CERTIFYING OFFICER LETTER – September 19, 2016 TO: Certifying Officers, Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) FROM: Jacquelyn Bussanich, Board Secretary, PERS Board of Trustees SUBJECT: PERS Notice of Election The attached Certifying Officer Letter has been issued by the PERS Board of Trustees to seek nominations for one “State” Representative position, one “Municipal” Representative, and one “County” Representative position to the PERS Board of Trustees. Each representative will be elected for a three-year term as of July 1, 2017. Candidates for these positions must qualify by nomination. The PERS Board of Trustees requests that the attached Notice of Election be prominently posted in your workplace as official notice to PERS employees. This Certifying Officer Letter and the attached Notice of Election is being transmitted to you electronically and requires your electronic response. SEE THE CERTIFYING OFFICER LETTER FOR SPECIFIC RESPONSE INSTRUCTIONS - DO NOT REPLY TO THIS COVER MESSAGE. DISTRIBUTION OF THIS LETTER Certifying Officers should forward this message to their human resources staff, benefit administrators, and any other staff members responsible for the administration of pension benefits for employees. If you need to review previous e-messages, they are available on the Division’s Web site at: http://www.nj.gov/treasury/pensions At the home page, go to “Online Services — Employer Pensions and Benefits Information Connection (EPIC)” and then on the EPIC page select “Archive of E-Messages.” Please note: It is important that the Certifying Officer’s e-mail address is kept current with the Employer Pensions and Benefits Information Connection (EPIC) to assure the accurate and timely delivery of this information. Update your information using the Employer Demographics application in EPIC. E-MAIL MESSAGE – September 15, 2016 TO: Certifying Officers, Human Resource Representatives, and Benefit Administrators FROM: The New Jersey Division of Pensions and Benefits SUBJECT: Retirement Seminars and Webinars for Employees Please make this information available to your employees. Do you have employees who are looking for information about retirement? The Division of Pensions and Benefits has scheduled upcoming Retirement Seminar dates for members of the Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS), Teachers’ Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF), or Police and Firemen’s Retirement System (PFRS). Both in-person Seminars and live online webinars are available. In-person Seminars are available at locations across the state, including three new locations in Verona, Toms River, and Margate City – see the attached list for seminar dates and locations. Live Webinars cover all of the same information as our seminars but can be attended without travel from your own computer. Designed for employees who are planning for retirement, retirement seminars and webinars provide a step-by-step look at the retirement process. We explain retirement benefits, beneficiary options, group life insurance, and how to submit the retirement application online using MBOS. Retirement eligibility, purchase, loan repayment provisions, and the taxability of pension are explained along with a brief discussion of State Health Benefits Program and School Employees’ Health Benefits Program coverage in retirement. Seminars conclude with a question and answer period; Webinar attendees are able to submit questions for individualized answers. The attached file provides details on Seminar dates, times, and locations, in addition to important suggestions for attendees. The file is in PDF format and requires Acrobat Reader which is available free from Adobe via a link at: http://www.state.nj.us/acrobat.htm ADDITIONAL TRAINING DATES Please check our Web site regularly for newly added seminar/webinar dates and/or locations. For a complete list of employee pension training opportunities, visit the Division of Pensions and Benefits’ Workshop Registration page at: http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/pensions/workshop-intro.shtml DISTRIBUTION OF THIS MESSAGE Certifying Officers should make this information available to their employees, and forward this message to their Human Resources staff, benefit administrators, and any other staff members responsible for the administration of pension and benefits for employees. Please note: It is important that the Certifying Officer’s e-mail address is kept current with the Employer Pensions and Benefits Information Connection (EPIC) to assure the accurate and timely delivery of this information. Update your information using the Employer Demographics application in EPIC. E-MAIL MESSAGE – September 15, 2016 TO: All Cycle 1 Certifying Officers FROM: The New Jersey Division of Pensions and Benefits SUBJECT: 3rd Quarter 2016 IROC (Cycle 1 Location) IROC NOTICE This notice is to advise that your 3rd Quarter 2016 Internet-based Report of Contributions (IROC) is ready for processing. The IROC is accessed through the Employers Pension Information Connection (EPIC), the secure and fast method for pension information and processing. The Certifying Officer at your employing location has the ability to grant IROC access to other staff persons by using the “Security” function in EPIC. If you have questions about how to use EPIC, please contact the Division’s Employer Education Unit for EPIC help at (609) 292-7524. You can also get help from the Division’s Web site at: http://www.nj.gov/treasury/pensions/epickit.htm or by clicking the “EPIC User’s Guide” button on your EPIC home page.
