Human Resources & Workforce Diversity
Increase / Decrease in Percent of Appointment
If you reduce your hours from full-time to part-time or accept a lower-paid position in lieu of, or after, termination, the following one-page charts show the effect on your benefits. Select the category that applies to you.
Benefit Impacts - Less than full-time employment (pdf):
The following information shows the impact of an increase or decrease of appointment in detail:
- If you are not covered under the WRS, increasing your percent of appointment could result in your becoming covered. See WRS eligibility.
- Your WRS creditable service is based on the number of work hours reported by the University to the Department of Employee Trust Funds. To receive one year of creditable service most unclassified employees must work 1,320 hours in a fiscal year. Classified employees and unclassified executive employees must work 1,904 hours in a calendar year.
- If you are already covered under the WRS, you will not lose coverage if you reduce your hours of work, but you will earn less creditable service.
What to do. . .
- No action required.
You should know . . .
- If you are covered by WRS but do not have State Group Health Insurance, and you move from a less than half-time to a more than half-time appointment, you are eligible to enroll for State Group Health Insurance by filing an application within 30 days of beginning the new appointment.
- A reduction in percent of employment could increase your cost for health insurance. To receive full university contribution towards health insurance premiums an employee (other than a short-term academic staff or graduate assistant) must be appointed to work at least 1,044 hours per year. If an employee's appointment requires less than 1,044 hours per year, he or she is eligible only for employer contributions towards health insurance premiums at the less than half time rate (employee pays half the total premium).
What to do. . .
- If your change in percent of appointment makes you eligible for health insurance or for a higher employer contribution, file your application within 30 days after your new appointment begins.
University Insurance Association (UIA) Life Insurance
(Unclassified Faculty and Academic Staff only)
You should know . . .
- If your new salary is higher than the program minimum ($2,333 per month in 2008-2009), participation in this plan is mandatory. The premium will be collected from your check paid November 1 (or April 1, if you qualify after October).
What to do. . .
- No action required.
Employee Reimbursement Account (ERA)
You should know . . .
- A change in percent of employment may be considered a Change in Status event, allowing you to change your contributions in this plan.
What to do. . .
- If you want to change your contribution elections under the ERA program, contact Fringe Benefits Management (FBMC) at 608-829-0435 to see whether your change in percent of employment qualifies as a status change. If it does, you must file a Change of Status form with FBMC within 30 days after the move.
Tax Sheltered Annuity Program and Wisconsin Deferred Compensation Program
You should know. . .
- These two programs reduce your current taxable income by letting you save money pre-tax for retirement.
- You are eligible to contribute to both programs at the same time. The contribution limits are independent of one other.
- If your new salary is not sufficient to cover your TSA or WDC deferral, nothing will be deducted from your paycheck.
What to do. . .
- Consider whether you want to begin, increase or decrease your contributions. If you want to make a change, contact your staff benefits office for TSA Program changes, or Wisconsin Deferred Compensation for Deferred Compensation changes.
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This document was last revised on October 11, 2012
