Employee Benefits Handbook
Other Benefits
Workers' Compensation Benefits | Employee Assistance Program | Wellness Program | Sick Leave Bank | Professional Liability Insurance | US Savings Bonds | Cafeteria Plan-Section 125 | Tax Sheltered Annuities | Teacher Retirement System | Social Security and Medicare | Handbook Information
Workers' Compensation Benefits
Texas Workers'Compensation
LISD provides workers' compensation insurance for all employees of the district. The benefits provided and prescribed by the Texas Workers' Compensation Act are available at no cost to the employee. The Act applies only to physical injuries. It does not apply to natural illnesses that are not caused or aggravated by physical injury. The Act applies only to injuries sustained while in the course of employment. This means that at the time of injury you must have been engaged in duties for the Lubbock ISD. If you are injured on the job, report it to your principal or supervisor immediately. The principal or supervisor will in turn report the injury to the Coordinator of Risk Management. If your injury requires that you see a doctor, you have the sole right to select the physician or facilities to furnish the medical aid. Your choice should be made available to your supervisor and the Coordinator of Risk Management so proper notification can be made with our insurance company. You can get more information about your Workers' Compensation rights from any office of the Texas Workers' Compensation Commission, or by calling 1-800-252-7031.
TWCC Ombudsman Program
The Workers' Compensation Act that became effective January 1, 1991 offers services through the Texas Workers' Compensation Commission Ombudsman Program to help protect the rights of all employees. This is a free service to employees and is designed to help individuals understand how the system works. The Ombudsman assists injured employees in getting benefits, getting death benefits, providing general information about the workers' compensation system, and explaining benefits and responsibilities in making a claim.
The Ombudsman will also communicate with employers, insurance carriers and health care providers, investigate complaints, and protect the rights of injured employees, employers, and other parties in the workers' compensation insurance system.
If you have questions or need assistance from the TWCC Ombudsman Program, you may contact Janie Aguilar, Ombudsman for the TWCC Lubbock Field office at 806-744-4569 or you may use the toll-free number 1-800-252-7031.
TWCC Injured Workers' Hotline
The TWCC has also established a 24-hour toll-free number for reporting unsafe conditions in the workplace that may violate Occupational Health and Safety Laws. Lubbock Independent School District is prohibited by law from suspending, terminating or discriminating against any employee who in good faith reports an alleged occupational health or safety violation. Contact the Division of Workers' Compensation Commission at 1-800-452-9595.This information is also available to all LISD employees in their individual schools or organizations.
This program addresses personal and professional needs of all Lubbock ISD employees and their families. Problems are explored by professionals in a caring and confidential setting. When additional help is needed, appropriate referrals are made. There is no charge for initial screening and assessment services. You may call 743-1327, 24 hours a day.
The Lubbock ISD cooperates with Methodist Hospital in making an adult fitness program available to employees and their spouses. The program is designed to meet the needs of each employee. Facilities are available for each employee and spouse at the Lifestyles Center of Methodist Hospital. There is a monthly fee for use of these facilities. Payroll deduction is available for this membership fee. Additional information is available through the LISD Health Services Office at 766-1970.
The purpose of the Sick Leave Bank is to provide additional sick leave days to members of the bank in the event of an unexpected extended critical illness, surgery, or a temporary disability due to an injury. Days may be requested from the bank only after the member has exhausted all accumulated state and local sick leave days. Employees who receive vacation days must also exhaust all of those days.
Sick leave days from the bank are those days granted to a member who through an unexpected critical illness, surgery or other temporary disability, is unable to perform the duties of his/her position. In special cases sick leave days may be granted for use with the illness of a family member.
Any employee who is eligible to join the Sick Leave Bank may do so by contributing three (3) days of accrued or anticipated local sick leave. An employee desiring to join during the current school year must be able to earn at least three days from the time of his/her total number of days of work at the end of the school year.
Application forms for requesting sick leave days from the bank are available from the Special Services Office. For more detailed information please refer to the "LISD-Sick Leave Bank" booklet.
Professional Liability Insurance
All persons employed by the Lubbock Independent School District, all elected members of the Board of Trustees, all student teachers, and all volunteers are included under the coverage of a School Professional Legal Liability and Error and Omissions Insurance policy. The coverage is for $1,000,000 per claim or $1,000,000 aggregate per year. There is a $5,000 deductible per individual claim.