Employers who use the IROC have reported that this method is easier and much more efficient; for many it reduces the completion time by half or more. If you are new to using the IROC, it will only take a few minutes to learn the new method and we believe you will find it very much worth your while. At the Division, we truly appreciate the dedication and hard work you bring to your job administering your employees’ pension and benefits. We also want to thank you in advance for your cooperation in making the change to this online reporting system. We hope you will find that using the IROC will greatly improve your quarterly reporting experience. DISTRIBUTION OF THIS MESSAGE Certifying Officers should make this information available to their employees, and forward this message to their Human Resources staff, benefit administrators, and any other staff members responsible for the administration of pension and benefits for employees. Please note: It is important that the Certifying Officer’s e-mail address is kept current with the Employer Pensions and Benefits Information Connection (EPIC) to assure the accurate and timely delivery of this information. CERTIFYING OFFICER LETTER TO EMPLOYERS — September 1, 2016 TO: Certifying Officers and Supervisors of Certifying Officers FROM: NJ Division of Pensions and Benefits SUBJECT: Renewal Required for Annual Membership Certification Required under Chapter 52, P.L. 2011 The attached Certifying Officer Letter is official notice to Certifying Officers and Supervisors of Certifying Officers that it is time to renew the Annual Membership Certification as required under the provisions of Chapter 52, P.L. 2011. The Certifying Officer and Supervisor of the Certifying Officer are both required to complete the Chapter 52 Annual Membership Certification, which is available as an online application in the Employer Pensions and Benefits Information Connection (EPIC). All certifications must be completed no later than September 30, 2016. Specific instructions on using the Chapter 52 Annual Membership Certification online application are contained in the Certifying Officer Letter. CERTIFYING ENROLLMENTS Please note: It is important that the Certifying Officer’s and Supervisor’s e-mail addresses are kept current with the Employer Pensions and Benefits Information Connection (EPIC) to assure the accurate and timely delivery of this information. Update your information using the Employer Demographics application in EPIC. If you have questions or concerns about the content of this message, contact the Division of Pensions and Benefits at: pensions.nj@treas.nj.gov or go to: https://www.state.nj.us/treas/pensions/pensionmail.shtml
E-MAIL MESSAGE – August 30,2016 TO: Certifying Officers, All funds FROM: The New Jersey Division of Pensions and Benefits SUBJECT: REMINDER — Retirement Certifications Required Through EPIC This message is to remind employers that effective September 1, 2016, the Certification of Service and Final Salary submitted for your employees’ retirements must be completed using the online Retirement Certification application in the Employer Pensions and Benefits Information Connection (EPIC) whenever possible. Online certification is required when an employee first applies for retirement through the Member Benefits Online System (MBOS), when an employee’s application is resubmitted for a new retirement date, or for certain changes to the retirement type. The Certifying Officer Letter issued by the Division of Pensions and Benefits on July 28, 2016, explains the change and the online certification process in detail. View, or download and print, the letter from the Division’s Web site at: http://www.nj.gov/treasury/pensions/coltr16.shtml#009 DISTRIBUTION OF THIS MESSAGE Certifying Officers should forward this message to their human resources staff, benefit administrators, and any other staff members responsible for the administration of pension benefits for employees. Should you have any questions or need additional assistance, please contact the Division's Employer Helpline at (609) 292-7524 or send an e-mail to pensions.nj@treas.nj.gov Please note: It is important that the Certifying Officer’s and Supervisor’s e-mail addresses are kept current with the Employer Pensions and Benefits Information Connection (EPIC) to assure the accurate and timely delivery of this information. Update your information using the Employer Demographics application in EPIC. If you have questions or concerns about the content of this message, contact the Division of Pensions and Benefits at: pensions.nj@treas.nj.gov or go to: https://www.state.nj.us/treas/pensions/pensionmail.shtml E-MAIL MESSAGE – August 29,2016 TO: Certifying Officers, State Biweekly Employers FROM: The New Jersey Division of Pensions and Benefits SUBJECT: Save the Date: The N.J. State Employees’ Benefits Fair at Thomas Edison State University on September 28, 2016 The Division of Pensions and Benefits is pleased to announce the 2016 N.J. STATE EMPLOYEES’ BENEFITS FAIR. This year’s theme is “Passport to Your Benefits.” It will be held on Wednesday, September 28, 2016, at Thomas Edison State University, Prudence Hall, 111 West State Street, Trenton, NJ 08608 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Representatives from health, dental, prescription drug, pension, wellness, and financial plans will be available to provide your employees with a better understanding of their benefits. Since changes in health and dental plans can only be made during the Annual Open Enrollment every October, this is the perfect opportunity for your employees to review their plan options. Employees can also stop by the Employee Advisory Service table to learn about available no-cost benefits and the Division of Pensions and Benefits’ tables to learn about pension and retirement options and the NJWELL Program. The exhibitors include:
Please forward the attached document (benefit-fair-2016-save-date.pdf) to your employees and post it throughout your worksites. Please encourage your employees to attend this event. DISTRIBUTION OF THIS LETTER Certifying Officers should forward this message to their human resources staff, benefit administrators, and any other staff members responsible for the administration of benefits for employees. If you need to review previous e-messages, they are available on the Division’s Web site at: http://www.nj.gov/treasury/pensions At the home page, go to “Online Services — Employer Pensions and Benefits Information Connection (EPIC)” and then on the EPIC page select “Archive of E-Messages.” Please note: It is important that the Certifying Officer’s and Supervisor’s e-mail addresses are kept current with the Employer Pensions and Benefits Information Connection (EPIC) to assure the accurate and timely delivery of this information. Update your information using the Employer Demographics application in EPIC.CERTIFYING OFFICER LETTER– August 24,2016 TO: Certifying Officers participating in the State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) and School Employees’ Health Benefits Program (SEHBP) FROM: The New Jersey Division of Pensions and Benefits SUBJECT: National Medical Support Notice (NMSN) The attached Certifying Officer letter pertains to the enrollment of a dependent child in health care coverage when identified by