Human Resources
Benefits Upon Layoff
Following is a brief summary of your benefits upon layoff.
Unemployment Insurance
Employees who are laid off are entitled to unemployment benefits provided they meet the criteria of "available and able to work." The actual amount is based on the employee's salary and number of dependents. You must go to your local Workforce Development Center to apply for these benefits. It is important to apply as soon as you are laid off.
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Vacation
Accrued vacation is paid out when you receive your final paycheck. If you return to state employment within two years following the date of layoff, your previous continuous service and the period of separation will be counted toward your vacation accrual rate.
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Compensatory Time
Any accumulated compensatory leave not taken will be paid out on the final paycheck.
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Sick Leave
Accrued sick leave is not paid out upon layoff. If you are reemployed by any state of Iowa agency within two years following the date of layoff, your sick leave balance accrued prior to layoff will be restored, except to the extent that the sick leave hours have been credited to a sick leave bank.
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Health and Dental Insurance
Your current health and dental insurance plans will be in effect until the end of the month in which the layoff occurs. If you are covered by a state-sponsored health and/or dental plan prior to layoff, the Federal Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) of 1986 provides continued group health and dental benefits coverage for up to 18 months after layoff. If you are disabled per the Social Security Administration at any time during the first 60 days of COBRA coverage, you may qualify to continue for up to 29 months. The benefit plan is the same as when you were an active employee, but you must pay the COBRA premium. The State's share of the premium ends at the end of the month in which you are laid off.
The Iowa Department of Administrative Services – Human Resources Enterprise (DAS-HRE) will send you a COBRA Notification/Election form within two weeks of your last payday. The notice will include the monthly cost and election instructions. You MUST return the form to the DAS-HRE Benefits Team no later than 60 days following the date the coverage would otherwise end (the end of the month layoff occurs) or 60 days from the date of COBRA notification from DAS-HRE, whichever is later. Coverage will be provided retroactive upon timely completion of an insurance application, and premium payment.
At the end of the COBRA coverage period, you will be allowed to enroll in an individual conversion health plan. Coverage is available regardless of health status at the time. There is no individual conversion plan for Delta Dental. At the end of 18/29 months, dental coverage will terminate.
If you are recalled, your coverage will be effective the first of the month following your recall hire date.
COBRA Premiums
| 2009 | 2010 |
| Health Insurance | Health Insurance |
| Dental Insurance | Dental Information |
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Life Insurance
When you are laid off, State life insurance coverage ends at the end of the month in which layoff occurs. Life insurance may be ported or converted to an individual whole life policy within 31 calendar days following layoff. You can continue life insurance by either porting or converting your coverage.
Portability
When you leave state employment prior to social security normal retirement age or you are no longer eligible for life insurance because of a reduction in your hours, you may be able to continue your life insurance through a portability provision. This provision is not available if you are applying for long term disability benefits and are eligible to have your group life coverage continued through the Waiver of Premium provision.
You may elect to continue 50%, 75%, or 100% of your life insurance coverage (basic plus supplemental insurance). The minimum amount of life insurance that is available for portability is $10,000. If you elect to continue 50% or 75% of your life insurance coverage, you will not be able to continue the remaining amount of life insurance at a later date.
You cannot continue AD&D coverage under the portability provision. If you want to continue AD&D coverage, you can do so under the conversion provision.
You are not subject to evidence of insurability for insurance coverage issued under the portability policy.
Your Personnel Assistant will complete the employer section of the Life Insurance Portability form. You are responsible for submitting the form to Hartford and providing them with any additional information. The portability application must be received by Hartford within 31 days after the life insurance terminates or 15 days after the date the Personnel Assistance signs the application. The Hartford will not accept portability applications received more than 91 days after life insurance terminates.
Hartford Life Insurance Portability Premiums
A portability life insurance cost calculator is available to assistance you in determining your cost of continuing life insurance under the portability policy.
Portability is only available for the life insurance coverage you elected. You cannot increase the amount of supplemental life insurance when you exercise the portability option.
Portability is not available if you are applying for long term disability benefits, entering active military service, have reached your defined retirement age or for life insurance coverage continued through conversion, waiver of premium or continuation provisions. You can contact The Hartford at 1-877-320-0484 for more information or to obtain a rate quote.
