Voluntary Retirement Program
Once your HR area processes your retirement in the Penn State system, it will take approximately two to three weeks to receive your first bill for retiree medical benefits, and approximately three to four weeks to receive your COBRA packet. If you have NOT received information from Lifetime Benefit Solutions by July 31, 2017, please email us at [email protected].
Lump-sum incentive payments will be direct deposited into accounts between July 21 – 26, 2017. Those who do not have paycheck direct deposit will receive a paper check, mailed to your home address.
Please remember that the lump-sum payment will be equal to your annual base salary as of June 30, 2016.
You will receive an email confirmation upon receipt in the Employee Benefits office, as well as a final, notarized copy of the Agreement at the end of July 2017.
Instructions for Viewing Paychecks and VRP Lump-sum Payment Details
As a retiree, your access to ESSIC (Employee Self-Service Information Center) permits you to view the following Payroll information:
- Pay Check Inquiry
- W-4
- Direct Deposit
- Year-to-Date Tax
- Earning Statement
- W-2 Information
The process to log-in to ESSIC remains the same as when you were actively working:
- Go to http: hr.psu.edu/benefits
- Click on the ESSIC & Attendance tab
- Enter your username & password log-in credentials
- Authenticate as requested
Questions relating to taxes withheld from your paycheck or VRP lump-sum should be directed to Payroll at 814-865-7621.
Questions relating to ESSIC log-in issues should be directed to Benefits at 814-865-1473.
Enrolling in the Medicare Health Plan
Retiree Medical Billing
After your local HR unit updates your status from Active to Retiree in IBIS, following your retirement, your retiree medical billing information will automatically be sent to Lifetime Benefit Solutions. Upon receipt of your information, they will generate your first Retiree Bill and send you all the pertinent information to establish automatic payment withdrawal (ACH). You are not able to initiate this process until your information is transmitted to Lifetime Benefit Solutions.
Your first Retiree Bill should come approximately two to three weeks AFTER your retirement. Payment is due within 60 days of receipt of your first Retiree Bill.
As a benefits-eligible, and Medicare-eligible retiree, what do I need to do to enroll in the Medicare health plan?
If you or your spouse are already or will be eligible for Medicare as of June 30, 2017, you need to contact your local Social Security office in order to make certain you complete the necessary forms via paper or online, for a July 1, 2017, effective date.
Most Social Security offices will require that the Medicare-eligible individual (you, your spouse, or both of you) to submit an Employment Verification form (#CMS-L564), that must be completed by the Employee Benefits office. If you need this form completed, please email [email protected] and we will complete the form on your behalf and mail it to your home address.
After you (and/or your spouse) are successfully enrolled in Medicare parts A and B, you will need to complete a Freedom Blue PPO application.
Please return the completed Freedom Blue application to: Employee Benefits Division, James M. Elliott Building, 4th Floor, University Park, PA, 16802
ID Card
In accordance with HR102, all retirees will be required to surrender their active Faculty/Staff id+ card to their department supervisor. Retirees who meet the years of service requirement are eligible to obtain a new Retiree id+ card after their official retirement date. For more information, please visit Penn State id+ website.
Additional Resources
- Frequently Asked Questions - Updated 01/23/17
- VRP Request for Change of Health Care Form - Retirement Date 06/30/17
- Guide to Retirement
- Retiree Benefits and Programs & Privileges
- Voluntary Retirement Plan - Non-Academic Employees
- Voluntary Retirement Plan - Faculty
- Sample Separation Agreement & General Release - Updated 9/14/16
- Insurance Marketplace Information
- Highmark Individual Insurance Brochure