Benefits

Washington Mandatory Long-Term Care Information

  • This is an important message for all FWPS staff,

    Mandatory Long-Term Care premiums will start being withheld for all Washington State employees starting January 1, 2022 unless action is taken by October 31, 2021.

     You can opt-out by meeting the following two conditions:

    1. Have an individual LTC insurance plan in place by October 31, 2021 AND
    2. Apply for the exemption with WA Employment Security Department before December 31, 2022. 

     Once you have opted out you are no longer eligible for the program.

     Important information:

    • This is the Washington State Cares program that mandates all WA employers to start withholding a LTC premium of 0.58% of wages ($5.80 for every $1,000 of wages) from their employees’ pay starting January 1, 2022.
    • LTC has a lifetime benefit of $36,500 per person after becoming vested in the program. In general, you may be eligible for LTC benefits once you have worked at least 500 hours per year and paid premiums for at least three of the last six years prior to filing for a benefit.

    For additional information visit: www.wacaresfund.wa.gov

     For questions email: benefits@fwps.org

    WA Cares Fund Flyer
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Insurance & Retirement

  • Click for Orientation Presentation - Retirement & SEBB Info

    SEBB Annual Open Enrollment

    Eligible employees may make changes to the current benefit elections during the Annual Open Enrollment. The Annual Open Enrollment is October 25 - November 22, 2021 for changes to be effective January 1, 2022.

    Current medical, dental, and vision benefit elections will carry over to 2022 if no changes are made during the Annual Open Enrollment. Annual enrollment is required for Medical Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA) and/or Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP) for continued participation.

    2022 key highlights:

    • Employee-Paid Long-Term Disability (LTD)
      • All eligible employees will be automatically enrolled into the 60% Employee-Paid LTD plan unless one of the following two options are taken:
        • Choose to reduce to the 50% Employee-Paid LTD plan
        • Opt out of Employee-Paid LTD (will still be covered under the basic LTD benefit)
      • Note: this is not the same as the Washington Long-Term Care Program
    • FSAs and DCAP
      • Now offering a Limited Purpose FSA designed to pay for dental and vision expenses for employees enrolled in UMP High Deductible with a health savings account
      • 2022 Medical FSA and Limited Purpose FSA unused funds up to $550 may roll over to 2023, if eligible
    • Dual enrollment - SEBB & PEBB
      • You can no longer enroll in health plans under both the SEBB program and the PEBB program as an employee or as a dependent.

    Where to enroll or make changes:

    Important Links:

     Medical Insurance

    All employees who are anticipated to work 630 hours or more, or who during the course of the school year reach 630 hours worked, are eligible for benefits offered through the School Employees Benefits Board (SEBB), administered by the state of Washington. Employees not making a selection within 31 days of becoming eligible (or those not waiving coverage within 31 days of becoming eligible) will be automatically enrolled in a basic employee-only (no dependents) medical/dental/vision package at a cost of $58/month.

    A variety of medical plans are available dependent on your county of residence or employment. Supplemental offerings are also provided for life insurance and long-term disability beyond the state-provided coverage.

    For more information visit the Health Care Authority/SEBB site for school district employees:

     

    Retirement

    Employees have an excellent state retirement plan regulated by the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems.

    Optional retirement programs such as a 457 Deferred Compensation Plan and 403b Tax Sheltered Annuities are also offered by the district.

     

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