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Below are answers to commonly asked benefits questions. If you have a question that you can’t find the answer to, contact the Benefits Office.
To be eligible for participation in the City Health Benefits Program, employees must meet both of the following criteria:
Dependents are eligible if their relationship to the eligible participant is one of the following:
If you wish to waive your health coverage, you must complete a Health Benefits Program application and check “Waive Benefits” at the top of the application. If you are eligible for coverage through a non-city group health coverage, you may be entitled to participate in the Health Benefits Buy-Out Waiver Program. This program entitles all eligible employees to receive a cash incentive payment for waiving their city health benefits.
Contact the Flexible Spending Program Administrative Office for any questions or information about the Medical Spending Conversion Program at 212.306.7760.
To add dependents, employees are required to provide acceptable documentation to support the eligibility status of all persons to be covered on their city health plan coverage.
If you are including a spouse on your coverage, and you have been married for more than one year, you must submit a government issued marriage certificate and federal tax return from the last two years (only send the first page of your tax return which shows your spouse) or proof of joint ownership issued within the last six months (with both names) such as a mortgage statement, lease agreement, utility bills, bank statement, credit card statements and property tax statements.
If you are including a domestic partner on your coverage, and you have been registered for more than one year, you must submit a government-issued Certificate of Domestic Partnership and proof of joint ownership issued within the last six months (with both names) such as a mortgage statement, lease agreement, utility bills, bank statement, credit card statements, or property tax statements.
In order to transfer from one plan to another or to add optional rider coverage, and to obtain the effective date of the change, the employee must contact the Human Resources Office, 1219 Boylan Hall, during the Annual Transfer Period. Once your transfer request is submitted, your change is irrevocable.
If you are enrolled in a flexible spending account program, your payroll contributions will cease until you return to work. Upon your return to work, you must contact the FSA program to resume participation in the plan.
If you are out on an approved leave without pay or have been removed from active pay status or any other reason, transit benefit deductions may be interrupted. It is your responsibility to contact EdenRed when you are on leave without pay.
For additional information, visit the Health Benefits Program.
You will need to check with the pension plan you are enrolled in.
Go to New York City Employees’ Retirement System (NYCERS) website or call 347.643.3000.
There are a few steps you need to do with different areas:
You must complete the Classified Terminal Leave form and return it to the timekeeper in the Office of Human Resources, 1219 Boylan Hall. The form can be found on our Thinking About Retiring page.
You must notify NYCERS of your intent to retire and file any applicable paperwork with NYCERS. NYCERS can be reached online or at 347.643.3000, or you can visit the Customer Service Center at 340 Jay Street in Brooklyn.
You must notify your union of your intent to retire. The union will require you to complete paperwork. Depending on your union, you may be eligible for welfare fund benefits when you retire. If you are unsure of what union you belong to, contact the Office of Human Resources at 718.951.5377.
As required by the City of New York Health Benefits Program, in order for you to continue your retiree health insurance you must apply for Medicare Part A and Part B during your terminal leave with the Social Security Administration only if you and eligible dependents are age 65 or over.
You must apply for Social Security Retirement through the Social Security Administration during your terminal leave. There are several ways to do this:
Two month prior to retirement date, you must do the following:
Yes. However, once the City of New York Office of Labor Relations Health Benefits Program processes the retiree health insurance application, it will be retroactive to the retirement date.
Yes, Copies of the health forms will be mailed to your home address on file.
You will need to contact the Office of Labor Relations Health Benefits Program at 212.513.0470.
There are three areas that you will need to contact:
Any additional questions may be addressed to our Benefits Office via e-mail.
You will need to check with the pension plan of which you are enrolled in.
If you are a member of the Teachers’ Retirement System (TRS) of the City of New York and the New York City Employees’ Retirement System (NYCERS), you must check with the pension plan to:
For Instructional Staff: You must complete the City University of New York Application for Retirement Leave of Absence (TRAVIA). The form must be signed by the department chair and returned to the timekeeper in the Office of Human Resources, 1219 Boylan Hall.
For Classified Managerial Titles: You must complete the Classified Terminal Leave form and return it to the timekeeper in the Office of Human Resource Services, 1219 Boylan Hall.
Forms may be found online at our “Thinking About Retiring” page.
You must notify NYCERS of your intent to retire and file any applicable paperwork with NYCERS 30 to 90 days before your last day on payroll. NYCERS can be reached at 347.643.3000 or online, or you can visit the Customer Service Center, 340 Jay Street in Brooklyn.
It is your responsibility to notify TRS of your intent to retire, complete any required paperwork with TRS, and verify the exact timeframe to file the required paperwork. TRS can be reached at 888.869.2877 or at 55 Water Street, New York, NY 10041.
You must contact TIAA about filing paperwork for retirement. TIAA can be reached at 866.277.7957.
You must contact the PSC-CUNY Welfare Fund at 212.354.1252 about pension counseling. Not applicable for Excluded Titles.
As required by the NYC Office of Labor Relations/Health Benefits Program, in order to continue retiree health insurance, you must have Medicare Part A and Part B only if you and eligible dependents are age 65 or over.
You must apply for your Social Security Benefits directly with the Social Security Administration. There are several ways to contact Social Security:
Two months prior to retirement date, you must:
Yes. However, once The City of New York Office of Labor Relations Health Benefits Program processes the retiree health insurance application, it will be retroactive to the retirement date.
Yes. Copies of the health forms will be mailed to your home address listed on the retiree health insurance application.
You will need to contact the NYC Office of Labor Relations Health Benefits Program at 212.513.0470.
You will need to e-mail the University Benefits Office. You will also need to notify your union and/or welfare fund and your pension plan.
Any additional questions may be addressed to the Benefits Office via e-mail.
You must add the child within 30 days of the birth or adoption.
Yes. Documentation is required for adding dependents. Refer to the Office of Labor Relations and click on the health benefits tab.
No. However, if you want your child to have those benefits, it is your responsibility to contact your respective union within 30 days of the birth or adoption of the child.
You must wait until the Open Enrollment Period.
If you have been on approved leave without pay or have been removed from active pay status or any other reason, your health coverage is interrupted. It is your responsibility to contact the Benefits Office and request a COBRA package.
You cannot continue to contribute to your retirement accounts during an unpaid leave. Your existing retirement funds and retirement annuity funds will remain the same way you have invested.
You must complete a Health Benefits Application to reinstate your health insurance. You must contact your respective union and/or welfare fund to reinstate your welfare benefits.
