Core Accidental Death And Dismemberment
Coverage in the amount of $10,000 is provided at no cost to employees. It can pay a benefit if you suffer a loss as the result of a covered accident while you are insured under the plan. It also pays a benefit if you suffer certain disabling injuries while covered. It includes accidents on or off the job. The coverage is in addition to any other coverage your may have under any other insurance policy. While it is provided at no cost, employees must enroll to receive the coverage.
Vesting Credits Vs Retirement Credits
You cannot purchase contributing membership service in order to reach the 5-year vesting requirement. However, you continue to accrue creditable service that counts towards service retirement while receiving STD/LTD, extended short-term disability, and salary continuation benefits.
Prior to 2019, employees could purchase creditable service that counted towards retirement while receiving TTD. However, the General Assembly introduced HB 188 in February 2019 to disallow the purchase of creditable service.
You or your attorney can request a service audit by writing to:
NC Department of State Treasurer, Retirement Systems Division325 N. Salisbury St.Raleigh, NC 27603-1385
National College Savings Program
North Carolina’s National College Savings Program was established by the State of North Carolina to enable residents of any state to invest funds to pay for higher education expenses. Parents, grandparents, relatives, friends can open an account for a person of any age, even a newborn. You can even open an account for yourself. You can contribute the amount of money that works best for you. Monthly contributions can be set up through payroll deductions. Occasional contributions are also welcome.
You can select from a variety of investment options that cover a range of strategies, from conservative to aggressive. North Carolina taxpayers may qualify for a tax deduction for the contributions to the 529 plan. Your earnings grow tax-free. There are NO federal taxes or, for N.C. residents, state taxes on your earnings.
The beneficiary can use the funds for virtually any college anywhere. The beneficiary can also use the funds for expenses that include tuition, fees, room, board, books, and supplies and equipment required for enrollment.
For more information, please visit the College Foundation of North Carolina or call toll free at 600-3453.
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Lgers Offset With Workers Compensation
A member can receive both workers compensation and disability retirement at the same time. There is no workers compensation offset against LGERS disability retirement benefits.
Retirement credits accrue while on LGERS disability retirement. However, retirement credits do not accrue while on workers compensation. If you are receiving TTD but not LGERS disability retirement, then you can purchase retirement credits for the time you received TTD.
The LGERS disability retirement plan is funded partially by the employer and partially by you, the employee. Therefore, the state is not entitled to a credit under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 97-42 against disability retirement benefits paid in a denied case that is later found compensable because.
If you are permanently disabled from returning to your own job, then you should apply for LGERS disability retirement in addition to workers compensation.
Teachers & State Employees Retirement Program
This program is sponsored by the State of North Carolina and governed by the Department of the State Treasurer.
TSERS is as a defined benefit plan and the benefit you receive at retirement is based on a formula. This formula considers your years and months of creditable service, your age, and your average final compensation, which is the average of your salary during your four highest paid consecutive years. Neither the investment experience of the plan assets nor the amount contributed by you and the University, on your behalf, directly determines the amount of the guaranteed benefit you will receive at retirement.
All permanent SHRA or EHRA full-time employees who work 30 or more hours per week will have the option to choose between TSERS or the Optional Retirement Program .
Contribution Amount & Participation
You are required to contribute 6% of your salary on a pre-tax basis -no more, no less. The plan is also funded by University contributions those this money goes into the general pension fund. Contributions begin on day one of eligibility and retroactive contributions are deducted in one lump sum.
Vesting
Retirement benefits in TSERS are fully vested after you complete five years of membership service. If you leave State employment before completing five years of creditable service, you may:
Death & Survivor Benefits
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In Orbit Retirees Can:
- Add or update contact information, including your mailing address, phone numbers, and email address
- Create a Transfer Benefit estimate
We have developed How To videos and Frequently Asked Questions to help members navigate the ORBIT environment. We also developed How To videos for our Spanish-speaking members which can be accessed here: Guía Práctica en Español.
Teachers& State Employees Retirement System
Many state employees are covered by the Teachers and State Employees Retirement System of North Carolina , which is a defined benefit plan administered by the N.C. Department of State Treasurer, and is governed by Chapter 135 of the N.C. General Statutes.
TSERS benefits include participation in the state retirement benefit plan, short term disability plan, extended short term disability plan, long term disability plan, and health care plan. Members pay 6% of their pre-tax compensation to participate in the system.
To qualify for TSERS participation as a state government employee, you must be:
- A permanent full-time teacher or employee of a state-supported Board of Education or community college, or a permanent employee of the state or its agencies, and
- Work at least 30 hours per week for 9 months per year.
TSERS also covers specific law enforcement officers who meet the following qualifications:
- A permanent, full-time, paid employee of the state ,
- An individual who is actively serving in a position with assigned duties of prevention and detection of crime or the general enforcement of criminal laws, and
- Someone who possesses the power of arrest by virtue of an oath administered by the authority of the state.