a National Medical Support Notice (NMSN). A NMSN is a document child support agencies send to employers to help ensure that children receive health care coverage when it is available and is required as part of a child support order. N.J.S.A. 2A:17-56.11a states that the employer must permit enrollment and provide medical coverage for the dependent(s) when available. DISTRIBUTION OF THIS MESSAGE Certifying Officers should forward this message to their human resources staff, benefit administrators, and any other staff members responsible for the administration of pension benefits for employees. Current and archived Certifying Officer Letters are available for viewing on the Division’s Web site at: http://www.nj.gov/treasury/pensions On the home page, click on “Information for Employers” and then select the link for “Certifying Officer Letters.” Please note: It is important that the Certifying Officer’s and Supervisor’s e-mail addresses are kept current with the Employer Pensions and Benefits Information Connection (EPIC) to assure the accurate and timely delivery of this information. Update your information using the Employer Demographics application in EPIC. CERTIFYING OFFICER LETTER– August 22,2016 TO: Certifying Officers, All Funds FROM: The New Jersey Division of Pensions and Benefits SUBJECT: Administrative Code Updates – Honorable Service; Disability Retirement The attached Certifying Officer letter has been issued by the Division of Pensions and Benefits to notify employers of the readoption of New Jersey Administrative Code (N.J.A.C. Section 17:1), General Administration effective June 20, 2016. Included in the readoption were several changes that should be noted by employers in the areas of Honorable Service and Disability Retirements. DISTRIBUTION OF THIS MESSAGE Certifying Officers should forward this message to their human resources staff, benefit administrators, and any other staff members responsible for the administration of pension benefits for employees. Should you have any questions or need additional assistance, please contact the Division's Employer Education Unit at (609) 292-7524 or send an e-mail to pensions.nj@treas.nj.gov Current and archived Certifying Officer Letters are available for viewing on the Division’s Web site at: http://www.nj.gov/treasury/pensions On the home page, click on “Information for Employers” and then select the link for “Certifying Officer Letters.” Please note: It is important that the Certifying Officer’s and Supervisor’s e-mail addresses are kept current with the Employer Pensions and Benefits Information Connection (EPIC) to assure the accurate and timely delivery of this information. Update your information using the Employer Demographics application in EPIC. E-MAIL MESSAGE – August 8,2016 TO: State Biweekly and State Monthly Certifying Officers FROM: The New Jersey Division of Pensions and Benefits SUBJECT: Tax$ave Seminars for your Employees The annual open enrollment for the New Jersey State Employees Tax Savings Program (Tax$ave 2017) will be conducted from October 3 through October 31, 2016. Tax$ave consists of three components:
Upon request, WageWorks will provide educational employee seminars at your workplace to explain the Tax$ave Flexible Spending Accounts. Contact WageWorks today to request a seminar for your employees! To schedule a seminar with a WageWorks representative, please complete and return the attached Tax$ave Seminar Request Form no later than August 26, 2016. Seminars are about 60 minutes in duration and include time for questions and answers. These seminars have proven to be very successful educational tools and we strongly encourage you to make one available to your employees (please note that we ask for a minimum of 25 employees). NOTE: Full-time employees of the State (paid through the Centralized Payroll Unit), State universities, and State colleges — provided that they are also eligible to participate in the New Jersey State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) — may participate in Tax$ave. Additional information about the Tax$ave Open Enrollment will be provided to employers and employees at a later date. DISTRIBUTION OF THIS MESSAGE Certifying Officers should forward this message to their Human Resources staff, benefit administrators, and any other staff members responsible for the administration of Tax$ave benefits for employees. PLEASE NOTE: It is important that the Certifying Officer’s and Supervisor’s e-mail addresses are kept current with the Employer Pensions and Benefits Information Connection (EPIC) to assure the accurate and timely delivery of this information. Update your information using the Employer Demographics application in EPIC. Current and archived messages are available for viewing on the Division’s Web site at: www.nj.gov/treasury/pensions At the home page, go to “Online Services — EPIC for Employers” and then select “Archive of E-Messages” on the EPIC page. Attachment: Tax$ave Seminar Request Form CERTIFYING OFFICER LETTER – August 5,2016 TO: Certifying Officers, Alternate Benefit Program (ABP) FROM: The New Jersey Division of Pensions and Benefits SUBJECT: Fiscal Year 2017 Alternate Benefit Program Default Designated Service Provider The Division has named TIAA as the Alternate Benefit Program (ABP) default provider for the current fiscal year — July 1, 2016, through June 30, 2017. The attached Certifying Officer letter provides more detailed information. PLEASE NOTE: It is important that the Certifying Officer’s e-mail address is kept current with the Employer Pensions and Benefits Information Connection (EPIC) to assure the accurate and timely delivery of this information.CERTIFYING OFFICER LETTER – July 28, 2016 TO: Certifying Officers, All funds FROM: The New Jersey Division of Pensions and Benefits SUBJECT: Retirement Certifications Required Through EPIC The attached Certifying Officer letter has been issued by the Division of Pensions and Benefits to notify employers of a new requirement when certifying service and salary for retirements from the Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS), Teachers’ Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF), Police and Firemen’s Retirement System (PFRS), or State Police Retirement System (SPRS). Effective September 1, 2016, employers submitting the Certification of Service and Final Salary for their employees’ retirements must use the online Retirement Certification applicationin the Employer Pensions and Benefits Information Connection (EPIC) whenever possible. Online certification is required when an employee first applies for retirement through the Member Benefits Online System (MBOS), when an employee’s application is resubmitted for a new retirement date, or for certain changes to the retirement type. Additional information about the online certification in EPIC is provided in this letter. DISTRIBUTION OF THIS MESSAGE Certifying Officers should forward this message to their human resources staff, benefit administrators, and any other staff members responsible for the administration of pension benefits for employees. Should you have any questions or need additional assistance, please contact the Division's Employer Education Unit at (609) 292-7524 or send an e-mail to pensions.nj@treas.nj.gov Current and archived Certifying Officer