Human Resources - Lewis & Clark

• What benefits am I eligible for?
• I’m a new employee. When am I eligible to start my benefits?
• How do I learn about medical insurance or access my retirement account?
• How does Tuition Assistance work?
• What is a flexible spending account?
• If I get married or have a baby, how will my benefits change?
• What happens if I leave my position at Lewis & Clark or if my spouse looses their insurance?
• Where can I find the 2010 Open Enrollment Guide?
• What happens if I become disabled?

Retirement

What steps should I take when I get close to retiring?

Retirement is one of the most important events in your life. A successful retirement takes careful planning on your part – planning that hopefully began early in your working career to help insure you will have the income you need when you want to retire. However, there are many factors related to retirement planning, and it is literally never too early to begin. Your current retirement balance is only one element to consider in today’s complex financial scene. Other considerations, such as Social Security may affect your benefits

Your most valuable step in planning for retirement is to contact your benefits office for pre-retirement counseling. By understanding your role in the process and by working closely with the Human Resource staff you can help assure that your retirement from the College will have no surprises when you do separate.

Before you decide when you want to retire, your health insurance coverages may be of immediate concern because to participate in one of our retiree medical plans, you must be enrolled in Medicare parts A & B, have at least 5 years of continuous full-time service, and be currently enrolled in one of the College’s active medical plans. 

What should I do about Social Security?

You should ask for a form SSA-7004-PC, Request for Earnings and Benefit Estimate Statement, from your local Social Security Office. If you submit this form, you will get a statement that provides information on your future eligibility for Social Security benefits and estimates of these benefits at specified dates.

How do I find out if I am eligible for Medicare coverage?

You should contact the Social Security Administration at least three months before your 65th birthday to apply for benefits. The Social Security Administration will have records pertaining to your eligibility for Medicare coverage.