Resources

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Benefits Notes

PEBB Dependent Verification Project

During the month of September, the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) will launch the Dependent Verification Project—a project requiring subscribers to verify that dependents on their accounts meet the criteria for dependent eligibility.

A notice will go to all employee subscribers who have at least one dependent covered on their account (excluding extended dependents and dependents with disabilities). The notice will explain PEBB eligibility rules, and include forms for subscribers to either:

• remove ineligible family members, or
• provide proof for eligible family members (such as a copy of a tax return or similar legal document)

Subscribers must either remove or provide proof of eligibility for their family members by the end of the annual open enrollment period: November 30, 2009. If a subscriber doesn't respond, PEBB will disenroll all covered family members from the account in early 2010.

See PEBB's August newsletter, For Your Benefit, for further details.

Professional & Organizational Development

Career Counseling

Staff notified of a layoff or reduction in hours are eligible for three 45-minute career counseling appointments with the UW’s Career Development Manager. To schedule an appointment, send an email to uwcardev@u.washington.edu.

UW Discounts

Computer and Laptop Savings

If you're still shopping for school supplies, or just need a computer upgrade, the UW discount program has discounts on desktops, laptops, PDAs, and much more!

The discount program is available to all UW faculty, staff, students, and retirees. Go to the UW Discounts page and click "View the Discounts." Sign into the SmartSavings website with your UW NetID and password to find great savings.

Benefits & WorkLife Update informs University of Washington faculty and staff of current news and events surrounding Benefits & WorkLife programs. Comments and suggestions may be addressed to the editor at benefits@uw.edu.

Also, we invite you to read our wellness newsletter, UWellness.

The Resource is Coming!

This will be the last issue of Benefits & WorkLife Update. Starting September 17, this publication will be replaced by The Resource, a twice-monthly update for faculty and staff, covering all Human Resources news and events. The Resource will be published on the first and third Thursdays of the month. Comments to uwhr@uw.edu are welcome.

Balancing Your Work & Life

Special Workshop for Continuing Employees

Moving Forward After Layoffs —Rebuilding & Renewal

As colleagues leave, there is the grief of goodbyes, the anxiety of change, and the loss of trust. How does one begin to heal and transition? What is the process of re-kindling trust in the organization? How does one cope with the anxiety of mastering new tasks being added onto the present workload? These are all complicated issues that deserve time for thoughtful discussion. Join Sue Covey in an interactive presentation exploring strategies and guidelines for navigating this period of transition.

This hour and a half workshop is offered on:

Services Offered

Eldercare Consultations
WorkLife staff is available to consult with individual members of the University community concerning their personal care-giving situation and to provide information about various resource options. E-mail worklife@uw.edu to request a consultation.

WorkLife Resource Center
The school year is beginning and parents often find themselves and their child at "loggerheads." There are different school conditions, new friends, and expanding opportunities for activities outside the home. In her book, Positive Discipline, Jane Nelson, Ed. D. provides parents with a frame work of guidelines and basic principles that encourages self-respect, cooperation, and problem-solving skills in their children. This is just one of many parenting books available on two-week loan from the WorkLife Resource Center.

UW CareLink
Our faculty and staff assistance program offers its online resource, APS HelpLink. Here you will find multiple articles dealing with change and making transitions positive and productive. Use UW for the company code.

Hometown Home Loan Program

Homeownership 101 Seminars

Whether you're buying your first home or want advice on using home equity or refinancing, UW's Hometown Home Loan Program partner, HomeStreet Bank, offers these free, lunchtime seminars to educate you:

Understanding Credit
Learn which forms of credit history are important when buying a home, how to clean up your credit report, and ways to fix errors. Plus, get a free credit report!

September 2 | Wednesday | Noon–1:00 p.m. | Seattle

Home Buying Process
It's a buyer's market. Are you ready to buy a home? Learn the steps involved in applying for a mortgage, including the role of the real estate agent. Review costs, pre-qualification vs. pre-approvals, and home inspections vs. appraisals.

September 30 | Wednesday | Noon–1:00 p.m. | Bothell

Register online or contact the Affinity Lending Center at 206-628-0207. Please include your contact phone number (in the event of class cancellation).

The Hometown Home Loan Program offers reduced fees on mortgages for University of Washington faculty and staff buying or refinancing anywhere in the Puget Sound region. All benefits-eligible UW faculty and staff members may apply. Learn more.

Prequalification Appointments

Get your mortgage questions answered through free half-hour pre-qualification appointments—monthly at Seattle and quarterly at Bothell, Tacoma, South Lake Union, and Harborview.

Contact the Affinity Lending Center at 206-628-0207 or register here to schedule an appointment for September 14 at Seattle or September 15 at Harborview Medical Center.

UW Combined Fund Drive

"Meet the Charities" Workshop Series

Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest

Planned Parenthood provides high-quality, affordable reproductive health care for women, men, and teens. This organization works to ensure that all people in our communities can make informed choices about their reproductive health. Attend this “UWCFD Meet the Charities” workshop to get an in-depth view of Planned Parenthood’s programs and volunteer opportunities.

This is the ninth in a series of free monthly workshops where guest charities share how giving and volunteers have made a positive impact on their mission. Offered to UW faculty and staff by the UW Combined Fund Drive (UWCFD.)

Retirement & Savings

State of Washington Deferred Compensation Program

Are you interested in learning about an optional retirement plan that will enable you to contribute additional retirement dollars for retirement? If so, register for this seminar to find answers to some of these questions about the Deferred Compensation Program:

• What is the eligibility to enroll in this program?
• What is the contribution limit for this program?
• How do I enroll?
• What are my investment options?

Note: UW employees may participate in both the Voluntary Investment Program (offered by the University) and the Deferred Compensation Program in the same tax year.

Retirement Plan Check-ups

A lot can change in a year. While volatile markets can shake your confidence, having a plan in place helps you weather the storm. Our four fund sponsors—Calvert, Fidelity, TIAA-CREF or Vanguard—are here to help. Each has years of experience that can guide you towards investment choices and the services you need to feel confident about where you stand. Now is a perfect time for you and your spouse/partner to review your account either by phone or in person. A fund sponsor representative will review your asset allocations, savings objectives, and risk tolerance against your current portfolio. Simply select a date below—then contact a fund sponsor to schedule your free, in-person appointment.

Vanguard:
September 9 at Harborview
September 10 at Seattle Campus
September 11 at Health Sciences

Fidelity:
September 14 at Harborview
September 15 at Health Sciences
September 16–18 at Seattle Campus

TIAA-CREF:
September 22, 29, and 30 at Health Sciences
September 23 at Tacoma Campus
September 24 at South Lake Union

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