Letters are available for viewing on the Division’s Web site at: http://www.nj.gov/treasury/pensions On the home page, click on “Information for Employers” and then select the link for “Certifying Officer Letters.” Please note: It is important that the Certifying Officer’s and Supervisor’s e-mail addresses are kept current with the Employer Pensions and Benefits Information Connection (EPIC) to assure the accurate and timely delivery of this information. Update your information using the Employer Demographics application in EPIC. CERTIFYING OFFICER LETTER – July 22, 2016 TO: Certifying Officers, All funds FROM: The New Jersey Division of Pensions and Benefits SUBJECT: Pension Loan Recertification upon Return from Leave of Absence The attached Certifying Officer letter contains important information concerning the recertification of member loans due to leave of absence and employer responsibilities to assure compliance with IRS regulations when a member who has borrowed from his or her retirement system account returns from a leave. DISTRIBUTION OF THIS MESSAGE Certifying Officers should forward this message to their human resources staff, benefit administrators, and any other staff members responsible for the administration of pension benefits for employees. Should you have any questions or need additional assistance, please contact the Division's Employer Education Unit at (609) 292-7524 or send an e-mail to pensions.nj@treas.nj.gov Current and archived Certifying Officer Letters are available for viewing on the Division’s Web site at: http://www.nj.gov/treasury/pensions On the home page, click on “Information for Employers” and then select the link for “Certifying Officer Letters.”CERTIFYING OFFICER LETTER – July 5, 2016 TO: Certifying Officers, Alternate Benefit Program (ABP) FROM: The New Jersey Division of Pensions and Benefits SUBJECT: Alternate Benefit Program (ABP) Annual Report of Covered Lives - 2016 The attached Certifying Officer Letter has been issued by the Division of Pensions and Benefits regarding the ABP Annual Report of Covered Lives for 2016. DISTRIBUTION OF THIS LETTER Certifying Officers should forward this message to their human resources staff, benefit administrators, and any other staff members responsible for the administration of pension benefits for employees. If you need to review previous e-messages, they are available on the Division’s Web site at: http://www.nj.gov/treasury/pensions At the home page, go to “Online Services — Employer Pensions and Benefits Information Connection (EPIC)” and then on the EPIC page select “Archive of E-Messages.” Please note: It is important that the Certifying Officer’s e-mail address is kept current with the Employer Pensions and Benefits Information Connection (EPIC) to assure the accurate and timely delivery of this information. E-MAIL MESSAGE – June 29, 2016 TO: State Biweekly Certifying Officers, Human Resource Directors, and Benefits Administrators FROM: The New Jersey Division of Pensions and Benefits SUBJECT: Revised Fact Sheet - Fact Sheet #60, Voluntary Furlough Attached to this message you will find a revised publication from the Division of Pensions and Benefits - Fact Sheet #60, Voluntary Furlough. The Division of Pensions and Benefits has revised this fact sheet to provide employers with updated information regarding voluntary furlough for an employee taking an extended furlough (beyond 30 days). This and other fact sheets can be found on the Division of Pensions and Benefits Web site: http://www.nj.gov/treasury/pensions Select “Publications” and then “Fact Sheets” from the blue navigation bar at the top of most pages of our Web site. DISTRIBUTION OF THIS MESSAGE Certifying Officers should forward this message to their human resources staff, benefit administrators, and any other staff members responsible for the administration of benefits for employees. Current and archived messages are available for viewing on the Division’s Web site at: http://www.nj.gov/treasury/pensions At the home page, go to “Online Services — EPIC for Employers” and then select “Archive of E-Messages” on the EPIC page. PLEASE NOTE: It is important that the Certifying Officer’s e-mail address is kept current with the Employer Pensions and Benefits Information Connection (EPIC) to assure the accurate and timely delivery of this information. E-MAIL MESSAGE – June 28, 2016 TO: All Cycle 2 Certifying Officers FROM: The New Jersey Division of Pensions and Benefits SUBJECT: 2nd Quarter 2016 IROC (Cycle 2 Location) IROC NOTICE This notice is to advise that your 2nd Quarter 2016 Internet-based Report of Contributions (IROC) is ready for processing. The IROC is accessed through the Employers Pension Information Connection (EPIC), the secure and fast method for pension information and processing. The Certifying Officer at your employing location has the ability to grant IROC access to other staff persons by using the “Security” function in EPIC. If you have questions about how to use EPIC, please contact the Division’s Employer Education Unit for EPIC help at (609) 292-7524. You can also get help from the Division’s Web site at: http://www.nj.gov/treasury/pensions/epickit.htm or by clicking the “EPIC User’s Guide” button on your EPIC home page.
Employers who use the IROC have reported that this method is easier and much more efficient; for many it reduces the completion time by half or more. If you are new to using the IROC, it will only take a few minutes to learn the new method and we believe you will find it very much worth your while. At the Division, we truly appreciate the dedication and hard work you bring to your job administering your employees’ pension and benefits. We also want to thank you in advance for your cooperation in making the change to this online reporting system. We hope you will find that using the IROC will greatly improve your quarterly reporting experience. DISTRIBUTION OF THIS MESSAGE Certifying Officers should make this information available to their employees, and forward this message to their Human Resources staff, benefit administrators, and any other staff members responsible for the administration of pension and benefits for employees. Please note: It is important that the Certifying Officer’s e-mail address is kept current with the Employer Pensions and Benefits Information Connection (EPIC) to assure the accurate and timely delivery of this information. E-MAIL MESSAGE – June 10, 2016 TO: All Cycle 1 Certifying Officers FROM: The New Jersey Division of Pensions and Benefits SUBJECT: 2nd Quarter 2016 IROC (Cycle 1 Location) IROC NOTICE This notice is to advise that your 2nd Quarter 2016 Internet-based Report of Contributions (IROC) is ready for processing. The IROC is accessed through the Employers Pension Information Connection (EPIC), the secure and fast method for pension information and processing. The Certifying Officer at your employing location has the ability to grant IROC access to other staff persons by using the “Security” function in EPIC. If you have questions about how to use EPIC, please contact the Division’s Employer Education Unit for EPIC help at (609) 292-7524. You can also get help from the Division’s Web site at: http://www.nj.gov/treasury/pensions/epickit.htm or by clicking the “EPIC User’s Guide” button on your EPIC home page.
