Benefits Bulletin September 2024

Welcome to the Benefits Bulletin!

Our goal with this monthly newsletter is to communicate benefit changes and keep you up-to-date and informed on approaching deadlines.

Flexible Spending Account Deadline

If you were enrolled in a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) during last plan year (July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024), you have until September 30 to file claims for covered services during that plan year. If there are any remaining funds in your account after September 30, these funds will be lost.

Virginia Retirement System Member Benefit Profiles (MBPs)

The Virginia Retirement System Member Benefit Profile (MBP) is an annual benefit statement based on information reported to VRS as of June 30. The MBP provides you with account balance information, retirement eligibility, and eligibility for other benefits such as group life insurance and the health insurance credit. To view your Member Benefit Profile, log in or create a secure myVRS account. Under the My History menu item, select Annual Statements.

The MBP can be a useful tool in determining if you are on target for your desired retirement date and income in retirement. Other tools available through VRS include the myVRS Benefit Estimator, which allows you to run different retirement benefit scenarios. In addition, use the myVRS Retirement Planner to set your income-replacement goal and enter expected income sources in retirement, including your VRS pension, Social Security, 403(b) and 457 contributions, and other savings. The planner also helps you project expenses in retirement, such as health care and taxes, and offers calculators and a budgeting worksheet.

Please contact the Benefits Team at benefits@jmu.edu or call 540-568-3593 if you have questions concerning your MBP.

September's Social Security Column Newsletter

SOCIAL SECURITY SERVES THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY

For nearly 90 years, Social Security’s programs and services have been a lifeline to people throughout the United States, including the Hispanic community. Our retirement, disability, and survivors benefits are just as important for Hispanics. Our Spanish-language website, Seguro Social at www.ssa.gov/espanol, provides information for those whose primary language is Spanish. People can learn – in their preferred language – how to get a new or replacement Social Security card, plan for retirement, apply for benefits, manage their benefits, and much more.

We also provide many publications in Spanish at www.ssa.gov/espanol/publicaciones. Popular topics include:

  • Retirement, Disability, and Survivors benefits.
  • Medicare.
  • Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
  • Social Security cards.
  • Fraud and scams.
  • Appeals.
  • Benefits for children.
  • Payments outside the U.S.

Customers who prefer to conduct business in Spanish can reach a Spanish-speaking representative by calling our toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213. For more information on how we support the Hispanic community, visit our Social Security and Hispanics webpage at www.ssa.gov/people/hispanics. Please share these resources with friends and family who may need them.

COMBATING ELDER ABUSE

Elder abuse is the intentional mistreatment or harming of an adult over age 60. This abuse can take many forms – physical, emotional, sexual, and financial exploitation, as well as neglect. In the United States, an estimated 1 in 10 adults over the age of 60 experience some form of abuse each year. That number is likely much higher because elder abuse is often underreported – especially in underserved communities.

Abuse victims typically show emotional and behavioral red flags, such as depression, unusual fear or anxiety, or intentional isolation. Many victims are abused by someone they know or trust. It’s important to look for unusual changes in behavior around:

  • Family members.
  • Staff at inpatient facilities.
  • Hired or volunteer caregivers.
  • People in positions of trust like doctors or financial advisors.

You can help make a difference by checking in with older loved ones. The first step to preventing abuse is to look for signs of mistreatment or physical harm, including bruises, burns, and other unexplained injuries.

There may also be signs of neglect such as:

  • Hunger and poor nutrition.
  • Poor appearance or hygiene.
  • Lack of necessary medical aids like glasses or medications that a caretaker should be providing.

There may also be indications of financial abuse, including:

  • Unpaid rent or other bills.
  • Sudden changes to a will.
  • Unusual changes in money management or habits.
  • Large, unexplained financial transactions.
  • Allowing someone new to access bank accounts.

If you suspect that a person is a victim of elder abuse, please report it. If you or someone you care about is in a life-threatening situation, call 911. If you suspect possible abuse – but see no immediate danger – contact:

You can also find additional local resources by searching the Eldercare Locator for your community at eldercare.acl.gov/Public/index.aspx.

