C VID HITS PRISONS
As COVID cases increased exponentially with the onset of winter, conditions at North Carolina prisons received national attention.
Across North Carolina, the coronavirus has claimed the lives of 32 prison inmates, and at least seven staff members. Most of the state’s prisons have now experienced outbreaks according to The Charlotte Observer. More than 7,400 inmates and 2,300 prison staff have tested positive for the virus.
The New York Times covered the dangers of COVID outbreaks facing North Carolina correctional officers in a front-page article on Jan. 2. They reported that nearly 100,000 correctional officers have tested positive nationwide and 170 have died. North Carolina is now under court order to test officers every two weeks.
In the same article, SEANC Executive Director Ardis Watkins called for the end of all movement of inmates and staff from jails and prisons until the pandemic is under control. This movement occurs when facilities are closed and inmates and staff are forced to relocate to other facilities, which increases the number of people they come into contact with and, therefore, the risk of contracting the virus.
“The nature of the job is, ‘anything could happen, including getting killed.’ But what they’re not used to is knowing that going to work might mean their family can get a disease that they could die from,” Watkins said in the article.
Watkins also pointed out, “People
don’t see the prison system. They don’t think about it. In this pandemic, the work that’s done that is so dangerous is not being valued. So that frustration is growing. They feel like, as usual, they’re forgotten and left behind.”
TABOR CORRECTIONAL HIT HARD
The Charlotte Observer reported in late December that Tabor Correctional
Institution had been hit particularly hard. At the time the article was published, more than 670 inmates and staff members had tested positive for COVID-19 there. They also lost two of their top leaders in December.
Associate warden Julian Priest, a 29year veteran of the state prison system, died from coronavirus complications on Dec. 24, his son confirmed. The prison’s warden, 46-year-old Brad Perritt, also died, on Dec. 15, though a family member said that Perritt did not die as a result of COVID-19.
Watkins said the situation at Tabor should show state leaders that more needs to be done to protect state employees at our prisons. Specifically, she said, the movement of inmates and
staff needs to end. The state has closed at least three facilities in recent months and shifted both inmates and staff.
“If the governor is encouraging individuals to stay in their homes, it seems we’d be rational enough to shut down the movements in our prison system,” Watkins said.
VACCINES ON THE WAY?
The Food and Drug Administration approved two vaccines for COVID in December, but roll out to essential workers and those most in need has gone slower than expected.
State officials were forced to change their earlier plan to distribute the vaccine because of this lack of availability. The state moved to Phase 1b of its plan in early January — when correctional staff were slated to be offered the vaccine on a voluntary basis.
SEANC CONTINUES TO FIGHT!
SEANC continues to fight for increased safety for all state employees during the pandemic and monitor the vaccination roll out. We will provide more information as it is available through our social media accounts.
If you have concerns, please contact us at seanccares@seanc.org
Associate Warden Julian Priest Warden Brad Perritt
RETIREE FOCUS
RETIREES: Tax season is coming — Here’s what
YOU NEED TO KNOW
From the N.C. Department of State Treasurer
Each year it’s important to log in to your ORBIT account to review and make any beneficiary and tax withholding changes that you deem necessary.
Use ORBIT to access your 1099 or W-2 tax forms. Otherwise, paper versions of these documents were mailed out to the address we have on file for you on Jan. 29, 2021. If you decide to wait for your paper tax form, please be sure to allow seven to ten business days to receive the form by mail.
State Taxes: Unless you specify a monthly withholding rate or amount for state taxes, your pension account will default to the rate of “single” with zero allowances. This means that more money may be deducted from your benefit payment each month if you do not log in to ORBIT and designate your withholding preferences. If you have already designated a withholding preference or are exempt from paying state taxes, no action is required.
Federal Taxes: Unless you specify a monthly withholding rate or amount for federal taxes, your pension account
2021 RETIREE PAY DATES
Dates pension checks are direct deposited to your bank account or checks are mailed:
February 25
March 25
April 23
May 25
June 25
July 23
August 25
September 24
October 25
November 24
December 22
Contact N.C. Retirement Systems at 877-627-3287 with address updates, questions about your retirement check or deductions.
will default to the rate of “married” with three allowances. If you have already designated a withholding preference, no action is required.
The IRS is recommending that retirees conduct a “paycheck checkup” to make sure they are paying enough tax during the year by using the withholding calculator located on the IRS website: irs.gov/individuals/ tax-withholding-estimator Though primarily designed for employees who receive wages, this online tool can also help those who receive pension and annuity payments on a regular schedule.
Minimum Tax Withholding
You may elect to have federal and/or North Carolina income tax withheld or not withheld from your retirement benefit.
Your election will remain in effect until you revoke it. You may also change your election online at any time during the year by logging into your personal, secure ORBIT account and following the instructions to change your tax withholding. An election or revocation received by the tenth of the month will be effective that month. If a change is not received by the tenth, it will likely be effective the next month. If you are in the process of retiring and using our online retirement application, you will make your tax withholding elections as a part of the process.