Employers who use the IROC have reported that this method is easier and much more efficient; for many it reduces the completion time by half or more. If you are new to using the IROC, it will only take a few minutes to learn the new method and we believe you will find it very much worth your while. At the Division, we truly appreciate the dedication and hard work you bring to your job administering your employees’ pension and benefits. We also want to thank you in advance for your cooperation in making the change to this online reporting system. We hope you will find that using the IROC will greatly improve your quarterly reporting experience. DISTRIBUTION OF THIS MESSAGE Certifying Officers should make this information available to their employees, and forward this message to their Human Resources staff, benefit administrators, and any other staff members responsible for the administration of pension and benefits for employees. Please note: It is important that the Certifying Officer’s e-mail address is kept current with the Employer Pensions and Benefits Information Connection (EPIC) to assure the accurate and timely delivery of this information.CERTIFYING OFFICER LETTER – June 6, 2016 TO: Certifying Officers of the Public Employees' Retirement System and the Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund FROM: The New Jersey Division of Pensions and Benefits SUBJECT: Pension Contribution Rate Changes for the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) and the Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) Pursuant to Chapter 78, P.L. 2011, Pension and Health Benefit Reform, PERS and TPAF employee pension contribution rates will increase from 7.06% to 7.2% of salary with the first paycheck on or after July 1, 2016. Please notify your employees of the upcoming contribution rate changes. DISTRIBUTION OF THIS MESSAGE Certifying Officers should forward this message to their human resources staff, benefit administrators, and any other staff members responsible for the administration of benefits for employees. If you need to review previous e-messages, they are available on the Division’s Web site at: http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/pensions At the home page, go to “Online Services — Employer Pensions and Benefits Information Connection (EPIC)” and then on the EPIC page select “Archive of E-Messages.” PLEASE NOTE: It is important that the Certifying Officer’s e-mail address is kept current with the Employer Pensions and Benefits Information Connection (EPIC) to assure the accurate and timely delivery of this information. CERTIFYING OFFICER LETTER– June 6, 2016 TO: Certifying Officers of the Judicial Retirement System FROM: The New Jersey Division of Pensions and Benefits SUBJECT: Pension and Health Benefit Contribution Rate Changes for the Judicial Retirement System (JRS) Pursuant to Article VI, Section VI, Paragraph 6 of the New Jersey Constitution — as authorized under Chapter 78, P.L. 2011, Pension and Health Benefit Reform — employee pension contribution rates for members of the JRS will increase as of State Biweekly Pay Period #13 of 2016 (the July 1, 2016 paycheck). Please notify your employees who are JRS members of the upcoming contribution rate changes. DISTRIBUTION OF THIS MESSAGE Certifying Officers should forward this message to their human resources staff, benefit administrators, and any other staff members responsible for the administration of benefits for employees. If you need to review previous e-messages, they are available on the Division’s Web site at: http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/pensions At the home page, go to “Online Services — Employer Pensions and Benefits Information Connection (EPIC)” and then on the EPIC page select “Archive of E-Messages.” PLEASE NOTE: It is important that the Certifying Officer’s e-mail address is kept current with the Employer Pensions and Benefits Information Connection (EPIC) to assure the accurate and timely delivery of this information.CERTIFYING OFFICER LETTER– June 2, 2016 TO: Certifying Officers, All funds FROM: The New Jersey Division of Pensions and Benefits SUBJECT: New Processes and Procedures for Updating or Adding Certifying Officers and Supervising Certifying Officers in EPIC The attached Certifying Officer letter contains important information concerning changes to how your employing location must update the Certifying Officer (CO) or Supervising Certifying Officer (SCO) in the Employer Pensions and Benefits Information Connection (EPIC). FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Should you have any questions or need additional assistance, please contact the Division's Employer Education Unit at (609) 292-7524 or send an e-mail to pensions.nj@treas.nj.gov Please note: It is important that the Certifying Officer’s e-mail address is kept current with EPIC to assure the accurate and timely delivery of this information.E-MAIL MESSAGE – June 1, 2016 TO: New Jersey State College PERS Certifying Officers FROM: The New Jersey Division of Pensions and Benefits SUBJECT: Payroll Certifications for June 11, 2016 – Pay Period #13 This message is being sent to alert Certifying Officers that payroll certifications for your college were issued with an incorrect PERS pension contribution rate. Certifications of Payroll Deductions for new enrollments and transfers that were issued for June 11, 2016, pay period #13, listed an incorrect pension contribution rate of 7.06%. Revised Certifications of Payroll Deductions will be issued shortly reflecting the correct pension contribution rate of 7.2%. Please adjust your payroll accordingly. Back deduction amounts and all other information contained on certifications issued for June 11, 2016 are correct. If you have any questions regarding this message, please contact the Division’s Employer Education Unit at (609) 292-7524 or send e-mail to: pensions.nj@treas.nj.gov DISTRIBUTION OF THIS MESSAGE Certifying Officers should make this information available to their employees, and forward this message to their Human Resources staff, benefit administrators, and any other staff members responsible for the administration of pension and benefits for employees. Please note: It is important that the Certifying Officer’s e-mail address is kept current with the Employer Pensions and Benefits Information Connection (EPIC) to assure the accurate and timely delivery of this information. Update your information using the Employer Demographics application in EPIC. E-MAIL MESSAGE – May 11, 2016 TO: Certifying Officers, Human Resource Representatives, and Benefits Administrators FROM: The New Jersey Division of Pensions and Benefits SUBJECT: Retirement Seminars and Webinars for Employees Please make this information available to your employees. Do you have employees who are looking for information about retirement? The