Take some time to call or visit an older adult. Ask if they are OK and listen to what they tell you. Pay attention to signs of abuse or unusual behavior. Most of all, don’t be afraid to report suspected abuse. For more information about elder abuse visit www.ssa.gov/payee/elder_abuse.htm.

Please share this information with your loved ones.

HOW WE PROTECT YOU FROM MISLEADING ADVERTISING AND COMMUNICATIONS

Social Security works with our Office of the Inspector General (OIG) to protect you from scams that use Social Security as bait. Section 1140 of the Social Security Act allows OIG to impose severe penalties against anyone who engages in misleading Social Security-related advertising or imposter communications.

OIG may impose a penalty against anyone who:

  • Mails misleading solicitations that appear to be from or authorized by Social Security.
  • Operates an imposter website or social media account designed to look like it belongs to or is authorized by Social Security.
  • Sends emails or text messages or makes telephone calls claiming to be from Social Security.
  • Sells Social Security’s free forms, applications, and publications without our written approval.
  • Charges a fee for a service that Social Security provides free of charge without providing a clearly visible notice that Social Security provides the service for free.

If you receive a misleading or suspicious Social Security-related advertisement, phone call or email, you should let us know right away. Try to capture as many details as you can.

Here’s what you can do:

  • For suspicious websites or social media accounts, please take a screenshot of the page. Note the website address or social media link – and how you came across it.
  • For emails and text messages, capture the entire message and any links or attachments.
  • For mail, retain the complete communication, including the outside envelope and all inserts.
  • For telephone solicitations, note the caller identification phone number and any company name or call back number provided by the caller or recorded message.

You can help us stop misleading advertising and communications. We encourage you to report possible scams to the OIG at oig.ssa.gov/report. You can also call our fraud hotline at 1-800-269-0271 or send an email to OIG.1140@ssa.gov.

To learn more, check out our publication, What You Need to Know About Misleading Advertising, at www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10005.pdf. You can also review Section 1140 at www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/ssact/title11/1140.htm.

Please share this information with friends and family and help us spread the word on social media.

SOCIAL SECURITY SUPPORTS TEACHERS

A well-informed instructor can have a powerful influence on their students. That’s why we created the Educator Toolkit. This toolkit is easy to use and provides shareable online resources that teachers can use to engage students and educate them about Social Security.

The Educator Toolkit includes:

  • Lesson plans with objectives.
  • Infographics and handouts for each lesson plan.
  • Links to Social Security web pages.
  • Talking points.
  • Quiz questions and answers.

We value the efforts all teachers make to educate America’s young people. As Social Security approaches its 90th anniversary in 2025, we want to help spark important discussions with students about Social Security. You can download the Educator Toolkit at www.ssa.gov/thirdparty/educators.html. Please share this information with your favorite educators.

SOCIAL SECURITY IN PLAIN LANGUAGE

The terms and acronyms people use when they talk about Social Security can be a little confusing. Knowing where to find easy-to-understand definitions can be very helpful. We’re here to provide resources to help you understand much of what you need to know about Social Security and our terminology.

If there’s a technical term or acronym that you don’t know or understand, you can easily find the meaning in our online glossary at www.ssa.gov/agency/glossary. We strive to explain our programs and benefits using plain language. In fact, the Plain Writing Act of 2010 requires federal agencies like the Social Security Administration to communicate in a way the public can understand. This can be challenging when talking about complicated programs like Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and Medicare. That’s why the glossary is helpful.

If you’re nearing retirement, you may want to know the meaning of PIA (primary insurance amount), FRA (full retirement age), and DRCs (delayed retirement credits). These terms all relate to your benefit amount — based on when you decide to take your Social Security. If you start receiving your retirement benefit at FRA, you’ll receive the full PIA (amount payable for a retired worker who starts benefits at full retirement age). So, FRA is an age and PIA is an amount.

