Skip To Main Content

Benefits

Contact

Kimberly Shirek 
Benefits Specialist
651-425-6263
kshirek@sowashco.org

Kimberly Shriek, Benefits Specialist

 

Brittani Beatty 
Benefits Specialist
651-425-6251
bbeatty@sowashco.org

Brittany Beatty Photo

2024 Archive

Open Enrollment Virtual Meetings

Click each meeting to be redirected to the Zoom link for the meeting.

Benefitfocus

Benefitfocus is our benefit administration platform that simplifies how SoWashCo Schools employees enroll in and manage their benefits. This system is available year-round. Active benefit-eligible employees will sign in using their ClassLink username and password.

Benefitfocus is used for:

  • New hire enrollments

  • Adding/updating life insurance beneficiaries

  • Life events or change in family status

  • Status changes

  • Reviewing benefit summaries

  • Open enrollment

BenefitFocus Login

*Must be logged into Staff Portal/Classlink before you begin*

HealthPartners Medical Insurance

HealthPartners medical insurance provides employees with great service, network options and price.

HealthPartners 2025 Overview Slideshow

Two Network Options with HealthPartners

  • Open Access
  • Achieve Network

Open Access Plans

With HealthPartners Open Access Plan, just chose from the doctors in your network and get care whenever and wherever it works best for you.

Achieve Network Plans

Lower your health insurance costs and improve your health with HealthPartners Achieve High-Performance Network.

Achieve Network Overview
Why go with the Achieve Network? 
Achieve Network FAQs 

 

eyemed vision insurance

SoWashCo is part of EyeMed's Insight Network.


Employees have two plans to choose from (see plan options below).

*Remember that you receive an annual eye exam covered by HealthPartners if you are enrolled in SoWashCo's HealthPartners health plan.

 

veba

What is a VEBA?

VEBA is for most employees enrolled in the Open Access and Achieve Network High Deductible Plan. Check your employee group to see if you qualify for a VEBA.

The VEBA contribution will be funded three times per year. Your annual VEBA contribution will be disbursed to your VEBA account as such:

  • 50% on Jan. 15
  • 25% on July 15
  • 25% on Oct. 15

A VEBA is a tax-free Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) that provides a source of funds to pay for the cost of health, dental and vision care expenses for you and your dependents covered by the District's health plan. Please see the specific costs sheet for your union/employee group for details on your VEBA contribution from the district.

Contact BRI

Toll-Free: 888-717-1320
Local: 320-457-0058
Email: participantservices@benefitresource.com 
Website: www.benefitresource.com
Hours: Monday - Friday, 7am - 7pm

Creating an Online VEBA with BRI

  • Visit BRI's website to login or download the free mobile app
  • Click "Register an Account" 
  • Company Code: southwcsd
  • Member ID: Your SSN, no dashes

 

flexible spending accounts

2025 Medical FSA Maximum

A maximum of $3,300 can be set aside in a Medical Reimbursement FSA each year to help pay for out-of-pocket medical, dental and vision expenses for you, your spouse and your dependent child(ren).

SoWashCo Schools requires a minimum of $100 be set aside for those opting to participate in a medical FSA.

2025 Dependent Care FSA Maximum

A maximum of $5,000 per household (up to $2,500 if you're married and filing separate tax returns) can be set aside for Dependent Care Reimbursement FSA each year to help you pay for eligible dependent care expenses, such as daycare for your child.

SoWashCo Schools requires a minimum of $100 be set aside for those opting to participate in a dependent care FSA.

Benefit Resource (BRI)

Employees that work at least 30 hours per week are eligible to participate in our Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA). Outside of the annual open enrollment period, you will have to wait until you have a qualifying life event in order to change your enrollment status for FSA.

The FSA program is administered by Benefit Resource (BRI). Visit their website at benefitresource.com. Your personal spending account status and claim history will be available to you at this site.

Contact BRI

Toll-Free: 888-717-1320
Local: 320-457-0058
Email: participantservices@benefitresource.com 
Website: www.benefitresource.com
Hours: Monday - Friday, 7am - 7pm

Creating an Online FSA with BRI

  • Visit BRI's website to login or download the free mobile app
  • Click "Register an Account" 
  • Company Code: southwcsd
  • Member ID: Your SSN, no dashes

 

Employee Assistance program

Get Help With the Tough Stuff in Life

The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offers immediate and confidential support to help resolve work, health, and life challenges to improve your life. Let us help you find solutions so you can reach your goals at any age or stage of life. We help millions of people worldwide live healthy, happy, and productive lives. 

Learn More

For immediate and confidential assistance:

Call: 888-293-6948
Send an Email: answers@healthadvocate.com
Contact Form

Health Advocate | EAP+Work/Life
 
 
 
 
 

Health Advocate makes healthcare easier for over 12,500 organizations and their members by leveraging a combination
of personal support, data and technology to engage people in their health and well-being. HealthAdvocate.com

 

Life Insurance

SoWashCo Schools offers basic, supplemental, dependent life insurance. There is no open enrollment period for life insurance; however, if enrollment is completed outside of the new hire enrollment period evidence of insurability will be required.