ConversionIf you are at or above Social Security Normal Retirement Age (SSNRA), or you are applying for long term disability benefits when you leave state employment, you can continue your life insurance coverage by converting your group term life insurance to an individual whole life policy.
Your Personnel Assistant will complete the employer section of the Notice of Conversion Privilege; you are then responsible for contacting Hartford and submitting any required information directly to them. You can contact The Hartford at1-877-320-0484 for more information or to obtain a rate quote.
Hartford Life Insurance Conversion Premiums
AD&D Insurance ConversionYou can convert your AD&D coverage. Conversion rates for AD&D coverage can be found on the AD&D Conversion Policy Information and Instructions.
Your Personnel Assistant will complete the employer section of the Enrollment Card for Conversion; you are then responsible for contacting Hartford and submitting any required information directly to them.
If you are recalled within one year (two years for AFSCME and UE/IUP) you are eligible for reinstatement of life insurance in the same amount previously held. Your coverage will be effective the first of the month following your return to work.
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Long Term Disability Insurance
When you are laid off, State long term disability insurance coverage ends at the end of the month in which layoff occurs. However, you can submit a claim for disabilities that began while your LTD coverage was in effect. There is no conversion provision for LTD insurance.
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Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account
You may continue to seek reimbursement for eligible expenses incurred after termination to the extent of your remaining dependent care FSA balance.
Health Flexible Spending Account
You may continue to seek reimbursement for eligible expenses incurred through the date of your layoff. Otherwise, your coverage in the Health Flexible Spending account ceases unless you are eligible for and elect COBRA coverage, in which case you continue to make contributions (although on a post-tax basis) and can make claims for eligible expenses that arise during the period of COBRA coverage.
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Deferred Compensation
Participants in the Retirement Investors’ Club (RIC) (formerly known as the Deferred Compensation Program) have many options at termination of State employment. You have the option to:
- Leave your money invested in RIC and continue to defer taxes (at age 70½ you must begin taking your IRS required minimum distributions).
- Request total, partial, or systematic payments from your RIC account. Requests for distribution will be processed after you terminate from State employment. Taxable distributions from your 457 account are not subject to the IRS 59 ½ age limitation.
- Roll your RIC account over to an IRA, 401(k), 401(a), 457, 403(b), or 403(a). If you roll your 457 to any of these accounts, taxable distributions may be subject to the IRS 59 ½ age limitation.
If you are invested with AXA Equitable, Hartford Life, ING, Nationwide, or VALIC, contact them directly at the numbers listed below to request payment from your account.
| AXA Equitable | 877-800-7279 opt 3 |
| Hartford Life | 800-528-9009 |
| ING | 800-555-1970 or in Des Moines at 515-698-7973 |
| Nationwide | 877-677-3678 opt 1, then opt 2 |
| VALIC | 800-945-6763 |
If you are invested with any other provider, you must complete a RIC Distribution Form and return it to DAS-HRE. Contact your provider to see if they also require a form to be completed. It is important to review the Special Tax Notice before you take payment.
If you are rehired by the State, you may restart your contributions.
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IPERS
If you are a non-vested employee with less than 6 months of covered service at the time of layoff, you will receive a refund of your IPERS contributions.
If you are a non-vested employee with less than four years of covered service, you may leave your IPERS contributions in the system. A refund may be requested at any time. Interest will be credited to your account until a distribution is made.
If you are an employee with four or more years of covered service (or are 55 years of age or older), you are a vested member of IPERS. Vested members are allowed to leave their contributions in the system until they apply for retirement benefits, or a refund may be requested at any time. Contributions left in the system earn interest until a distribution is made.
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Workers' Compensation
If you are receiving Workers' Compensation prior to a layoff, you will continue to receive this benefit until such time as you are released from a doctor's care. However, any vacation or sick leave that is supplementing a Workers' Compensation payment shall be discontinued upon layoff.
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Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
You are eligible to use EAP services for 30 days after layoff.
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Hawk-I and Other Services from the Department of Human Services
HAWK-I (Healthy and Well Kids in Iowa) is a health insurance program for children and teens, ages 0-19, whose parents do not have health insurance for them. You may qualify for this program for your children if you meet the eligibility and income guidelines. For more information and an application form, call 1-800-257-8563.
You may meet eligibility guidelines for other assistance programs. Please contact your local DHS office for information on food stamps, Medicaid, emergency assistance and other economic assistance.
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Site updated 11/20/2009