Health & Pension
Health & Pension
>> Read the** SEBAC 2017 Agreement**
— Find Q&As about SEBAC 2017 and more here
— SEBAC 2017 Site of Service (for Labs, Radiology and Imaging Services) Confused about the Site of Service rules? Wondering about the waiver process? You can find Q&As from the Comptroller’s office and further information on the waiver process here.
Health Benefits
The level of health care coverage is guaranteed through 2027. Even if the insurance companies offering the coverage change, the benefits will mirror current benefits.
The State offers a choice of plans at varying cost to the employee, depending on the plan and type of coverage (individual, family). All plans will gradually increase co-pays for office visits and most plans will gradually raise the monthly premiums.
Part-time employees scheduled to work at least 17.5 hours per week receive the same health insurance coverage as full-time employees. Those who work less than 17.5 hours may buy health insurance at the group rate.
Retirement Benefits
All Community College employees, both full-time and part-time, are in a pension program. Three options are open to all employees: The State Employees Retirement System (SERS), the Alternate Retirement Plan (ARP), and the SERS Hybrid Plan. A fourth option, available only to those already enrolled in it, is the Teachers Retirement System (TRS). The program you choose will depend on your own unique circumstances.
Employees must make a choice by their first day of employment. Those who do not choose will automatically be placed in the Hybrid plan.
Key features of each plan are listed below:
SERS: A defined benefit plan — benefits based on years of service and earnings. All employees are eligible. There are various Tiers, depending on date of hire. If hired between 1984-1997, there is no employee contribution. If hired after July 1, 1997, there is a 2% employee contribution. The employee contributions for all Tiers will increase 1.5% on 7/1/17 and an additional 0.5% beginning 7/1/19.
ARP: An income-earning investment plan — benefits are based on contributions and income earned by the chosen funds. All employees are eligible. There is immediate vesting, but you do not access the full funds until retirement. State contribution 7.25%, employee 5% (can add .75%) starting 7/1/2017. State contribution 7%, employee 6% starting 7/1/2019. All income earned by the plan is tax-deferred.
Hybrid Plan: An employee has the option, upon leaving state service, of accepting the defined benefit amount, or electing to receive a return of his/her contributions to the Hybrid Plan plus a 5% employer match, and 4% interest. Employee contributions increase 1.5% on 7/1/17 and an additional 0.5% beginning 7/1/19
TRS: A defined benefit plan — benefits are based on years of service and income. Participants must already be enrolled in the plan to have their earnings in the community college system credited.
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CSCU holds a monthly retirement group session on the first Wednesday and last Friday of every month at 1PM via this link. These sessions are a general overview of the retirement process and an opportunity to ask general questions. CSCU also provides the following resources:
- CSCU Human Resources - Retirement (ct.edu), which links to Retirement Guides for SERS Tier & Hybrid retirees.
- SERS Tier & Hybrid retirement information and estimators: [Retiree Resources (ct.gov)] Click to follow link.
- Webinars for the State of Connecticut Alternate Retirement Plan, 457 Deferred Compensation Plan and 403(b) Plan under the “Your Tools” page on the State of Connecticut Defined Contribution Plans’ dedicated website: Click to follow link.
- Changes to Rules for Retirements after July 1, 2022
- Social Security