See your Employee Premium Cost Sheet for information on coverage levels and cost.

Life Insurance Beneficiary Change Form

Changes to your beneficiary must be completed in Benefitfocus.

BenefitFocus Login

Beneficiary Information

Changes to your life insurance beneficiary information must be completed within Benefitfocus.

Supplemental Life Insurance

This coverage is offered as a way to supplement basic life insurance coverage.

Basic Life Insurance

SoWashCo Schools offers basic life insurance to benefit eligible employees. In some cases, this is provided at no cost.

Dependent Life Insurance

Provides employees with a way to obtain coverage for their spouse and/or dependent children. Dependent children are eligible to age 19 or 25 if a full-time student.

Long-term Disability

About Long-term Disability

Long-term disability provides income when you have been disabled for 90 calendar days or more. Your benefit is 66.67% of your monthly earnings, up to $6,000 per month. This amount may be reduced by other sources of income or disability. There is no open enrollment period for long-term disability insurance; however, if enrollment is completed outside of the new hire enrollment period evidence of insurability will be required.

Enrollment is required for full-time employees within the following groups:

  • Maintenance
  • Nutrition Services
  • Office Professionals
  • Paraprofessionals
  • Principals
  • Teachers (.8-1.0 FTE)

Filing a Claim

To begin the process of filing a claim, reach out to benefits@sowashco.org.

Voluntary Benefits

2025 Voluntary Insurance Documents

Filing a Claim

The Standard:

File a Claim online

Phone: 800-634-1743
Group #: 147018

AllState

Phone: 1-800-789-2720

 

retirement accounts

Eligible Employees

All employees are eligible to contribute to a 403b or 457 retirement account. 

Employees should review their Collective Bargaining Agreements or individual letters of assignment to see if they qualify for a matching contribution.

Optional Tax Sheltered Accounts

A tax-sheltered account is a tax-deferred retirement investment plan such as the 403b and 457 plans offered through the District. The terms “403b” and “457” refer to sections of the IRS Code that define the rules by which “pre-tax” and "post-tax" investments may be made through payroll deduction. These voluntary saving plans supplement the mandatory defined-benefit pension plan (such as TRA or PERA) to which you already belong. 

Establishing a 403b Plan

  1. Review the list of vendors.
  2. Contact investment/financial advisor to setup an account.
    • Employees may work with any investment/financial advisor; however, the vendor must be on the pre-approved list.
  3. Complete the Salary Reduction Agreement and submit to Human Resources - Benefits for processing.
    • Initial form must include account number and advisor signature.

Salary Reduction Agreement
Salary Reduction Agreement - ROTH

 

Establishing A Deferred Compensation 457 Plan

  1. Review plan information:
  2. Complete Minnesota Deferred Compensation 457 Plan Enrollment Form and send all pages to Minnesota State Retirement System (MSRS) by mail or fax. 
  3. MSRS will mail a letter to the employees home address confirming the account is established. The letter will include an account number. 
  4. Complete the Salary Reduction Agreement and submit to Human Resources - Benefits for processing

Salary Reduction Agreement
Salary Reduction Agreement - ROTH

NOTE: Advisor signature is NOT required for 457 accounts. An account number must be included on the form. 

Aviben

SoWashCo Schools utilizes Aviben as our third-party administrator (TPA) for all transactional paperwork (rollovers, transfers, exchanges, hardship withdrawals, loans, etc.)

How to submit forms to Aviben 

Additional Resources:

mandatory pension plans

Teacher Retirement Association (TRA)

TRA is a retirement pension plan for teachers in Minnesota. Membership is mandatory for certified teachers in all work assignments.

TRA employee deductions are 7.5% of the employee's gross pay and the District matches at 8.13%. The contribution amounts are forwarded to TRA each payday and invested for you.

If you have questions regarding your TRA balance, withdrawing funds or changing beneficiaries, please contact TRA via their website at minnesotatra.org.

Public Employee Retirement Association (PERA)

PERA is a retirement pension plan for public employees in Minnesota. Membership is mandatory for all non-temporary employees. Substitute employees are enrolled once eligibility requirements are met. Temporary employee eligibility is determined based on PERA guidelines. 

PERA employee deductions are 6.5% of the employee's gross pay; and the District matches at 7.5%. The contribution amounts are forwarded to PERA each payday and invested for you. 

If you have questions regarding your PERA balance, withdrawing funds or changing beneficiaries, please contact PERA via their website at mnpera.org.

Life Events

Changes to Coverage

IRS regulations prohibit changes outside of open enrollment unless you experience a qualified life event AND submit enrollment changes within Benefitfocus within 30 days of the event date. Required documentation to substantiate the event and dependent eligibility verification (if applicable) must be provided during the limited timeframe as well.

Common Events: 

  • Birth of adoption of a child
  • Change in daycare provider or cost
  • Death of a spouse of dependent child
  • Divorce, legal separation or annulment
  • Gain of other coverage
  • Loss of other coverage
  • Marriage