What about DRCs? Delayed retirement credits are the incremental increases added to your PIA if you delay taking retirement benefits beyond your FRA. If you wait to begin benefits beyond FRA — say, at age 68 — your benefit increases for each month you delay up until you reach age 70.

Once you receive benefits, you typically get an annual COLA (Cost-of-Living Adjustment) that increases your monthly benefit most years.

Learning our terminology can deepen your understanding of how Social Security works for you and your family. Please share this information with your loved ones.

Need to Talk with an Expert?

TIAA Webinars

Balanced Dukes is proud to partner with UREC once again to host the Annual Faculty & Staff Wellness Fair on Tuesday, October 1, 2024.

Full Body Fit Group Fitness Class (12:15 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.)

Full Body Fit is a full body challenge that combines elements of HIIT and Strength - focusing on both upper and lower body strength. No experience necessary. This class is exclusively for faculty and staff! REGISTER HERE

Biometric Screenings (10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.)

The JMU School of Nursing will be available to offer biometric screenings for faculty and staff; no appointment necessary.

Hearing Screenings (10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.)

The College of Health and Behavioral Studies will be available to offer hearing screenings for faculty and staff; no appointment necessary.

Flu Shot Clinic (10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.)

University Health Center in partnership with UREC, Balanced Dukes, and VDH is hosting a free walk-in clinic during the Wellness Fair. Faculty/Staff who receive their flu vaccine that day will receive a QR code for a 30% discount at the JMU Bookstore! No registration needed, walk-ins welcome.

Community Connections Vendor Fair (10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.)

Take some time to meet with campus partners, as well as community businesses and organizations, offering products and services that can aid you on your wellness journey. (visit our website to see a list of vendors)

September's Featured Benefit

This month's featured benefit is...

Virginia State Employee Assistance Fund

The Virginia State Employee Assistance Fund (VSEAF) provides grants to eligible state employees suffering from an unplanned emergency or unplanned event. Both full-time and part-time active Virginia State employees can apply for assistance. Grants are typically fulfilled up to a limit of $500. Since the VSEAF is a grant, not a loan, funds do not need to be repaid.

Examples of requests covered by VSEAF include fire to your home or property and unforeseen costs due to the death or illness of a loved one. The grant program does not cover requests based on medical costs that are covered by insurance, refundable deposits, or rising costs due to inflation.

The VSEAF is a 501c(3) charity member of the Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign (CVC). As a state employee, you may contribute to the fund. Click on the CVC Donation Page and select Virginia State Employee Assistance Fund (VSEAF) to donate, CVC Code: 203040.

DMV Connect on Campus

DMV Connect is coming to campus on October 23

Human Resources is excited to announce that DMV Connect, a mobile customer service center through DMV, will be coming to campus on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., on the second floor of the Wine-Price Building. DMV Connect is equipped to process all DMV transactions including:

  • Applying for or renewing your ID card (REAL ID)
  • Applying for or renewing your driver’s license
  • Applying for a Veteran ID card
  • Getting a copy of your driving record
  • Obtaining vehicle titles, license plates, decals, and transcripts
  • Ordering disabled parking placards or plates
  • Applying for certified copies of Virginia vital records, including birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates
  • Getting fishing and hunting licenses
  • Updating your mailing address, voter registration address, and organ donor status
  • Requesting a Personal Identification Number (PIN) to set up an online myDMV account
  • Purchasing an E-ZPass transponder
  • And much more!

Save yourself the inconvenience and the time it takes to go to DMV to complete your transactions; simply visit DMV Connect!

Scheduling link coming soon!

REGISTER HERE

THANK YOU FOR READING!

This bulletin has been brought to you by the JMU Benefits Team. If you have any questions or would like to reach out to us, please give us a call at 540-568-3593, visit us on the web at www.jmu.edu/humanresources/benefits, or email us at benefits@jmu.edu. Look for the Live Chat on our website and reach one of us instantly!