New Employee
NC State offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to provide a variety of choices to fit your needs and the needs of your family. Our web site provides useful links to news, information, forms and resources to help plan and make smart decisions. If you need help or have questions, the Benefits Staff is just a click or call away.
Starting Point
Are you an EPA, SPA or Post Doc faculty or staff? Take a look at a customized Benefits Guide full of information about eligibility, benefit plans, enrollment and what to expect at New Employee Orientation (NEO). The guides are designed to be a starting point, providing a summary of benefits offered at NC State detailed information about each benefit plan can be found by following links from the Benefits home page and by visiting each plan's web site.
New Employee Orientation
To help acclimate new employees to the University and ensure a successful beginning, all permanent employees, part-time and full-time, must attend two New Employee Orientation (NEO) sessions within their first 30 days of employment. A comprehensive review of employee benefit plans is presented and participants receive plan materials and enrollment instructions.
Benefits Eligibility
NC State benefit plan participation begins with an EPA or SPA employment status of .50 FTE (20 hours per week) for nine or more months per year, on a permanent basis. Participation in the Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System (EPA/SPA) or Optional Retirement Program (EPA only) is mandatory for employees with a status of .75 FTE (full-time equivalent; 30 hours or more per week).
EPA employees with a title of Research/ Teaching Associate (Post-Doc) or Intern/Resident (Post-Doc) are eligible to participate in specific Post-Doc benefit plans unrelated to those offered to regular EPA and SPA faculty and staff.
Dependent Eligibility
For most benefit plans, coverage is available to eligible employees, legally married spouses, and dependent children up to the age of 19 or 26, if a full time college student. Dependent eligibility rules may vary for some plans.
Enrollment Period
Newly hired employees are granted a 30-day window during which benefit plan enrollment is permitted. The 30-day window begins with the first day of employment. Failure to enroll when first eligible may cause a delay in future enrollment opportunities and significant waiting periods for some benefits.
Choosing a Retirement System
Benefits-eligible EPA faculty and staff are granted an additional 30 days to select either the Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System or the Optional Retirement Program. Once the choice of retirement system is made, the election is irrevocable. Failure to select and enroll in a specific plan will result in default enrollment into the Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System.
Sharing the Cost
NC State makes a significant contribution towards the cost of employee benefit plans.
Tax Savings Opportunities
NC State helps reduce taxable income by providing pre-tax benefit plan deductions. This means that certain benefit premiums and retirement contributions are deducted from pay prior to federal, state and sometimes Social Security (FICA) tax, resulting in either a permanent or delayed tax savings. Making the most of participating in pre-tax benefit plans can yield immediate and delayed rewards.