Examples of employees in the TSERS systems are public teachers, principals, school librarians, bus drivers, school custodians, state parole officers, ALE agents, SBI agents, and state highway patrol officers.
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Voluntary Accidental Death & Dismemberment
This coverage pays a benefit if you suffer a loss as the result of a covered accident while you are insured under the plan. It also pays a benefit if you suffer certain dismemberment injuries while covered. You select the amount of coverage you want up to $500,000. The coverage is effective 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It includes accidents on or off the job.
Are You A Member Of The Faulkenberry Class
Employees who had 5 years of membership service in the TSERS system prior to January 1, 1988, and who are deemed permanently disabled from their own occupation, may elect disability retirement, instead of STD/LTD.
There are no offsets for Social Security retirement, Social Security disability, or workers compensation. There is no requirement to apply for SSDI, and these benefits last until unreduced retirement.
Forms youll need to apply:
- Form 7Requesting Disability Retirement Benefits
- Form 7AMedical Report for Eligibility Review
- Your job description
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After Choosing Whether You Are An Active Or Retired Member And Verifying Some Personal Information Members Can:
- Hear account balance and years of accrued service
- Confirm receipt of documentation sent to the Retirement System
- Find out monthly pay/mail date
- Request one of the following forms be mailed to you:
- Form 5, Withdrawing Your Retirement Service Credit and Contributions
- Form 6, Claiming Your Retirement Benefit
- Form 170, Authorizing Direct Deposit
- Form 290, Choosing Income Tax Withholding Preferences
- Form 333BEN, Designating Beneficiary for the Contributory Death Benefit for Retired Members
Post Retirement Survivor Benefits
Depending on the participants choice of retirement payment option, a monthly survivor benefit may be payable to the named beneficiary upon the retirees death.
Retiree Health Benefits
When you retire and begin receiving monthly benefits from the ORP, you may also be eligible to enroll in the State Health Plan with the cost determined by when your employment started with the State. In all cases, the full cost of dependent coverage, if elected, must be paid by the retiree.
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North Carolina Prepaid Legal Services
The North Carolina Prepaid Legal Services Corporation was created by the North Carolina State Bar to provide for the prepayment of legal services on a low-cost basis. A few of the benefits include office interviews, will and trust preparation, real estate services, and domestic relation issues. If you have questions or need further information contact a prepaid legal representative at 757-0783.
Consolidated Judicial Retirement System
If you are Justice, Judge, District Attorney, Clerk of Superior Court, Capital Defender, Juvenile Defender, Appellate Defender, Public Defender, Indigent Defense Services Executive Director, or the Director of the Administrative Office of the Courts, you are a member of the Consolidated Judicial Retirement System of North Carolina. The employees contribution under this system is six percent of his/her salary.
Once you attain certain age and service requirements and you retire, you are eligible to apply for monthly retirement benefits. You will be eligible to receive a reduced benefit at age 50 with five years of creditable service. You may retire with an unreduced benefit at age 65 with at least five years of creditable service or after age 50 with 24 years of creditable service.
For more information on the Consolidated Judicial Retirement System , including the CJRS retirement handbook and other resources, go to the My NC Retirement website.
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Death In The Line Of Duty
If a member of the pension fund dies in the line of duty, then his or her beneficiary will receive a lifetime monthly survivorship benefit starting from when the member would have attained age 55 and continuing for the remainder of the beneficiarys life.
If a member died in the line of duty prior to July 1, 2018, the monthly lifetime survivorship benefit goes to the spouse. If there is no spouse, then a lump sum equal to the members remaining contributions will be paid to the members heirs.
Service Retirement Vs Early Retirement Benefits And Eligibility
A government employee becomes a member of TSERS on the hire date and becomes vested upon the completion of 5 years of contributing membership service. Most members may retire with unreduced service retirement at:
- Age 65 and completion of 5 years of membership service,
- Age 60 and completion of 25 years of creditable service, or
- Any age upon completion of 30 years of creditable service.
Most employees are eligible for reduced early retirement benefits at
- Age 50 and completion of 20 years of creditable service, or
- Age 60 and 5 years of membership service.
A law enforcement officer may retire with unreduced service retirement benefits at:
- Age 55 and 5 years of creditable service as a law enforcement officer, or
- 30 years of creditable service at any age.
A law enforcement officer may retire with early retirement benefits at age 50 and completion of 15 years of creditable service as a law enforcement officer. Effective July 1, 2019, a law enforcement officer may also retire with early retirement benefits at any age with 25 years of creditable service, of which 15 years as a law enforcement officer.
Forms youll need to apply:
- Form 6Claiming Your Monthly Retirement Benefit
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University Of Mount Olive Trojan Alliance Partnership
University of Mount Olive offers a unique opportunity for our strategic partners called the Trojan Alliance Partnership, or TAP.
