If you have a dependent who plans to utilize 100 percent undergraduate tuition remission benefits for the 2012-2013 academic year, please be aware of the following requirements. In order to qualify, your full-time undergraduate dependent is required to apply for the William L. Boyd, IV, Florida Resident Access Grant (BFRAG). In addition, to be eligible to receive funding from the BFRAG, a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) must be completed each academic year.

All dependents who qualify for the BFRAG will have the amount of the BFRAG subtracted from their charges for tuition and fees, and tuition remission will cover the remaining entitled costs. If a dependent qualifies for the BFRAG but does not apply as required, tuition remission will be reduced by the amount of the BFRAG award.

For more information, including links to required applications, please click here.

If you have questions regarding this policy, please contact a benefits expert at www.miami.edu/benefits/ask.

Have questions about your health care and dependent care flexible spending accounts? Learn more about this tax-saving benefit during an upcoming educational webcast. Two webcasts are scheduled for this week. Please click here for a detailed schedule. For more information, contact a Benefits expert at www.miami.edu/benefits/ask.

Volunteers from VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) will provide free basic income tax return preparation and free electronic filing on Thursday, February 9, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the School of Law Library, Room D201. The service is available to taxpayers earning $50,000 or less, individuals with disabilities, non-English speakers, and the elderly. Space is limited. For more information and to make an appointment, call Cecilia Calderon-Salzburg at 305-284-8195. If you anticipate this appointment taking longer than your assigned lunch hour, you must obtain authorization from your supervisor in advance.

Interested in earning up to $150 in medical premium credits? Employees on the UM/Aetna medical plan now have the opportunity to receive a total of up to $150 in medical premium credits through Aetna’s annual incentive programs. From now through February 3, you can schedule an appointment for the “Know Your Numbers” health screening, which will assess your cholesterol, triglyceride and glucose levels, blood pressure, and waist circumference. Employees who complete this screening will receive a $100 medical premium credit. Visit the Incentives Website to learn more. Due to high demand, two additional dates have been added at Gables One Tower and University of Miami Hospital.

From now through March 31, employees can visit www.aetna.com to complete the Aetna’s Simple Steps Online Health Assessment. Employees who complete the assessment will receive a $50 medical premium credit. If you have additional questions, please click here to view Incentive FAQs.

Faculty and staff enrolled in a 2012 UM/Aetna Medical Plan should keep their 2011 UM/Aetna ID cards, as they will be valid through the 2012 plan year. New ID cards will only be mailed to faculty and staff who changed their coverage and/or dependents for 2012. Current (2011) Flexible Spending Account participants should keep their WageWorks debit cards. New cards will only be mailed to new participants or to those with expired cards. Please remember, dependent care FSA participants must spend the money in their accounts on eligible expenses by December 31, 2011. The deadline to file 2011 dependent care FSA expenses is March 31, 2012.

Keep in mind: payroll deductions for 2012 benefit plans, including medical, dental, and FSA accounts, begin in January 2012. If you have any questions, email a benefits expert at www.miami.edu/benefits/ask.