Division of Pensions and Benefits has scheduled upcoming Retirement Seminar dates for members of the Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS), Teachers’ Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF), or Police and Firemen’s Retirement System (PFRS). Both in-person Seminars and live online webinars are available. In-person Seminars are available at locations across the state – see the attached list for seminar dates and locations. Live Webinars cover all of the same information as our seminars but can be attended without travel from your own computer. Designed for employees who are planning for retirement, retirement seminars and webinars provide a step-by-step look at the retirement process. We explain retirement benefits, beneficiary options, group life insurance, and how to submit the retirement application online using MBOS. Retirement eligibility, purchase, loan repayment provisions and the taxability of pension are explained along with a brief discussion of State Health Benefits Program and School Employees’ Health Benefits Program coverage in retirement. Seminars conclude with a question and answer period; Webinar attendees are able to submit questions for individualized answers. The attached file provides details on Seminar dates, times, and locations, in addition to important suggestions for attendees. The file is in PDF format and requires Acrobat Reader which is available free from Adobe via a link at: http://www.state.nj.us/acrobat.htm ADDITIONAL TRAINING DATES Please check our Web site regularly for newly added seminar/webinar dates and/or locations. For a complete list of employee pension training opportunities, visit the Division of Pensions and Benefits’ Workshop Registration page at: http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/pensions/workshop-intro.shtml DISTRIBUTION OF THIS MESSAGE Certifying Officers should make this information available to their employees, and forward this message to their Human Resources staff, benefit administrators, and any other staff members responsible for the administration of pension and benefits for employees. Please note: It is important that the Certifying Officer’s e-mail address is kept current with the Employer Pensions and Benefits Information Connection (EPIC) to assure the accurate and timely delivery of this information. Update your information using the Employer Demographics application in EPIC. E-MAIL MESSAGE – April 5, 2016 TO: All Cycle 2 Certifying Officers FROM: The New Jersey Division of Pensions and Benefits SUBJECT: 1st Quarter 2016 IROC (Cycle 2 Locations) IROC NOTICE This notice is to advise that your 1st Quarter 2016 Internet-based Report of Contributions (IROC) is ready for processing. The IROC is accessed through the Employers Pension Information Connection (EPIC), the secure and fast method for pension information and processing. The Certifying Officer at your employing location has the ability to grant IROC access to other staff persons by using the “Security” function in EPIC. If you have questions about how to use EPIC, please contact the Division’s Employer Education Unit for EPIC help at (609) 292-7524. You can also get help from the Division’s Web site at: http://www.nj.gov/treasury/pensions/epickit.htm or by clicking the “EPIC User’s Guide” button on your EPIC home page.
Employers who use the IROC have reported that this method is easier and much more efficient; for many it reduces the completion time by half or more. If you are new to using the IROC, it will only take a few minutes to learn the new method and we believe you will find it very much worth your while. At the Division, we truly appreciate the dedication and hard work you bring to your job administering your employees’ pension and benefits. We also want to thank you in advance for your cooperation in making the change to this online reporting system. We hope you will find that using the IROC will greatly improve your quarterly reporting experience. DISTRIBUTION OF THIS MESSAGE Certifying Officers should make this information available to their employees, and forward this message to their Human Resources staff, benefit administrators, and any other staff members responsible for the administration of pension and benefits for employees. Please note: It is important that the Certifying Officer’s e-mail address is kept current with the Employer Pensions and Benefits Information Connection (EPIC) to assure the accurate and timely delivery of this information. Update your information using the Employer Demographics application in EPIC. E-MAIL MESSAGE – March 14, 2016 TO: Certifying Officers and Supervisors of Certifying Officers FROM: The New Jersey Division of Pensions and Benefits SUBJECT: Introducing the Common Enrollment Application in EPIC The Division of Pensions and Benefits is pleased to announce that the new Common Enrollment Application will become available to employers through the Employer Pension and Benefit Information Connection (EPIC) on Tuesday, March 15. 2016. The new application guides employers through a single process when enrolling newly hired employees into the Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS), Teachers’ Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF), or Police and Firemen’s Retirement System (PFRS). ROLLOUT OF THE NEW APPLICATION To facilitate the rollout of the Common Enrollment Application, the current PERS, TPAF and PFRS Enrollment Applications in EPIC will be disabled as of 1:00 p.m. Monday, March 14, 2016. After this time, employers should hold any new enrollments until the new application becomes available. The new Common Enrollment Application is scheduled to come online in EPIC the morning of Tuesday, March 15, 2016. USING THE COMMON ENROLLMENT APPLICATION The new Common Enrollment Application will simplify the enrollment process for employers by removing the guess work when assigning a new employee to a retirement system. When available, EPIC users who have access to the current buttons for PERS, TPAF or PFRS Enrollment will find them replaced by a single button labeled “Pension Enrollment.” Upon clicking the button, the common application will present a short series of questions. As each question is answered, the application will guide the user toward the appropriate retirement system for enrollment. Once the correct system has been determined the remaining enrollment process will be similar to the pages and questions in the current PERS, TPAF, and PFRS applications. As with current enrollments, dual certification from the Certifying Officer (CO) and the Supervisor of the Certifying Officer (SCO) are required under the provisions of Chapter 52, P.L. 2011. This procedure remains in place and unchanged for the Common Enrollment Application. The CO and SCO should check the list of pending applications in EPIC awaiting their approvals.
