Changes to appointments with the university can result in possible impacts to various benefits and retirement options. This can include reclassification, taking a position in a different employee type, or changes to FTE or appointment term. Questions about these changes can be addressed to the HRS Benefits unit at 509-335-4521 or hrs.benefits@wsu.edu.

Reclassification or Taking a Position in a Different Employee Type

Insurance Coverage

Medical, Dental, and Life Insurance

As long as the new appointment continues to be a benefit eligible appointment (see Benefits Eligibility), there will be no changes to the medical, dental, or life insurance coverage.

If there were more than one calendar month break in service, the employee could be offered new benefit elections.

In the event the change in appointment results in a change in FTE or appointment term/length, please see the next section.

LTD Insurance

If enrolled in the optional LTD coverage, a change in classification could result in a change of premiums charged, as well as level of coverage.

The 60% wage replacement benefit would remain the same, but employees participating in the WSURP plan vs. a PERS/TRS plan will pay a higher premium due to an additional retirement benefit that is paid during approved LTD claims.

Retirement

PERS, TRS, and WSURP

Often changes in employee type will result in new retirement options being available, with a 30-day window to make changes. There are situations, however, where:

  • An option to change is not available, such as if a person has already made an irrevocable plan change during their WSU employment history, and
  • A retirement plan change is required, such as moving from a PERS eligible position to a faculty position.

Employees should contact HRS Benefits to determine what is applicable to them no later than 30 days from when the change in classification occurs.

Leave

Leave Accumulations

Changes from one employee type to another could change the amount of annual leave an employee is able to accrue, as well as when a personal holiday will be acquired, and when it needs to be used.

Contact HRS Records to determine if the change in appointment may impact your leave.

Changes to FTE or Appointment Term

Insurance Coverage

Medical, Dental, and Life Insurance

As long as the FTE remains at 50% of more, and the appointment is for 9 months or more, the employee will have 12 months of coverage. The monthly premium rates remain the same regardless of FTE or appointment term. For appointments less than 12 months, but at least for 9 months, the employee’s portion of premiums for the off-season will be collected from their paychecks the last pay cycle prior to the cyclic/academic break. If the FTE drops below 50%, the employee is no longer eligible for employer-paid benefits. One possible exception would be for Faculty who have been on benefits for two years or more; these individuals should contact HRS Benefits to see if they are able to extend benefit eligibility. If the appointment is for less than 9 months, the employee is not eligible for benefits during the off-season, and will be given the option to continue those benefits on a self-pay basis.

LTD Insurance

This insurance is a wage replacement insurance policy, where the employee pays a certain percent on the actual base wage for premiums. Therefore, employees can expect to see a reduction/increase in premiums with a reduction/increase of FTE or appointment term.

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

Normally there would be no impact to the FSA benefit based on FTE change. If the appointment term is changed, there may be the possibility to adjust the contributions as a Qualifying Event for the remainder of the plan year, since initial contributions had been set up based on an identified number of pay periods which will have changed with the change of appointment term.

Dependent Care Assistance Plan (DCAP)

Normally the DCAP amount cannot be changed unless the employee has a qualifying change in status, which could be a change in FTE or appointment term. If the change results in the need for the dependent care, the employee can submit a request to change their previously identified DCAP.

Retirement

PERS, TRS, and LEOFF Retirement

Normally changes in FTE or appointments have no impact on service credit. For PERS 2, PERS 3, and TRS 3 participants, if an employee is paid 810 hours in 9 out of 12 months (with the 12 month period being from September through August), they will earn a full year of service credit. 810 hours is the equivalent of a half-time, 9 month appointment. PERS 1 participants only need 630 hours in 9 out of 12 months. A potential impact could occur in regards to the Average Final Compensation (AFC). Department of Retirement Systems (DRS) will review the participant’s salary history to identify the highest AFC that will be used when determining their retirement benefit. For employees who reduce their FTE or have a change in their appointment term, the high AFC would probably be when the person was working full-time, and may be based on a historic salary.

WSURP

Retirement contributions are based on a percentage of earnings. Therefore, changes to FTE and appointment terms would result in an increase/decrease in earnings and a corresponding increase/decrease of retirement plan contributions.

Voluntary Retirement Programs

Maximum contribution levels would remain the same, regardless of FTE or appointment term.* Contributions would only be taken during the regular appointment term, and would not be collected from summer appointments.

*If a reduced FTE or appointment term would result in a salary not being sufficient to support a maximum contribution, the employee would be required to adjust their contribution.

Leave

Leave Accumulations

Changes to FTE would result in changes to the accrual levels of leave. Leave would be adjusted/pro-rated according to FTE, and leave would not be accrued during periods of non-appointment if a position is for less than a 12-month appointment term.

Printable PDF Benefit Implications due to Change in Appointment