Benefits for Employees in Positions Covered by the PSU/MTA Unit A

Insurances

  • MA Group Insurance Commission (GIC) insurance coverages
    PSU/MTA Unit A employees may enroll for GIC health, life and long-term disability insurance coverage within 21 calendar days of being newly hired into a benefited position. Enrollment in health and optional life insurance is allowed within 60 calendar days of certain qualifying events. For more information:
  • MA Group Insurance Commission (GIC) Flexible Spending Accounts
    PSU/MTA Unit A employees may enroll in a GIC Health Care Spending Account and/or Dependent Care Assistance Program within 21 days of being newly hired into a benefited position or within 60 calendar days of a qualifying event. Proactive enrollment each plan year (July 1 - June 30) is required to continue participation from one plan year to the next. For more information:
  • Dental and Vision insurance coverages
    PSU/MTA Unit A employees may enroll for dental and vision insurance coverages at no cost through MA Public Employees Fund (MPE). Coverage is effective after 6 months of PSU/MTA-covered employment. A one full calendar month waiting period applies for those transitioning from another dental plan to the MPE plan on campus due to a change in position. For more information:
  • UMass Amherst work-related illness or injury is covered under the University's Workers Compensation policy

Members of the Optional Retirement Program (ORP) are covered under both the MA Department of Higher Education ORP life and long-term disability insurance policies. Premium for both plans is employer-paid. For more information:

Paid time off

PSU/MTA Unit A employees receive paid vacation, sick and personal days in addition to paid time off for holidays and campus closure days. For more information:

PSU/MTA Unit A colleagues who are out of work due to their own health condition, to care for a family member with a serious health condition or for parental leave purposes follow the University's procedure to request a job and benefits protected leave of absence. Members can apply to the Sick Leave Bank for income security if they do not have adequate PTO to secure income while on leave (reserving up to 2 weeks of vacation for future use). For more information:

Retirement

Employees do not contribute to the federal Social Security system on their earnings from the University (Medicare tax is withheld). PSU/MTA Unit A employees are required to participate in one of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts mandatory retirement plans (below), contributing 9% of regular compensation up to $30,000 and 11% of regular compensation above $30,000 to one of these programs.

  • MA State Employee's Retirement System (MSERS) is a defined benefit or pension plan. SERS pensions are calculated based on the age at which you retire, years of service contributing to the pension system and the average of your highest five consecutive years of salary. Ten (10) full-time equivalent years of contributions are required to ‘vest’ and become eligible to draw a pension at retirement age. A chart displaying what percentage of your average salary is available based on age and years of service appears online.
     
  • Optional Retirement Program (ORP) is defined contribution plan. The Commonwealth contributes 4.3% of your salary to your ORP account in addition to purchasing long-term disability and life insurance for ORP members (for a total of 5% employer contribution). You may choose invest your ORP funds with TIAA or Fidelity. ORP participants are immediately vested in the full balance of their ORP account including employer contributions and investment earnings.

A useful tool in comparing these two plans is available on-line here. Employees who elect to participate in MSERS have 180 calendar days to enroll in the ORP. ORP membership is irrevocable. 

  • Social Security
    Retirement from MSERS and the ORP may have an impact on Social Security benefits under the federal Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) or the federal Government Pension Offset (GPO). For more information about WEP and GPO:
  • Voluntary retirement plans
    PSU/MTA Unit A employees may may elect to contribute to the University 403(b) and/or the Commonwealth 457(b)/SMART plan at any time. Both plans have pre- and post-tax options. For more information:

Additional benefits

Additional information