Q: How is this lump sum calculated?

A: The lump sum is calculated as if there had been an overall 4 percent wage increase effective Nov. 1, 2009 and another 4 percent wage increase effective Nov. 1, 2010 (8.16 percent compounded) for all relevant earnings up to the date of your retirement. Thus, for rates that would have normally gone up with these increases, you will receive the equivalent difference in pay. That includes regular salary with steps, longevities and differentials; coverage rate; shortage license area "sixth period" coverage rate; Chapter 683 pay; and termination pay already paid. The wage increase also applies to per session and per diem. Paraprofessionals will receive their retroactive pay for per session work on Feb. 26, but retroactive monies related to per session and per diem work for pedagogues will be made in separate lump-sum payments in March.

Q: How will my pension be adjusted to reflect this pay change?

A: More information on related pension adjustments will be forthcoming shortly from your pension system and/or the UFT. The calculation and payment of the lump sum is the first step in this process.

Q: How will taxes be taken out of this payment?

A: Tax deductions from the gross pay will be made at a single default rate as follows:           

• Fed – 25%

• FICA – 6.2%

• Medicare – 1.45%

• State – 9.62%

• City – 4.25% (for New York City residents)

This means that you will receive a check for approximately 54 percent of the total lump sum.

Q: Will I get an increase for my termination pay?

A: If you have already received your termination pay (an OP-44 installment payment), then you will receive the difference in rates in this lump-sum payment. For future termination payments, the difference will be included in the payment itself. New termination pay requests will also not be included with this lump-sum payment and will follow the typical OP 44 process upon employee submission at the effective rate.

Q: Will there be one check/deposit or separate checks/deposit?

A: A maximum of three checks/deposits is possible for an employee that changed titles from paraprofessional to teacher and also earned per session.

Q: I worked F-status and/or as a per diem substitute after I retired. Will I get a payment for that work?

A: No, this payment will only be for work/wages prior to your retirement. In some instances, F-status and/or per diem work performed after the date of retirement will be eligible for lump-sum payments occurring in 2015–20.

Q: Will there be a W-2?

A: Yes, a W-2 will be issued for calendar year 2015 in January or February, 2016. If too much in taxes was deducted from your lump-sum check, it will be reconciled when you file your personal income tax return in 2016.

Q: How do I know about what deductions were made on my payment and how it was calculated?

A: You may go to the online special portal. This portal will show you the pay details — gross amount and deductions — as well as show you a paycheck-by-paycheck accounting of the amount due related to the equivalent of 4 percent wage increases taking effort on Nov. 1, 2009 and Nov. 1, 2010.

To access the information on this portal, retired pedagogues must enter their file number and the last four digits of their Social Security Number while retired employees on the H-bank payroll enter their employee ID number and the last four digits of their Social Security Number.

If you have difficulty accessing the site or understanding the information, please contact a payroll representative in the UFT borough office in the last borough in which you were employed. The capacity to print the information through a PDF may not be available for a few days after Feb. 26, but you will still be able to print each page if necessary before that functionality is available.

Borough Office Phone Numbers

• Bronx: 718-379-6200

• Brooklyn: 718-852-4900

• Manhattan: 212-598-6800

• Queens: 718-275-4400

• Staten Island: 718-605-1400