Faculty & Staff Benefits
Information regarding benefits offered to UWF employees is contained within the following pages.
The University of West Florida offers employees the opportunity to participate in a variety of benefit programs. All insurance programs are voluntary; however, employees must choose a retirement plan. Please review our Benefits and Services Offered, for a comprehensive overview. In addition, please visit the following links to our Benefits pages for more information.
All new hires and current employees are strongly encouraged to speak with a Human Resources Benefits Representative to create a smooth enrollment experience. All payroll deductions must be set up locally within our office and cannot be assured by only enrolling with People First. Please call our Human Resources Benefits Section at 850.474.2604 for more information. You may also refer to our How to Enroll page for additional information.
The University of West Florida offers a comprehensive benefit package for health, dental, vision, hospitalization, and supplemental insurance benefits for state employees (including eligible OPS employees), retirees and their eligible dependents.
Faculty/Staff Insurance BenefitsThe University of West Florida offers State of Florida Group Health Insurance coverage as an optional benefit for all qualified OPS Staff employees. OPS Employees who meet the measuring guidelines will be notified by People First to elect coverage.
OPS Staff Insurance BenefitsEmployees of the University of West Florida have access to a variety of retirement planning resources. All employees in established, eligible positions are members of the Florida Retirement System from their first day of employment.
Retirement Information and OptionsThe University of West Florida offers other additional perks such as Awards, Educational Opportunities, an Employee Assistance Program, Financial Planning, Holidays, access to recreational and wellness activities, and much more.
Other Perks and Benefits OfferedAdditional Information
It is good practice to occasionally check your beneficiary information for accuracy and to keep the information up to date. If you have one of the following benefits and need to change or update beneficiary information, please follow the instructions. You may also contact the number listed for instructions on obtaining, changing or updating beneficiary information.
State of Florida Group Life Insurance
To review current beneficiaries, contact Securian at 888-826-2756 or visit their website. If your current beneficiary information is incorrect or needs to be updated, enter the information on the Securian website, mail a new beneficiary form directly to Securian or submit a new beneficiary form to the Human Resources Benefits Section.
The Gabor Agency Life Insurance Products
Contact The Gabor Agency at 850-291-5379 or 800-330-6115 to request current beneficiary information and to update or change beneficiary information.
Florida Retirement System Pension Plan
Check your beneficiary information on the internet at the Division of Retirement Online Services or contact the Division of Retirement at 850-488-5207 to request current beneficiary information. If the information is incorrect or needs to be updated, submit a new change of beneficiary form to the Human Resources Benefits Section.
Florida Retirement System Investment Plan
Contact MyFRS at 866-446-9377 to request current beneficiary information. If the information is incorrect or needs to be updated, mail a new change of beneficiary form directly to MyFRS or submit it to the Human Resources Benefits Section.
Optional Retirement Program
Contact your provider company to request current beneficiary information and to update or change beneficiary information.
Tax-sheltered Annuity Program
Contact your provider company to request current beneficiary information and to update or change beneficiary information.
The Benefits associated with the Executive Service Class are as follows:
- Bi-weekly cost of Health Insurance is $4.17 for individual coverage and $15.00 for family coverage.
- The university covers the full cost of Disability Insurance (payable up to a maximum of 364 days).
- The university covers the full cost of Term Life Insurance (coverage valued at $25,000) effective January 1, 2011 .
- Choose one of three retirement plans: FRS Pension Plan, FRS Investment Plan or Optional Retirement Program. If a FRS Pension Plan participant, membership is in the Senior Management Service Class instead of Regular Class. The retirement percentage value for calculating the annual retirement benefit is 2.0% instead of 1.60 - 1.68%.
- Annual leave is earned at 9.2 hours per pay period. Upon retirement or termination, annual leave is paid up to 480 hours.
- Sick leave is earned at 5 hours per pay period years 0-5, 6 hours for years 5-10, and 7 hours for over ten years of service.
- For FRS Investment Plan members, Senior Management Service Class employees receive 9.67% employer contributions to their Investment Plan accounts.
Employees transferring to the University of West Florida from another State of Florida agency (including Florida Public Universities) are subject to the following guidelines.
Insurance
Contact the Human Resources Benefits Office to complete paperwork to transfer your participation in the state insurance programs to the University of West Florida. The transfer of benefits does not happen automatically.
Retirement
When terminating employment from the University of West Florida, an employee enrolled in any benefit program must contact the Human Resources Benefits Office.
Insurance
Employees who are enrolled in health, dental or vision insurance at the time of termination are eligible for COBRA. Since premiums are paid a month in advance, the employee is eligible for coverage the month following termination, including receiving the State's contribution for health and life insurance. After the employee notifies the Benefits Office of their termination, People First will send the employee paperwork regarding their COBRA options. To obtain COBRA coverage, the employee must complete the appropriate paperwork and return it to People First within the specified time frame.
Retirement
- FRS Pension Plan: No action required.
- FRS Investment Plan: No action required. The employee will continue to receive annual statements. If the employee has an address change or for any other changes after termination of employment, they should contact Ernst and Young at 866-446-9377 or visit their website.
- Optional Retirement Program: No action required. The employee will continue to receive statements. If the employee has an address change or for any other changes after termination of employment, they should contact the appropriate company.
