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December, 2008

Table of Contents

• End of Year Reminders
  • Holiday Staffing
  • Mailing Addresses and W-2 Forms
  • Maximum Vacation Balance Cap
  • 2008 Holiday Schedule
  • University Holiday Calendar
• Benefits Administration
  • CSU 403(b)Tax Sheltered Annuities (TSA) Program
  • Annual Contribution Limits
  • 2009 Health Plan Rates
  • Health Care Reimbursement Account (HCRA) and Dependent Care Reimbursement Account (DCRA)
  • CSU Retiree Voluntary Vision Plan

End of Year Reminders

The holiday season is upon us. Here are some reminders to assist you in making the year end well.

Holiday Staffing - 2008

The University will be closed Thursday, December 25, 2008 through Thursday, January 1, 2009.  The University will be open for administrative operations/services on Friday, January 2, 2009. We recognize that because this workday follows a series of holidays and is the day before a weekend, we may not have as much business as on a regular workday. 

Administrative unit leaders may choose to opt for a liberal approval practice for vacation on this date, as long as each major unit of the University is open for business and service.  That means that, at the collegiate level some departments may not be staffed but basic services would still be available at the Dean’s office.  In large administrative departments, some sub-units may not be staffed but services will still be available from the main office or from a designated sub-unit of the department.

Managers are asked to implement special communication systems such as phone forwarding, physical signs and web messages, to direct students/clients to the area that can provide services on January 2, 2009.

Mailing Address and W-2 Forms

W-2s will be issued in January by the State Controller's Office and mailed to the address on record in SOLAR HR as of November 10, 2008.

If your mailing address has changed, please go online today and update your records through the myNorthridge portal staff page. Login at http://www.csun.edu. From the Human Resources/Employee pagelet, use the link labeled Update My Personal Information. Instructions are available online at http://www-admn.csun.edu/ohrs/payroll/procedures/index.htm#address.

You may also fill out a change of address form in person in the Office of Human Resources, University Hall, Room 165 by November 10, 2008.

Maximum Vacation Balance Cap

Quick reminder – Please ensure that your vacation balance as of January 1, 2009 is at or below your maximum carryover, per your applicable bargaining agreement. You may view your leave balances online through the portal at www.csun.edu. If you are not able to view your balances, please see your Timekeeper.

Also remember to consider your vacation accruals for November and December when calculating the number of hours you must use before January 1st. For details concerning the calculation of your “Maximum Carryover Hours,” please refer to:
http://www-admn.csun.edu/ohrs/benefits/documents/vacation_carryover.doc.

Special note for Faculty: After one (1) full year of employment, a California Faculty Association (R03) employee who accrues vacation (12-month appointments) shall take at least forty (40) hours of vacation each calendar year. Any part of the forty (40) hours not taken during the calendar year shall be forfeited by January of the subsequent year (Article 34.7).

2008 Holiday Schedule

The end of the year holiday period is almost upon us. The University will be closed Thursday, December 25th through Thursday, January 1st. December 31st is not a covered holiday; therefore, eligible employees may charge their accrued leave time such as vacation, Holiday Time, Personal Holiday or, when eligible, Compensatory Time Off to this date.

For more information, please consult the following website: December 31, 2008 Campus Closure Guidelines.

Please be aware that the University will be open for support operations on Friday, January 2, 2009.

University Holiday Calendar

Benefits Administration

 

CSU 403(b) Tax Sheltered Annuity (TSA) Program

The special open enrollment for the TSA program has now expired.

In order to process the volume of applications received, access to the Retirement Manager will be temporarily disabled until January 1, 2009. After January 1, 2009, enrollment and contribution changes can be submitted monthly through the Retirement Manager, https://www.aigretco.com/retireman/.

Cutoff dates for the monthly pay periods in 2009 are online:  http://www.calstate.edu/Benefits/carrier.materials/2009RMCutoffDates%20_EE.pdf.  To find additional information, please refer to the CSU TSA website: http://www.calstate.edu/HR/benefitsportal/tsa/.

Annual Contribution Limits

Currently, two IRC limits apply: the IRC Section 402(g) "elective deferral limit" and the IRC Section 415(c) "percentage of compensation" limit. For the 2009 tax year, the maximum contribution  to a 403(b) plan is $16,500.

Contributions to a 403(b) plan are not impacted by contributions to a 457 plan. Employees can maximize contributions in both of these plans. For example, for tax year 2009, a participant may elect to contribute up to $16,500 to a 403(b) plan and up to $16,500 to a 457 plan, for a total contribution of up to $33,000.

Contributions to a 403(b) plan are offset by any contributions to a 401(k) plan in the same tax year. Employees contributing to both a 403(b) and 401(k) plan are restricted by IRS regulations to a combined total of $16,500 for the 2009 tax year.

2009 Health Plan Rates

The 2009 Health Plan rates are available at: http://www-admn.csun.edu/ohrs/benefits/programs/health_comparison.htm. Please check your January pay warrant for you premium deduction and report any discrepancies to your benefits coordinator.

Health Care Reimbursement Account (HCRA) and Dependent Care Reimbursement Account (DCRA)

Do you still have claims you need to file for 2008? Make sure to make your claims – it can mean money in your pocket! You may file claims for expenses incurred during 2008 up to June 30, 2009. Any remaining balance in your account will be forfeited after June 30, 2009. For information about filing claims go to http://www.asiflex.com/claim-filing-procedures.htm

CSU Retiree Voluntary Vision Plan

We are pleased to announce a new voluntary vision benefit for CSU retirees and their eligible dependents, effective January 1, 2009. Retirees will pay premiums, and VSP will be the vision carrier for the new program (they are also the carrier for employees). For additional information please refer to: http://www.calstate.edu/HR/benefitsportal/retiree-vision/retiree_oe.shtml

 

 

 

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