The insurance company will pay on behalf of the insured all sums which the insured shall become legally obligated to pay as "damages" during the policy period such as by reason of any act, error or omission in services rendered in the discharge of school district duties or because of bodily injury to, sickness, diseases or death of any person, or damage to or destruction of any property, including the loss of use there of; however, with respect to claims arising out of corporal punishment only, the insured will be reimbursed for all amounts which would have been collectible as defense costs, charges and expenses if the insured is found innocent. The coverage does not apply to the malicious infliction of punishment administered in violation of law, school district policy, or regulations. For further information on this coverage, contact the Coordinator of Risk Management at 766-1109.
LISD employees may enroll to have a monthly payroll deduction for the purchase of U.S. Savings Bonds. Forms for this purpose may be obtained in the LISD Insurance Office or the Payroll Office.
This plan was adopted by LISD to help you increase your take-home pay by making certain adjustments in your salary deductions, all within the Internal Revenue Service guidelines of Section 125.
The LISD plan is actually a flexible compensation plan or salary reduction plan. Employers are permitted to establish these plans which allow employees to pay for certain fringe benefits with either "before" or "after" tax dollars.
Premiums on LISD Health Insurance, LISD Dental Reimbursement, and the cancer, dread disease intensive care coverage that are paid by payroll deduction, and up to $200 a month for eligible medical expenses and up to $416.66 a month for eligible dependent care expenses may be included in this program.
Under the normal deduction plan for premiums paid by an employee for employee medical coverage, medical dependent coverage, dental dependent coverage and cancer coverage, the deductions are paid with after-tax dollars.
In the Cafeteria Plan you can purchase these options with before-tax dollars resulting in a tax decrease. The salary reduction amount for these premiums is not subject to income tax or Social Security withholding. New employees will have an opportunity to enroll in this plan at the time of their employment. An open enrollment period will be held prior to each January 1, to allow employees to either enroll, change, or discontinue the plan. Other than the established annual enrollment periods, changes will only be allowed because of job or family changes.
You should be aware of the fact that by not paying Social Security (FICA) taxes on the amount you reduce your salary, you reduce your wage base. This will result in lower Social Security payments at retirement. Not all LISD employees are subject to Social Security (FICA) taxes.
A tax sheltered annuity is an IRS approved method of saving money for future distribution without having to pay income taxes on the earnings, interest, or dividends until the funds are received at a later date. Upon retirement an employee would presumably be in a lower tax bracket. You may sign an agreement with LISD to withhold a portion of your salary each month to be deposited with an annuity company as approved by First Financial Capital Corporation of Houston, Texas. A list of approved annuity companies is available in your school or organization.
Annual Contribution
TRS contributions on salaries earned after January 1, 1988 are collected before Federal Income Taxes are computed. Your amount sheltered plus the TRS contributions should not exceed the annual contribution allowable under the law, usually $9,500. Exceeding the annual amount could possibly result in IRS penalties or interest charges. Redemption prior to age 59 1/2 can result in penalties.
As an employee of LISD you are a member of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas. Employees are required to contribute 6.4% of their annual salary; the state will contribute 6.0% through August 31, 1997. Retirement annuities for eligible members are calculated in the following manner:
- Average your three best years of annual salaries
- Multiply total years of creditable service by 2%
- Multiply average salary of best three years times total percent to derive annual annuity.
Normal Age Retirement
A member may receive an unreduced standard annuity at age 65 with 5 or more years of service, at age 60 with 20 or more years of service, or at age 55 with 30 or more years of service. Additional benefits of the Teacher Retirement System include death benefits for your family should you die before retirement, disability retirement, and return of deposits with interest even if you terminate employment.
Early Age Retirement
A member may receive a reduced standard annuity at age 55 with five or more years of service, or any age below 50 with 30 or more years of service.
Retirement annuities may be received through any one of five optional payment plans. Advance planning and early contact with the Teacher Retirement System is advisable to insure that income is not lost by delay.
Many LISD employees are required to contribute a Social Security and Medicare tax as well as contribute to the Teacher Retirement System. Included in the group are secretaries, aides, clerks, teacher assistants, hourly employees, and other positions that do not require teacher certification. The 1991 tax is 7.65% of gross earnings. LISD, as an employer, matches this Social Security tax for these employees.
Employees hired after April 1986, and who ordinarily would not pay Social Security taxes must pay into the Medicare Fund of Social Security. The payroll deduction for Medicare for these employees is .0145% of their gross monthly earnings.
Information related to Social Security and Medicare benefits should be directed to the local Social Security office. It is a good idea to check the official record of wages credited to your account every three years. A "Request for Earning and Benefit Estimate Statement," is available through the LISD Payroll office or the local Social Security office.
Plan Documents or Master Policies
The benefits outlined in this handbook are for information only and cannot possibly include all documentation due to space limitations. In all cases the Plan Documents or Master Policies constitute and govern the entire agreement between the providers and the covered persons.