DISTRIBUTION OF THIS MESSAGE Certifying Officers should forward this message to their human resources staff, benefit administrators, and any other staff members responsible for enrollment and/or the administration of pension benefits for employees. If you or your staff have difficulty accessing EPIC or need additional assistance with EPIC applications, contact the Division’s EPIC Help Desk at (609) 292-7524 or send e-mail via: https://www.state.nj.us/treas/pensions/pensionmail.shtml Current and archived messages are available for viewing on the Division’s Web site at: http://www.nj.gov/treasury/pensions At the home page, go to “Online Services — EPIC for Employers” and then select “Archive of E-Messages” on the EPIC page. Please note: It is important that the Certifying Officer’s and Supervisor’s e-mail addresses are kept current with the Employer Pensions and Benefits Information Connection (EPIC) to assure the accurate and timely delivery of this information. Update your information using the Employer Demographics application in EPIC. E-MAIL MESSAGE – March 14, 2016 TO: All Cycle 1 Certifying Officers FROM: The New Jersey Division of Pensions and Benefits SUBJECT: 1st Quarter 2016 IROC (Cycle 1 Locations) IROC NOTICE This notice is to advise that your 1st Quarter 2016 Internet-based Report of Contributions (IROC) is ready for processing. The IROC is accessed through the Employers Pension Information Connection (EPIC), the secure and fast method for pension information and processing. The Certifying Officer at your employing location has the ability to grant IROC access to other staff persons by using the “Security” function in EPIC. If you have questions about how to use EPIC, please contact the Division’s Employer Education Unit for EPIC help at (609) 292-7524. You can also get help from the Division’s Web site at: http://www.nj.gov/treasury/pensions/epickit.htm or by clicking the “EPIC User’s Guide” button on your EPIC home page.
Employers who use the IROC have reported that this method is easier and much more efficient; for many it reduces the completion time by half or more. If you are new to using the IROC, it will only take a few minutes to learn the new method and we believe you will find it very much worth your while. At the Division, we truly appreciate the dedication and hard work you bring to your job administering your employees’ pension and benefits. We also want to thank you in advance for your cooperation in making the change to this online reporting system. We hope you will find that using the IROC will greatly improve your quarterly reporting experience. DISTRIBUTION OF THIS MESSAGE Certifying Officers should make this information available to their employees, and forward this message to their Human Resources staff, benefit administrators, and any other staff members responsible for the administration of pension and benefits for employees. Please note: It is important that the Certifying Officer’s e-mail address is kept current with the Employer Pensions and Benefits Information Connection (EPIC) to assure the accurate and timely delivery of this information. Update your information using the Employer Demographics application in EPIC. E-MAIL MESSAGE – March 2, 2016 TO: Certifying Officers, Local Education Employers, Local Government Employers, and State Employers FROM: The New Jersey Division of Pensions and Benefits Education Unit SUBJECT: Employer Training Sessions Available New dates for Employer training webinars have been posted to the Division of Pensions and Benefits Web site. These webinars are offered for Local Education Employers, Local Government Employers, and State Employers. The Pension Processing session is comprised of two parts. In order to provide the most up-to-date and comprehensive learning experience, we suggest you attend the training in scheduled order, keeping in mind the prerequisites and recommendations for future training opportunities. Register at: http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/pensions/training-intro.shtml Note: These are NOT a substitute for the enrollment training required by Chapter 52 P.L. 2011. The descriptions of the sessions offered are as follows: PENSION PROCESSING — PART 1 —for Local Education Employers Enrollments Overview, Benefits Overview and Online Systems: This employer training session covers enrollment rules and procedures for PERS, TPAF and DCRP and presents a brief overview of the benefits of each of the plans. We introduce the Employer Pensions and Benefits Information Connection (EPIC) where employers can access employees' pension account information for processing and inquiry. We also introduce the Member Benefits Online System (MBOS), which allows employees and retirees to access their own accounts. RECOMMENDED ADDITIONAL TRAINING: Pension Processing - Part 2; and Internet Report of Contributions (IROC). PENSION PROCESSING — Part 1 — for Local Government Employers Enrollments Overview, Benefits Overview, and Online Systems: This employer training session covers enrollment rules and procedures for PERS, PFRS and DCRP and presents a brief overview of the benefits of each of the plans. We introduce the Employer Pensions and Benefits Information Connection (EPIC) where employers can access employees' pension account information for processing and inquiry. We also introduce the Member Benefits Online System (MBOS), which allows employees and retirees to access their own accounts. RECOMMENDED ADDITIONAL TRAINING: Pension Processing - Part 2; and Internet Report of Contributions (IROC). PENSION PROCESSING —Part 1 — for State Employers Enrollment Overview, Benefits Overview, Employer Responsibilities and Online Systems: This employer training session covers enrollment rules and procedures for PERS, TPAF, PFRS and DCRP and presents a brief overview of the benefits of each of the plans. We introduce the Employer Pensions and Benefits Information Connection (EPIC) where employers can access employees' pension account information for processing and inquiry. We also introduce the Member Benefits Online System (MBOS), which allows employees and retirees to access their own accounts. PENSION PROCESSING — Part 2 — for Local Education, Local Government Employers and State Employers Employer Responsibilities: Pension Processing/Employer Pension Information Connection (EPIC) – PREREQUISITE: Pension Processing - Part 1. This employer training session provides training on the employer's responsibility in the pension and benefit process including purchase of service credit, loans, retirement, health benefits and death claims and how to use the Employer Pensions and Benefits Information Connection (EPIC) for these tasks. DCRP ENROLLMENT AND PROCESSING INTERNET REPORT OF CONTRIBUTIONS (IROC) TRAINING This employer training is designed for anyone in payroll or benefit administration who is responsible for completing the quarterly pension Internet Report of Contributions or IROC. Whether you are brand new or a seasoned veteran, we are sure that you will benefit from this training. Enrollment is limited. TRAINING DATES For a complete list of employer training webinars and available dates, visit the Division of Pensions and Benefits’ Registration page at: http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/pensions/training-intro.shtml DISTRIBUTION OF THIS MESSAGE Certifying Officers should forward this message to their Human Resources staff, benefit administrators, and any other staff members responsible for the administration of pension and benefits for employees. Current and archived messages are available for viewing on the Division’s Web site at: http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/pensions At the home page, go to “Online Services — EPIC for Employers” and then select “Archive of E-Messages” on the EPIC page. PLEASE NOTE: It is important that the Certifying Officer’s e-mail address is kept current with the Employer Pensions and Benefits Information Connection (EPIC) to assure the accurate and timely delivery of this information. Update your information using the Employer Demographics application in EPIC. If you have questions or concerns about the content of this message, contact the Division of Pensions and Benefits at: pensions.nj@treas.nj.gov or go to: https://www.state.nj.us/treas/pensions/pensionmail.shtm CERTIFYING OFFICER LETTER – February 29, 2016 TO: Certifying Officers of the Public Employees' Retirement System FROM: Jacquelyn Bussanich, Board Secretary, Public Employees' Retirement System SUBJECT: Municipal Representative Elected to the Public Employees' Retirement System Board of Trustees The attached Certifying Officer Letter has been issued by the PERS Board of Trustees. The PERS Board of Trustees requests that the attached notice be prominently posted in your workplace as official notice to PERS employees. DISTRIBUTION OF THIS LETTER Certifying Officers should forward this message to their human resources staff, benefit administrators, and any other staff members responsible for the administration of pension benefits for employees. If you need to review previous e-messages, they are available on the Division’s Web site at: http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/pensions At the home page, go to “Online Services — Employer Pensions and Benefits Information Connection (EPIC)” and then on the EPIC page select “Archive of E-Messages.” Please note: It is important that the Certifying Officer’s e-mail address is kept current with the Employer Pensions and Benefits Information Connection (EPIC) to assure the accurate and timely delivery of this information. Update your information using the Employer Demographics application in EPIC. CERTIFYING OFFICER LETTER – February 29, 2016 TO: Certifying Officers of the Public Employees' Retirement System FROM: Jacquelyn Bussanich, Board Secretary, Public Employees' Retirement System SUBJECT: State Representative Elected to the Public Employees' Retirement System Board of Trustees The attached Certifying Officer Letter has been issued by the PERS Board of Trustees. The PERS Board of Trustees requests that the attached notice be prominently posted in your workplace as official notice to PERS employees. DISTRIBUTION OF THIS LETTER Certifying Officers should forward this message to their human resources staff, benefit administrators, and any other staff members responsible for the administration of pension benefits for employees. If you need to review previous e-messages, they are available on the Division’s Web site at: http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/pensions At the home page, go to “Online Services — Employer Pensions and Benefits Information Connection (EPIC)” and then on the EPIC page select “Archive of E-Messages.” Please note: It is important that the Certifying Officer’s e-mail address is kept current with the Employer Pensions and Benefits Information Connection (EPIC) to assure the accurate and timely delivery of this information. Update your information using the Employer Demographics application in EPIC. E-MAIL MESSAGE — February 1, 2016 TO: Certifying Officers, Human Resource Representatives, and Benefit Administrators FROM: New Jersey Division of Pensions and Benefits SUBJECT: RETIREMENT SEMINARS AND WEBINARS FOR EMPLOYEES Please make this information available to your employees. Do you have employees who are looking for information about retirement? The Division of Pensions and Benefits has scheduled upcoming Retirement Seminar dates for members of the Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS), Teachers’ Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF), or Police and Firemen’s Retirement System (PFRS). Both in-person Seminars and live online webinars are available. In-person Seminars are available at locations across the state – see the attached list for seminar dates and locations. Live Webinars cover all of the same information as our seminars but can be attended without travel from your own computer. Designed for employees who are planning for retirement, retirement seminars and webinars provide a step-by-step look at the retirement process. We explain retirement benefits, beneficiary options, group life insurance, and how to submit the retirement application online using MBOS. Retirement eligibility, purchase, loan repayment provisions and the taxability of pension are explained along with a brief discussion of State Health Benefits Program and School Employees’ Health Benefits Program coverage in retirement. Seminars conclude with a question and answer period; Webinar attendees are able to submit questions for individualized answers. The attached file provides details on Seminar dates, times, and locations, in addition to important suggestions for attendees. The file is in PDF format and requires Acrobat Reader which is available free from Adobe via a link at: http://www.state.nj.us/acrobat.htm ADDITIONAL TRAINING DATES Please check our Web site regularly for newly added seminar/webinar dates and/or locations. For a complete list of employee pension training opportunities, visit the Division of Pensions and Benefits’ Workshop Registration page at: http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/pensions/workshop-intro.shtml DISTRIBUTION OF THIS MESSAGE Certifying Officers should make this information available to their employees, and forward this message to their Human Resources staff, benefit administrators, and any other staff members responsible for the administration of pension and benefits for employees. Please note: It is important that the Certifying Officer’s e-mail address is kept current with the Employer Pensions and Benefits Information Connection (EPIC) to assure the accurate and timely delivery of this information. Update your information using the Employer Demographics application in EPIC. Attachment: webinar-seminar-2016.pdf CERTIFYING OFFICER LETTER – January 19, 2016 TO: Certifying Officers, State Colleges and Universities; Local Employers participating in the State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) or School Employees' Health Benefits Program (SEHBP) FROM: The New Jersey Division of Pensions and Benefits SUBJECT: Employer Responsibility: Affordable Care Act The attached Certifying Officer Letter has been issued by the Division of Pensions and Benefits regarding the employer shared responsibility provisions under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). DISTRIBUTION OF THIS LETTER Certifying Officers should forward this message to their human resources staff, benefit administrators, and any other staff members responsible for the administration of benefits for employees. If you need to review previous e-messages, they are available on the Division’s Web site at: http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/pensions At the home page, go to “Online Services — Employer Pensions and Benefits Information Connection (EPIC)” and then on the EPIC page select “Archive of E-Messages.” Please note: It is important that the Certifying Officer’s e-mail address is kept current with the Employer Pensions and Benefits Information Connection (EPIC) to assure the accurate and timely delivery of this information. Update your information using the Employer Demographics application in EPIC. |
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Copyright
© State of New Jersey, 1996-2013
Division of Pensions and Benefits
PO Box 295
Trenton, NJ 08625-0295
Last Updated: September 19, 2016