Benefits Summary   DC Government Employees Hired On or After October 1, 1987 For more information on specific benefits or programs, select from the following. DC Employees' Health Insurance DC Employees' Group Life Insurance Dental and Optical Coverage Flexible Spending Accounts Short/Long-Term Disability Insurance Programs Commuter Benefits Indemnity Plans Annual Leave and Sick Leave Holidays Annual Leave Bank Family and Medical Leave Act Defined Contribution Pension Plan 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan Employee Assistance Program Direct Deposit Savings Bonds DC Employees' Health Insurance Eligible employees hired on or after October 1, 1987, have a choice of the following health plans: Health Plan Phone AETNA Healthcare HMO or PPO 1 (888) 238-6258 Kaiser Permanente HMO 1 (301) 468-6000 United Healthcare HMO or Point of Service 1 (800) 603-3923 The cost of your health insurance premium is shared with the District government, which contributes up to 75 percent toward the total premium cost. All health insurance premium deductions are made on a pre-tax basis, unless a specific waiver form is requested. A Pre-Tax Benefits Waiver form is available on this site, and also from the DC Department of Human Resources, Employee Service Center, One Judiciary Square, Suite 340N. Heath Insurance Premium Rates for 2010 are posted in the Open Enrollment Center. To select the health plan that's right for you and your family, evaluate your options by comparing benefits, evaluating the network of providers, reviewing the plan's costs, considering the plan's quality, and understanding how the plan works. Plan summaries and physician listings are available by contacting the providers. DC Employees' Group Life Insurance Term life insurance provides coverage equal to an employee's annual salary rounded to the next thousand, plus an additional $2,000. The cost of the monthly premium is shared with the District. You pay two-thirds of the total cost and the government pays one-third. Additional life insurance levels are available for employees and their dependents at low cost. Optional life insurance is available at low cost for employees and their dependents, but employees pay 100% of the cost of optional life insurance. Optional Plan Additional Coverage Premium Amount Option A Standard Provides $10,000 coverage Cost determined by age Option B Additional Provides coverage up to five times the employee's annual salary Cost determined by age and employee's salary Option C Family Provides $5,000 coverage for the eligible spouse and $2,500 coverage for each eligible child. Cost determined by age In order to carry newly elected life insurance coverage into retirement, new coverage must be in effect for the five years of service immediately preceding the retirement date or the entire period of service during which coverage was available (if this period is less than five years). Standard Insurance Company is the life insurance provider.  DCEGLI Rates Dental and Optical Coverage The District provides comprehensive optical and dental coverage for all non-union employees and union employees covered by the Compensation Unit 1 and 2 Agreement. The District pays 100% of the premium costs for optical coverage and dental coverage through the Cigna DHMO plan. Employees who elect the Cigna Dental PPO will be responsible for the additonal premium costs. Dental Plan Information Cigna Dental Health, Inc. PO Box 189060 300 NW 82nd Avenue Plantation, FL 33318-9060 Tel: (800) 367-1037 Cigna Dental Health, Inc. More information on Dental Options for District Employees. Optical Plan Information Quality Plan Administrators 6101 16th Street, NW, #418 Washington, DC 20011 Customer Service: (202) 722-2744 or (800) 900-4112 Quality Plan Administrators For more information see the Benefits FAQ* or call DCHR HR Answers at (202) 442-9700. Flexible Spending Accounts The District offers all benefit-eligible employees two pre-tax benefits: the Health Care Flexible Spending Account and the Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account. These pre-tax accounts allow you to pay for eligible, out-of-pocket health and/or dependent care expenses. Every plan year you must designate the amount to be set aside in your FSAs. These accounts are administered by PayFlex. Health Care Flexible Spending Account Program (HCFSA) An HCFSA allows you to plan for and cover eligible out-of-pocket medical expenses on a pre-tax basis, with deductions taken directly from your base salary. Deductions for the HCSFA reduce the gross income on your Form W-2 for federal and social security tax purposes. Your deductions are put into a special account, which will be used to reimburse participants for covered expenses up to the annual allowable IRS maximum. If you have not used all of the money that you deposited into your HCFSA by December 31st of each year, it will be forfeited according to IRS rules. All receipts for plan year expenses must be submitted by March 31st of the following year. You may elect to participate in this program and/or select a new deduction amount during the next open enrollment period. Please note that you must reenroll each year during open enrollment for the flexible spending account programs. Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account Program (DCFSA) A DCFSA allows you to pay for eligible dependent care expenses on a pre-tax basis, with deductions taken directly from your base salary. These deductions reduce your gross income on your Form W-2 for federal and social security tax purposes. The deductions are put into a special account, which will be used to reimburse participants for covered expenses up to the annual allowable IRS maximum. If you have not used all of the money that you deposited into your DCFSA by December 31st of each year, it will be forfeited according to IRS rules.  All receipts for plan year expenses must be submitted by Marsh 31st of the following year. You may elect to participate in this program and/or select a new deduction amount during the next open enrollment period. Please note that you must reenroll each year during open enrollment for the flexible spending account programs. Short-Term Disability Insurance Program All benefits-eligible employees may enroll in the Short-Term Disability Insurance Program. Short-term disability insurance provides income replacement that may be used in conjunction with your annual or sick leave. This program has a 20-day elimination period. Income is replaced at 66 2/3% of the employee’s base pay and coverage lasts for six months. This program is designed to lessen the financial burden employees may incur from an extended non-work-related injury or illness. Short-term disability insurance specifically addresses absences from work due to one’s own health-related reasons. If you have a qualifying medical condition, this insurance provides a partial replacement of your income. Key Features: Weekly disability benefits of $15 to $1,154 Income coverage of up to 66 2/3% of your salary Worldwide coverage Deductions for short-term disability insurance are done on an after-tax basis.  This assures that any payments you receive from the program are not taxed. Rates for short-term disability insurance are based on your age and monthly wages. Standard Insurance Company is the short-term disability insurance provider.  Deductions for both disability programs are done on an after-tax basis. This assures that any payments you receive from the program are not taxed. Long-Term Disability Insurance Program All benefits-eligible employees may enroll in the Long-Term Disability (LTD) Insurance Program. Long-term disability insurance provides income replacement that may be used in conjunction with your annual or sick leave. This program has a 180-day elimination period. Income is replaced at 66 2/3% of your pre-disability earnings, reduced by deductible income.  If you become disabled before age 62, LTD benefits may continue during disability until you reach age 65.  If you become disabled at age 62 or older, the benefit duration is determined by your age when disability begins as indicated in the Standard Insurance Long-Term Disability table. Monthly LTD benefit of $100 to $7,500 180-day elimination period Worldwide coverage Waiver of premium while disabled Rates for long-term disability insurance are also based on your age and monthly wages. Standard Insurance Company is the long-term disability insurance provider.  Deductions for both disability programs are done on an after-tax basis. This assures that any payments you receive from the program are not taxed. Commuter Benefits Program All benefits-eligible employees may enroll in the Commuter Benefits Program. With the ADP Commuter Benefits program, paying for your commute can be more cost-effective and convenient than ever before. In fact, by using an ADP Commuter Benefits Account, your commute can be taxfree!  How? Because Commuter Benefits Accounts provide tax-exempt funds you can use to pay for the eligible transit and parking services you need every day. And, funding your account couldn’t be easier… it’s all handled through a simple paycheck deduction. For more information, visit: Commuter Benefits Program Indemnity Plans All benefits-eligible employees may enroll in the AFLAC Indemnity Plans.  The plans pay benefits for covered health events. There are five plans available to employees: Cancer Insurance Hospital Confinement Personal Sickness Personal Accident Specified Health Event For more information, visit: AFLAC Indemnity Plans  Annual Leave and Sick Leave Eligible employees accrue annual leave and sick leave each pay period. Regular full-time employees accrue annual leave each pay period on the following schedule: Years of Employment Annual Leave 0 - 3 13 days (4 hours per pay period) 4 - 15 20 days (6 hours per pay period) 15+ 26 days (8 hours per pay period) All regular full-time employees accrue 13 days of sick leave annually (4 hours per pay period) regardless of years of employment. Part-time employees who work at least 40 hours per pay period earn annual leave and sick leave at a proportional rate. Executive Service employees receive 26 days of universal leave per calendar year, to be used for any purpose (prorated depending on start date). Upon termination, an employee will receive cash value for 100 percent of the remaining accrued vacation days up to 240 hours. Holidays District of Columbia Government employees receive 11 paid holidays: New Year's Day Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Washington's Birthday District of Columbia Emancipation Day Memorial Day Independence Day Labor Day Columbus Day Veterans Day Thanksgiving Day Christmas Day Annual Leave Bank The Annual Leave Bank program is a fund of accumulated annual leave donated by employees for the use of other leave bank members. This program prevents or limits the loss of income by employees who are faced with medical emergencies and who do not have