News

Please click here for the annual memo regarding weather related absences.

The 2021 open enrollment period for the Flex Spending Account (FSA) will run from Monday, Nov. 2 to 10 p.m. Monday, Nov. 30. The FSA program can assist state employees in saving money to pay for necessary health or dependent care expenses because money set aside in your accounts is not subject to federal, state and social security taxes. Once you are enrolled, your contributions will be withheld on a bi-weekly, pre-tax basis from your paychecks during the 2021 plan year.

The FSA is comprised of three important benefits for employees: the Health Care Spending Account (HCSA), the Dependent Care Advantage Account (DCAA) and the Adoption Advantage Account. Eligible employees may choose to enroll in any or all of the benefits. Keep in mind this is a use-it-or-lose it benefit. Any funds you set aside that are not accounted for by Dec. 31 each year will be forfeited.

If you are currently enrolled in the plan and wish to continue the benefit for 2021, you must re-enroll by the strictly-enforced deadline of 10 p.m. Nov. 30. Enrollment does not carry over from year to year. Beginning Nov. 2, you may enroll online at the link below or by phone at 800-358-7202.For program and enrollment details, including information to have handy when enrolling, visit the How to Enroll page on the FSA website or call 800-358-7202 .

A reminder regarding phased retirement and work reduction options available to employees.

For more information regarding Phased Retirement options, please click here.

For more information regardig Other Voluntary Reduction in Work Schedule Programs, please click here.

All faculty, staff, and student employees paid on the New York State payroll who are makingmandatory contributions to a public retirement system, including NYS Employees Retirement System (ERS), NYS Teachers Retirement System (TRS), NYS Police & Fire Retirement System (PAF), as well as the SUNY Optional Retirement Program (ORP), are required to report these contributions as income in the appropriate line on their New York State personal income tax return. The dollar amount of these contributions is indicated in Block 14 of the 2019 W-2 form as 41 4(h). Failure to include this amount before filing your New York state tax return can result in additional tax payments and interest due.

Please be aware that only those faculty, staff, and student employees who are contributing to a public retirement system are impacted. If your 2019 W-2 form does not include a 414(h) code in block 14, please disregard this reminder.

For more information, please contact the NYS Dept. of Taxation and Finance at: (800) 225-5829, or visit www.tax.ny.gov.

2020 Taxation of 414(h) Retirement Contributions