PUBLICATIONS Inside Illinois Vol. 21, No. 4, Aug. 16, 2001

benefits briefs

Tax-deferred payroll deduction
New options for buying SURS service credit
Eligible employees now have a choice of payment options available for purchasing State Universities Retirement System (SURS) service credit. In addition to using after-tax dollars or a rollover from a qualified plan to purchase this credit, a new option allows actively employed eligible SURS members to pay for the purchase of SURS service credit, or repay SURS refunds, using tax-deferred payroll deductions.

This program allows the UI to withhold contributions from your salary on a before-tax basis. Additionally, it gives employees the option of budgeting for smaller monthly payments in lieu of making one large payment. Employees are required to make an irrevocable commitment to authorize payroll deductions over periods of one to four years. In the case of an employee’s termination, disability or death, alternatives for granting partial SURS service credit and using after-tax funds to pay the remaining balance will be available.

To be eligible, an employee must be a currently employed SURS participant who has received at least nine months of earnings in the previous 12-month-period, and enrolled in either the Traditional or Portable Benefit Packages.

To verify eligibility for SURS service credit purchase and the payment options available, contact SURS at (800) 275-7877 or 378-8800 (Champaign-Urbana area). Additional plan highlights and tax information is on the Web at www.surs.com.

NESSIE knows it
Academic ‘Notification of Appointment’ notices
NESSIE, or Net-driven Employee Self-Service and Information Environment, is a Web-enabled information services environment designed to assist university employees in conducting human resources transactions. Budgeted academic employees will receive their 2001/2002 Notification of Appointment on the NESSIE Web site, located at http://nessie.uihr.uillinois.edu. Employees can view their appointment information by going to the "Your File" section of NESSIE.

Most budgeted academic employees will not receive a paper Notification of Appointment form and should review their appointment information using NESSIE. Only academic staff members who are new or who receive a major position change or a notice of non-reappointment will receive a paper copy of their Notification of Appointment.

In addition, NESSIE is available to initiate or change direct deposit, change demographic and address information, change withholding information, submit Civil Service examination requests, employment verification, submit and update emergency contact information. You also may review and update knowledge, skills, abilities, prior education and work history, honors and awards and publications through NESSIE.

For help using NESSIE, see "5 Easy Steps," at http://nessie.uihr.uillinois.edu/5steps.