Education Unit at (609) 292-7524 or send e-mail to the Division of Pensions and Benefits at: https://www.state.nj.us/treas/pensions/epicmail.shtml CERTIFYING OFFICER LETTER — January 29, 2009 TO: State Biweekly and State Monthly Certifying Officers, Human Resources Directors, and Human Resources Representatives FROM: New Jersey State Health Benefits Program SUBJECT: SHBP Special Open Enrollment The attached Certifying Officer Letter has been issued by the Division of Pensions and Benefits to announce a Special Open Enrollment for members of the State Health Benefits Program (SHBP). The Special Open Enrollment allows members with Family coverage or Member & Spouse/Partner coverage to change medical plans in order to access new Coordination of Benefit policies between NJ DIRECT10 and NJ DIRECT15. Open Enrollment dates are February 1 - 28, 2009, with plan changes effective for May 2009. DISTRIBUTION OF THIS LETTER Certifying Officers should forward this letter to their Human Resources staff, benefit administrators, and any other staff members responsible for the administration of health benefits for employees. The letter is in PDF format and requires Acrobat Reader which is available free from Adobe at: http://www.state.nj.us/acrobat.htm If you are unable to open the PDF file, current and archived Certifying Officer Letters are available for viewing on the Division’s Web site (from the Pensions and Benefits home page: http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/pensions go to “Links for Employers” and then select “Certifying Officer Letters” from the “Letters, Laws, Boards & Other Resources” drop down list). Please note: It is important that the Certifying Officer’s e-mail address is kept current with the Employer Pensions and Benefits Information Connection (EPIC) to assure the accurate and timely delivery of this information. For more information about EPIC or to update your information contact the Division’s Employer Education Unit at (609) 292-7524 or send e-mail to the Division of Pensions and Benefits at: https://www.state.nj.us/treas/pensions/epicmail.shtml CERTIFYING OFFICER LETTER — January 29, 2009 TO: State Health Benefits Program Participating Local Government Employers FROM: New Jersey State Health Benefits Program SUBJECT: SHBP Special Open Enrollment The attached Certifying Officer Letter has been issued by the Division of Pensions and Benefits to announce a Special Open Enrollment for members of the State Health Benefits Program (SHBP). The Special Open Enrollment allows members to change medical plans in order to access new Coordination of Benefit and Out-of-Pocket Cost policies between NJ DIRECT10 and NJ DIRECT15. Open Enrollment dates are February 1 - 28, 2009, with plan changes effective for May 1, 2009. DISTRIBUTION OF THIS LETTER Certifying Officers should forward this letter to their Human Resources staff, benefit administrators, and any other staff members responsible for the administration of health benefits for employees. The letter is in PDF format and requires Acrobat Reader which is available free from Adobe at: http://www.state.nj.us/acrobat.htm If you are unable to open the PDF file, current and archived Certifying Officer Letters are available for viewing on the Division’s Web site (from the Pensions and Benefits home page: http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/pensions go to “Links for Employers” and then select “Certifying Officer Letters” from the “Letters, Laws, Boards & Other Resources” drop down list). Please note: It is important that the Certifying Officer’s e-mail address is kept current with the Employer Pensions and Benefits Information Connection (EPIC) to assure the accurate and timely delivery of this information. For more information about EPIC or to update your information contact the Division’s Employer Education Unit at (609) 292-7524 or send e-mail to the Division of Pensions and Benefits at: https://www.state.nj.us/treas/pensions/epicmail.shtml CERTIFYING OFFICER LETTER — January 29, 2009 TO: School Employees' Health Benefits Program Participating Local Education Employers FROM: School Employees' Health Benefits Program SUBJECT: SEHBP Special Open Enrollment The attached Certifying Officer Letter has been issued by the Division of Pensions and Benefits to announce a Special Open Enrollment for members of the School Employees' Health Benefits Program (SEHBP). The Special Open Enrollment allows members to change medical plans in order to access new Coordination of Benefit and Out-of-Pocket Cost policies between NJ DIRECT10 and NJ DIRECT15. Open Enrollment dates are February 1 - 28, 2009, with plan changes effective for May 1, 2009. DISTRIBUTION OF THIS LETTER Certifying Officers should forward this letter to their Human Resources staff, benefit administrators, and any other staff members responsible for the administration of health benefits for employees. The letter is in PDF format and requires Acrobat Reader which is available free from Adobe at: http://www.state.nj.us/acrobat.htm If you are unable to open the PDF file, current and archived Certifying Officer Letters are available for viewing on the Division’s Web site (from the Pensions and Benefits home page: http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/pensions go to “Links for Employers” and then select “Certifying Officer Letters” from the “Letters, Laws, Boards & Other Resources” drop down list). Please note: It is important that the Certifying Officer’s e-mail address is kept current with the Employer Pensions and Benefits Information Connection (EPIC) to assure the accurate and timely delivery of this information. For more information about EPIC or to update your information contact the Division’s Employer Education Unit at (609) 292-7524 or send e-mail to the Division of Pensions and Benefits at: https://www.state.nj.us/treas/pensions/epicmail.shtml CERTIFYING OFFICER LETTER — January 12, 2009 TO: Certifying Officers, State and County Colleges and Universities FROM: John D. Megariotis, Deputy Director, Finance, Division of Pensions and Benefits SUBJECT: IRS Compliance for New Jersey ABP and ACTS 403(b) Programs The attached Certifying Officer Letter has been issued by the Division of Pensions and Benefits to provide information about recent changes to Internal Revenue Service regulations regarding Alternate Benefit Program (ABP) and Additional Contributions Tax-Sheltered (ACTS) Program administration the for employees of State and County Colleges and Universities. DISTRIBUTION OF THIS LETTER Certifying Officers should forward this letter to their Human Resources staff, benefit administrators, and any other staff members responsible for the administration of these programs for employees. The letter is in PDF format and requires Acrobat Reader which is available free from Adobe at: http://www.state.nj.us/acrobat.htm If you are unable to open the PDF file, current and archived Certifying Officer Letters are available for viewing on the Division’s Web site (from the Pensions and Benefits home page: http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/pensions go to “Links for Employers” and then select “Certifying Officer Letters” from the “Letters, Laws, Boards & Other Resources” drop down list). Please note: It is important that the Certifying Officer’s e-mail address is kept current with the Employer Pensions and Benefits Information Connection (EPIC) to assure the accurate and timely delivery of this information. For more information about EPIC or to update your information contact the Division’s Employer Education Unit at (609) 292-7524 or send e-mail to the Division of Pensions and Benefits at: https://www.state.nj.us/treas/pensions/epicmail.shtml E-MAIL MESSAGE — January 7, 2009 TO: Certifying Officers FROM: The New Jersey Division of Pensions and Benefits SUBJECT: Seminars and Workshops for 2009 — See the flier (shown below) Please make your employees aware of the seminars and workshops provided by the Division of Pensions and Benefits (Seminar and Workshop schedules and registration). Certifying Officers should forward this information to Benefit Administrators, Human Resource Representatives, and to any other individuals on your staff who would require this information in their administrative duties.
Current and archived messages are available for viewing on the Division’s Web site at: http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/pensions. At the home page, go to “Online Employer Services - EPIC ” and then select “Archive of E-Messages” link at the lower left portion of the page. |
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Copyright
© State of New Jersey, 1996-2009
Division of Pensions and Benefits
PO Box 295
Trenton, NJ 08625-0295
Last Updated: May 18, 2010