If you are planning to retire by February 1, 2020, you should attend an AACPS Retirement Information Program and a Retirement Forms Workshop.  Registration is available on Unified Talent Professional Learning site(formerly MY-AACPS PD/ERO). CLICK HERE to view the schedule. 

Note: There is a chance the Unified Talent platform will not be up and running by the session scheduled on September 10. Please contact the Retirement Office to register at retirement@aacps.org or 410-222-5224.

If you are within one year of retirement and are considering retiring, we recommend you attend both programs.  Important: first obtain an estimate of your benefit by completing MSRA Form 9 and submitting it to the State promptly. The estimate takes 8-10 weeks to process. The information is critical to help you make important decisions as you prepare your application for retirement.  Here are links to MSRA forms. 

LabCorp is now at Walgreens!

When your physician orders lab testing, LabCorp at Walgreens makes it easy.  CLICK HERE for participating locations.

1095-C

AACPS will issue your 1095-C, if applicable, to your home by March 2, 2020. This form reflects your healthcare participation in 2019 and covered dependents. Failure to maintain medical insurance coverage can require you to pay a penalty. This is the second year the 1095-C has been issued. You simply keep the form with your tax records and do not file it with your tax return. Any questions regarding the 1095-C should be addressed to HR/Benefits.

Benefit Elections

Check your online paystub to confirm your benefits elections for 2020 (especially if you made a change). All CareFirst medical members should have received a new card dated January 1, 2020. It is recommended that, once the new cards are received, previous medical ID cards should be discarded. Remember your medical card reflects medical, vision and prescription benefits through CVS Caremark.  

Employees are responsible for checking the accuracy of all their voluntary deductions, including taxes, from their paycheck, and notifying HR/Payroll or Benefits if you have any questions or concerns.

Flexible Spending Account

If you had an FSA in 2019, continue to use your Discovery Benefits Flexible Spending Account (FSA) debit card .

If you have $50 - $500 in unused healthcare FSA funds from 2019, these will be rolled over to 2020 for healthcare spending account expenses. After the end of the run out period (March 31, 2020) Discovery Benefits will include in your rollover funds in your available balance for reimbursement during the remainder of 2020.

The Supplemental Retirement Consolidated Quarterly Investment Performance Report for third quarter 2019 has been posted.

To view the report CLICK HERE

2020 Defined Contribution Plan Limits Increase

In Notice 2019-59, the IRS highlighted Defined Contribution Plan limit adjustments taking effect on January 1, 2020, for 403(b) and most 457 plans.  In 2020, the maximum employee elective deferral amount increases to $19,500 – a $500 increase from 2019.  For participants ages 50 and over, the additional “catch-up” contribution limit will increase to $6,500. 

Human Resources provides access to paystubs for all active employees through our Employee Self Service (ESS) site. Go to ESS to view your paystub, W-2, as well as your pay details, deductions, leave, benefits, dependents, and other personal information. You can also update your address and contact information for ConnectED calls. To access the ESS system, go to https://ess.aacps.org and enter your network username (entered in lower case letters) and password. You must log out of the ESS system when you are done.  You should keep your password secure and not share it with anyone.

Links to ESS Resources are available on the HR Intranet page. Just click on the Employee Self Service button. If you have questions about the data in ESS, call HR at 410-222-5061. If you have trouble accessing ESS or don’t know your username and password, contact the Help Desk at 410-222-5135 or Help-Desk@aacps.org

The online Job Description Library (JDL) can be accessed via the Intranet.  It is designed to allow:

• employees to search and view active job descriptions online,
• managers to create new job descriptions,
• managers to edit and submit job description changes, and
• HR to track and store historical job descriptions.  

The following Help documents are available in the JDL:

• Job Aids ("How-To" Guides:  View, Edit, Create, or Reclassification)
• Job Description Templates
• Job Level Guidelines

For assistance, contact the JDL Administrator, Sherria Coates, at skcoates@aacps.org or call 410-222-5088.

Are you buying or refinancing a home? Need a car loan? Direct your lender to use The Work Number to obtain verification of your employment/salary.  Tell your lender the code for AACPS is 10599.  Instructions are available.  There is also a handy flyer.   

AACPS has a Fraud, Waste and Abuse reporting hotline number that employees and citizens of Anne Arundel County can call to report potential instances where they believe fraud, waste or abuse of AACPS property or resources is taking place. The toll free fraud hotline number is 1-888-484-1169. It can be reached 24 hours a day. All calls are confidential and can be made anonymously.