Still having trouble understanding what tax withholdings are and how to determine your filing status? The IRS explains tax withholding concepts further on their website: irs.gov/individuals/employees/tax-withholding.
Choosing Income Tax Withholding Preferences
1. Login to ORBIT. If you have not used ORBIT before, you will need to register by clicking on the “Register” button on the same page. To complete the registration, you need to supply your Social Security number, birth date, and the net pay from your most recent benefit payment.
2. Once logged in, click on the tab “Maintain Tax Withholding Election” tile on the Retiree “Welcome” screen.
3. Click on the link “Change your current tax withholding for this account?” near the bottom of the page.
4. Enter the changes you would like to make and click “Save.”
5. If you are in the process of applying for benefits, and using the retirement application, you will be making your tax withholding elections as a part of the process.
Your 1099-R is now available on
1. Visit https://orbit.myncretirement. com/ and login to your secure account.
2. Click the “View 1099/W2 Tax Document” tab on the left navigation and download this year’s 1099-R.
3. You may also right-click to “save target as” on your computer. It’s that easy!
New hires no longer promised health care at retirement
The coming of a new year brought an end to one of the state’s best tools for recruiting and retaining new hires.
Starting Jan. 1, 2021, newly hired state employees and teachers will no longer receive health care benefits at retirement thanks to a provision in the 2017 state budget. The change doesn’t affect current state employees hired before that date.
Several news agencies reached out to SEANC to discuss the issue.
Director of Government Relations
Suzanne Beasley pointed out that the State Health Plan will not see savings from the change for 30 years. A more effective approach to saving money with the health plan is to fully implement the Clear Pricing Project, which would help rein in health care costs and provide transparency to hospital billing.
The Clear Pricing Project would save the state ten times more money in the long run and would not hurt recruiting.
“The intention was to help the unfunded liability, but there are other ways to do that now. The clear pricing project would help with that,” Beasley said in an interview with FOX 46 of Charlotte. “Right now, the state of North Carolina, is just paying a bill and they don’t have a clue how much that bill is until they get it, and then they just pay it.”
This will be one issue SEANC will address with lawmakers at the new session of the General Assembly, which begins Jan. 13.
The Reporter, USPS 009-852 (ISSN 1069 2142), is published six times a year in the months of February, April, May, July, September and November for $2.50 per year, per member, by the State Employees Association of North Carolina, Inc., 1621 Midtown Place, Raleigh, NC 27609. Periodicals postage paid at Raleigh and additional offices.
POSTMASTER, Send address changes to: THE REPORTER, 1621 Midtown Place, Raleigh, NC 27609
NEW joint replacement program
WAIVES DEDUCTIBLES
From the N.C. State Health Plan
The State Health Plan and Blue Cross NC are working with select high-quality orthopedic specialists to offer a new program for eligible members in need of knee, hip or shoulder partial and full replacement surgery. The program simplifies the entire process — from pre-surgery consults and testing, to post-surgery follow-up and physical therapy, with one simple payment.
If eligible members choose one of the participating providers below, they may be eligible to have their plan deductible
waived for their surgery! The bundled payment includes the cost of the following medical charges:
• Orthopedic surgeon visits
• Hospital or surgical facility care
• Anesthesia
• Physical Therapy related to the surgery
• Emergency Room visits related to the surgery
If you are considering a joint replacement surgery in your future, contact one of the providers listed below.
EmergeOrtho (emergeortho.com)
OrthoCarolina (orthocarolina.com)
Delta/Surgical Center of Greensboro (surgicalcenterofgreensboro.com)
PSC/Surgery Center of Pinehurst (pinehurstsurgical.com)
REPORTER THE
ADVERTISING POLICY
SEANC accepts advertising material from companies and persons seeking to communicate with SEANC members. Acceptance of this advertising does not indicate SEANC approval or endorsement of any representation that the message, product or service is as represented by the advertiser. SEANC accepts no responsibility and shall not be liable for any use of or reliance on any such information, product or service. SEANC is a private entity and is under no obligation to carry advertisements of any nature, political or otherwise, that may be viewed as contrary to the interests of the association and its membership.
MEMBERS IN ACTION
Give Thanks and Give Back
By District 63 Secretary/Treasurer Alvin Lewis
Hurricane Isaias came through eastern North Carolina and slammed Bertie County with 140 and 145 mile per hour winds in August. Bertie County is in the middle of District 63 and members of our families were extremely affected. Windsor was underwater and one mile south a tornado landed and damage was described as extreme and leaving unrecognizable bits of debris with people losing everything in the devastating storm.
The community came together and area churches assisted with supplies and cleanup. Two of our SEANC families lost everything and are living in the next town 12 miles from their destroyed homes.
As a way to further support our SEANC families, District 63 awarded the two families a check for $1500 each to help in any way possible. Also, each year District 63 awards a family in each county in the district three $150 each in food supplies for the Christmas holiday. The families that were affected by the hurricane were also given a $150 check each.
District 5 delivered goodie bags and holiday treats to employees at the N.C. School for the Deaf as well as courthouses in Burke, McDowell and Caldwell counties. SEANC staff member Celia Wilson assisted the district on Dec. 8.