sufficient paid leave to cover their period of absence. In order to become a member and receive leave from the leave bank, an employee must donate a minimum of four hours of annual leave each year. Family and Medical Leave Act The DC Family and Medical Leave Act (DCFMLA) was made effective on October 3, 1990, and is applicable to employees whose actual work location is in the District of Columbia as of April 1, 1991. To be eligible, employees must have worked for the District for one year with no break in service and have worked at least 1,000 hours (DCFMLA) or 1,250 hours (FMLA) during the 12-month period immediately preceding the request for leave. DCFMLA Statutory Medical Leave The DCFMLA allows for up to 16 weeks of unpaid leave in any 24-month period for employees who are physically unable to work because of a serious medical condition (including maternity). Medical documentation is required and an expected date of return must be provided. DCFMLA Statutory Family Leave of Absence The DCFMLA allows up to 16 weeks of unpaid leave in any 24 month period for specified reasons, as prescribed by the DCFMLA. The employee must provide documentation explaining the nature of the leave. Defined Contribution Pension Plan - 401(a) The District government's primary retirement plan for eligible employees first hired on or after October 1, 1987, is a "defined contribution" plan, with benefits based on 100% employer-provided contributions plus earnings over the course of the participant's working years. The District funds this plan; there is no employee contribution. The current employer-paid contribution is 5% of the base salary (5 .5% for Corrections Officers). Employees must have one year of continuous service to participate, and they are fully vested in the Defined Contribution Pension Plan after five years of continuous service. Investment options are available through CitiStreet. Social Security Quick Calculator 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan All District government employees are eligible to participate in the Deferred Compensation Program, an optional savings program that allows employees to tax-defer income and invest for the future. The portion of salary an employee contributes reduces the amount of taxable income in each paycheck. The Internal Revenue Service determines the annual maximum amount that can be deferred. You may also be eligible for increased annual contributions: during the three years prior to the year you attain Normal Retirement Age under a special 457 catch-up provision; or when you reach age 50 or older by the end of the calendar year. For additional information on the special 457(b) catch-up provision or the increased contribution limits for workers who attain age 50, please refer to the brochure "How Much Can I Contribute?"*. Under DCPLUS, you are permitted to designate a person(s) who will receive payment of benefits in the event of your death. To ensure that death benefits under the plans are paid to the individual(s) of your choice, you should periodically review your plan beneficiary designation and determine whether any changes are appropriate. This is especially true if you have a life change event (e.g. marriage, birth of a child, divorce or death). It is important to note that with respect to the beneficiary(ies) you have designated - If you have a change in status, your designation is not automatically updated. For example, if your spouse is your beneficiary, that designation is not void as a result of your divorce. Your ex-spouse would remain your plan beneficiary until you make a change to your designation. The beneficiary you designate under DCPLUS is separate from any designation you may have made under the District’s pension plan or other programs in which you participate. If you do not designate a beneficiary under DCPLUS, in the event of your death, benefits will be paid to your estate. You have two convenient ways to update your beneficiary elections. You may either complete the Beneficiary Designation Form and return it to the address provided at the top of the form. Or, you may update your beneficiary elections by logging in to your account and selecting the "Beneficiary Information" link located under the "My Account" menu option, Click Here for a preview. The 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan is available through ING Financial Advisors and is open to all employees who can contribute the minimum of $20 per pay period. Employees can choose from a wide variety of fixed or variable investment options. For more information, please call (800) 584-6001 or visit ING Financial Advisors. Employee Assistance Program All employees may use the Employee Assistance program, which provides confidential counseling and referral services for emotional, professional or financial problems. This confidential counseling program is staffed by non-government agency professionals through COPE, Inc. For more information, call (202) 628-5240 or (800) 841-7406. Direct Deposit Employees may elect to have their paychecks automatically deposited into their personal bank accounts. Enrolling in Direct Deposit is done through accessing Employee Self Service (ESS) Savings Bond Program Any full or part-time salaried employee may purchase US Savings Bonds through payroll deduction. See Treasury Direct for more information. * This document is presented in Portable Document Format (PDF). A PDF reader is required for viewing. Download a PDF Reader or Learn More About PDFs.