5 Benefits
5.1 Health Insurance
The Library participates in the State and School Employees' Health Insurance Plan. Library employees who work twenty (20) or more hours per week are eligible to participate. . The Library pays the entire premium for “Base” coverage for all eligible active employees’ health insurance.
5.2 Life Insurance
Life insurance and Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance is available to Library employees who work twenty (20) or more hours per week. An employee’s group term life insurance amount is equal to two times his/her annual salary, then rounded up to the next highest thousand. The minimum amount of life insurance is $30,000 and the maximum amount is $100,000. The library pays for half (50%) of the premium and the employee is responsible for paying the other half (50%).
5.3 Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA)
Information concerning the federal Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) is given to all new employees. COBRA is available to employees, spouses, and dependent children who participate in the Library’s health insurance plan. It provides the right to the temporary continuation of health coverage at the Library’s group rates. Under COBRA, the employee or beneficiary pays the full cost of coverage at the plan's group rates. Upon separation of employment, the necessary forms are provided to the employee with COBRA election forms describing said rights.
For more details and updates, see Department of Labor's information on COBRA at http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/health-plans/cobra.htm.
5.4 Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)
Library employees are covered by the state retirement system, the Public Employees Retirement System of Mississippi (PERS). The employee's share is deducted from each regular paycheck. The Library contributes the employer's share toward the employee's retirement. Membership in PERS is mandatory if an employee works twenty (20) or more hours per week OR at least eighty (80) hours per month whose wages are subject to payroll taxes and are reported on Form W‐2. When an individual is first employed, the Library furnishes the new employee with a member information form to establish a PERS membership account. Annually, the Public Employees Retirement System of Mississippi sends the employee a fiscal year contributions statement.
Additional information concerning retirement benefits is contained in the PERS Member Handbook and other resources located at https://www.pers.ms.gov.
5.5 Social Security
Social Security contributions are deducted from each regular paycheck as required by law. The library contributes the employer's share. Federal Social Security provides a variety of benefits, and monthly income payments for certain dependent survivors of covered employees. Normally, you will be eligible to receive a monthly income from Social Security when you retire or in the event that you become totally or permanently disabled.
Adopted 09.10.2019
Reviewed 12.13.2022
Reviewed 03.18.2025