District 7 donated 200 ear protector straps to J. Iverson Riddle Developmental Center staff on Dec. 31. The Volunteer Services Department will give them out.
District 7 also donated 49 ear protector straps on May 8. The strap goes behind the head and the mask strap hooks on them; the mask strap does not touch the staff’s ears that causes pain sometimes. District 7 also gave ear protector straps to members at other locations in Burke County. District 7 is thankful to SEANC District 2 for helping with this order. Pictured is Volunteer Services Director and District 7 member Alicia Wilson.
The staff of J. Iverson Riddle Developmental Center and District 7 members donated canned goods and money on Nov. 23 to help with Burke United Christian Ministries’ Thanksgiving meal. Thanks to the staff of JIRDC and District 7 members for caring for their community on this special day. Pictured is District 7 Chair Henry Belada.
District 27 spread holiday cheer to Community Corrections in Durham. Pictured are Michael Garner, District 27 Chair Janet Bunch, Dana Moore and Donald Whidbee.
On Christmas Eve, District 2 Chair Cliff Johnson delivered cookies, apples, mandarins, and granola bars to nearly 500 staff at the state agencies around Asheville who were working on the holidays.
Members of District 63 presenting the checks on Dec. 1.
JOHNNY
DAVISON
District 1 made several holiday donations to food assistance organizations across their district. In this picture District 1 members Mark Haskett and Emma Conley met in Franklin to deliver a check to Macon County CareNet before the holidays.
District 17 distributed goodie bags and Bojangles’ gift cards to members around the Triad as an appreciation gift for their hard work during the pandemic at the holidays!
WILSON
District
donated to three causes during the holidays:
• Donated funds to the American Legion in Greenville to assist veterans in need.
• Donated gift cards to the Pitt Community College Christmas Trio Sponsorship in Greenville to assist students in need.
• Donated gift cards to the Pitt County Family Violence Center in order to assist victims with purchasing Christmas items for their children.
In appreciation of our state museums, District 44 delivered goodie bags to workers at the N.C. Museum of Art, N.C. Museum of Natural Science and N.C. Museum of History on Nov. 19-20.
District 62 donated 95 KN95 facial masks to North Carolina Aquarium and also to New Hanover County Corrections.
District 13 members collected socks, hats, gloves for area homeless men, women and children for their community outreach project. The clothing items along with 74 winter blankets were distributed on Dec. 12 in Charlotte.
District 62 helped bring joy to a few members in need from the New Hanover County Department of Corrections.
Western Region Representative Cliff Johnson delivers appreciation bags to the staff at Mt. Mitchell State Park while District 1 member Mark Haskett delivers appreciation bags to the staff at the N.C. Forest Service District 9 office. These deliveries were part of the SEANC Western Region State Park and Forest Service Project in which Districts 1-5, 8-9 participated in to show their appreciation for the work these employees do.
64
Pictured above are District 64 Chair Latina Shelley and Shanice Purvis, Receptionist at the Pitt County Family Violence Center.
SUBMITTED BY BONITA HENDERSON
For details, go to www.ncsecu.org.
Recognize you!
In this time of work-from-home measures, SEANC understands it is hard to celebrate retiring employees. We would like to help by recognizing any member who has retired during the crisis. If you or a coworker retired during the crisis, we want to know! Go to seanc.org/recentlyretired. Complete the form and give us some details. We will recognize your years of service on our social media platforms!
Are you a SEANC member going to college? Do you have a son, daughter, legally adopted grandchild or a spouse going to college? Are you a retiree with a grandchild going to college?
Then apply today for a scholarship from the SEANC Scholarship Foundation. Now is the time to work on your application for the 2021-22 academic year.
Last year, the SEANC Scholarship Foundation and SEANC’s districts gave out more than $141,000 to help members, their spouses and their dependents attend either two- or four-year institutions. This year, you or somebody in your family could be one of those deserving winners!
An application must be turned in to your district scholarship chairperson postmarked no later than April 15. To find an application and your district’s scholarship chairperson, visit seanc.org/scholarship.
The scholarships awarded by the SEANC Scholarship Foundation and the individual districts are one of the association’s largest benefits for members.
For more information, visit seanc.org/scholarship or contact Phyllis Byrd at (919)833-6436.
In addition to the local scholarships offered by the districts, the SEANC Scholarship Foundation offers funding assistance in the following categories:
Financial Need
Winners are selected based on academic performance (40%), financial need (30%), community involvement (10%), personal statement (10%) and recommendations (10%).
Merit
Winners are selected based on academic performance (70%), community involvement (10%), personal statement (10%) and recommendations (10%).
Member-Only
Winners are selected based on recommendations (30%), SEANC service (20%), career objectives (20%), personal statement (20%) and community involvement (10%).
Retiree Grandchild — Financial Need
Winners are selected based on academic performance (40%), financial need (30%), community involvement (10%), personal statement (10%) and recommendations (10%).
Retiree Grandchild — Merit
Winners are selected based on academic performance (40%), financial need (30%), community involvement (10%), personal statement (10%) and recommendations (10%).