TAP allows employees of our partnering organizations to receive a tuition scholarship.
UMO will offer a 10% tuition scholarship to employees who enroll in seated or online classes.The discount increases to 30% per semester when the student is enrolled in at least 12 credit hours at the undergraduate level or 9 credit hours at the graduate level.Application fees will be waived.
Local Government Employees Retirement System
LGERS is a defined benefit plan administered by the N.C. Department of State Treasurer that includes both retirement and disability benefits. It is governed by N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 128-21 through 128-38.1.
Membership in LGERS is open to full-time employees of any county, city, town or other local government who have agreed to participate in LGERS. Members pay 6% of their pre-tax compensation to participate in the system.
Examples of LGERS members include city police officers, Sheriffs deputies, city managers, sanitation workers, county librarians, and parks & recreation officers.
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Coordinating Salary Continuation With Workers Compensation
Government employees are not eligible to receive both salary continuation and workers compensation wage loss benefits at the same time. The number of weeks youll receive salary continuation will be deducted from the 500-week TTD cap.
But, if you remain disabled at the end of the salary continuation period, then you will be eligible for TTD and will be treated just like any other workers compensation claimant.
The state of North Carolina may only terminate salary continuation if:
- The salary continuation period ends,
- The employee returns to work, resigns, retires or dies, or
- The state offers the employee an assignment of a job that complies with the treating physicians restrictions, or by order of the Secretary or head of department of that employees agency.
Also, although the statute indicates that salary continuation may only end at the time of return to work, an offer of suitable employment, resignation, retirement or death, in practice, the state will cease to pay salary continuation when it separates someone from employment prior to when the 2 years expires.
In other words, salary continuation ends once employment ends.
If the salary continuation period ends or if the benefits are terminated by the Secretary or department head, then the state must immediately start TTD if you are also eligible for workers compensation. Once TTD is started, then a Form 24 is necessary to terminate those benefits.
Term Life And Accidental Death And Dismemberment Insurance
One America is the City’s life insurance carrier. Coverage provides the employee’s beneficiary with life and accidental death benefits. If the death is due to accidental causes, not related to drug or alcohol, the plan will pay the beneficiary an additional one time annual salary. Employee’s can purchase additional term life insurance for their spouse and dependent children at a nominal cost. Supplemental term life for you family can be purchased during open enrollment.
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Voluntary Group Term Life Insurance
This coverage pays a benefit to your beneficiary if you die while covered under the policy. This is strictly a term life insurance policy that provides a benefit if you die. There is no accumulated cash value. Your monthly premium is based on your age and the coverage amount you elect from $20,000 to $500,000.
Coordination With Workers Compensation
Only paid firefighters and rescue squad workers are eligible for payments from the pension and disability fund. However, both paid and volunteer firefighters/rescue squad workers are eligible for workers compensation benefits in North Carolina. The average weekly wage for a paid firefighter/rescue squad worker is calculated the same way as anyone else who is injured at work.
The AWW for a volunteer firefighter/rescue worker is calculated by looking at the employment in which the volunteer was earning wages at the time of the injury. However, the minimum compensation rate for a volunteer firefighter/rescue squad worker is 2/3 of the maximum compensation for the year in which the injury occurred.
For example, if a volunteer firefighter earned $600 per week in his regular job and was injured in 2017 , then instead of his compensation being two-thirds of $600 , instead it would be two-thirds of $978 .
Forms youll need to apply:
- Form 350Enrolling in the Firefighters and Rescue Squad Workers Pension Fund
- Form 6FRRetiring from the Firefighters and Rescue Squad Workers Pension Fund
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Teacher And State Employees’ Retirement System
Employees become a member of the Teachers’ and State Employees Retirement System on the date of hire. Eligible employees are those that are permanent and working at least 30 hours per week for the State of North Carolina. Once enrolled in the Retirement System, six percent of your gross monthly salary will be deducted from your check on a tax-deferred basis. This is a mandatory contribution. The State may also contribute a percentage of all members salaries to pay for benefits for you and other members. Under current law, you become vested after five years of membership. This means that if you work until the qualified age/service requirement or separate from employment and leave your contributions in the system, you will be eligible to draw a retirement benefit. Once you attain certain age and service requirements and wish to retire, you are eligible to apply for monthly retirement benefits. You will be eligible to receive a reduced benefit at age 50 with 20 years of creditable service, or at age 60 with 5 years of creditable service. You may retire with an unreduced benefit at age 65 with 5 years of creditable service, at age 60 with 25 years of creditable service, or at any age with 30 years of creditable service.
If you leave the System for any reason other than retirement or death, you can receive a refund of your contributions or leave your contributions in the System and keep all creditable service you earned to that date.
