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Frequently Asked Questions

You can search the FAQs on our website by keyword or category above. 

A list of the most commonly asked questions.

What does "Z-status" mean?

Z-status is applied to a day-to-day substitute who covers the same program for 30 or more consecutive days. Z-status is paid at 1/200th of the gross annual salary up to step 4A, including differentials, you would make in a full-time appointed position. Checks can be via direct deposit or they will be mailed to the address on file with the DOE.

How can I get a duplicate or corrected W-2 form?

Active members can request duplicate/corrected W-2s via the DOE Payroll Portal. Those who have separated from DOE service must email the W-2 duplicate/correction form to W2unit@schools.nyc.gov. The W-2 Unit can be reached at 718-935-4373. 

As an F-Status worker, how much will I make and what is the required minimum before being eligible for benefits?

F-status salary is 1/200th of the gross annual salary up to step 4A, including differentials, that the member would make as a regularly appointed teacher. Health benefits are earned if the F-status worker is scheduled to work a minimum of 1/2 of their title's regularly scheduled program.

How do I apply for direct deposit?

Either through the payroll portal (https://payrollportal.nycboe.net), or by faxing the application and supporting documentation to 718-935-3702.

How do I find out what my annual salary is and how often we get paid?

Checks for appointed pedagogues and annualized paraprofessionals are issued on a semi-monthly basis, on the 15th and 30th of each month.  

You can verify your current pay by logging in to the DOE Payroll Portal: https://payrollportal.nycboe.net.

For more information about your salary, steps and differentials, you can go to the UFT website at: https://www.uft.org/your-rights/salary.

How do I change my tax deductions/withholding using ESS?

STEP 1:

NYCAPS :  go to www.nyc.gov/ESS and log in.

Enter your USER ID (your 7-digit Employee ID /Reference Number found on your paystub.

Your temporary password consists of the last two digits of your SSN, an underscore (_), the first three letters of your birth month (must be upper case), your birth day (including the leading zero, if applicable), and the birth year (all four). 

Example: 
Social Security Number: XXX-XX-XX99
Date of Birth: JANUARY 01, 1984
TEMPORARY PASSWORD:  99_JAN011984

STEP 2:

Once logged in, click PAY and TAX INFORMATION
then click Tax Withholdings.  

IMPORTANT NOTE:  You cannot use ESS to:

  • To claim exempt
  • To claim 10 or more federal allowances
  • To claim 14 or more state allowances.

(To make the changes above, skip to step 7.)

STEP 3:

Under Tax Withholdings, review your current withholdings status information. Every employee will be defaulted to a single status with no withholdings unless indicated otherwise.

STEP 4:

Click the Change Withholdings Info button, which is toward the bottom of the page.

Note: Tax marital status of "SINGLE" applies to both "Single" as well as "Married but withholding at a higher single rate."

STEP 5:

No fields can be left blank. At least one field must have changes in order for the form to be submitted successfully. Please note that there must be a valid reason for making changes to tax withholdings (life events). You are limited to no more than three changes to your withholdings per year.

If you would like to review any IRS forms, or have general inquiries about your W-4, IT-2104 or tax withholdings, you can click the link at the bottom of the page to review the Office of Payroll Administration's information page.

The link says, "Additional Information and Instructions on completing W-4 and IT-2104".

STEP 6:

You can now review a summary of your election. If you are satisfied with your changes, check the box acknowledging that you understand and agree to the terms and conditions in the middle of the page, review the statements of the employee authorization

  • If you are not ready to submit your elections, click the cancel button. No changes will be made to your current tax/withholdings information.
  • If you are ready to submit and finalize your tax withholding selection, then enter the last four digits of your Social Security number, and click Certify/Confirm in order to submit your changes.

You will receive an email confirmation shortly after submitting your form.

If you make a change on a Saturday or Sunday, it will be entered into the system Monday night. If you don't see your changes on Monday, review it in two business days (Wednesday morning).

If you are an H-Bank/740 (an admin employee), the changes you make in NYCAPS ESS will not be reflected in the system for up to TWO weeks.

STEP 7:

DOE employees cannot use NYCAPS ESS to make the following changes:

  • claiming tax exempt
  • claiming more than 10 federal allowances
  • claiming more than 14 state allowances

In order to claim the above, you submit a Personal Tax Data Change form, along with a W-4 form and IT-2104-E form and supporting documentation.  Follow these steps:

  1. Download the Personal and Tax Data Change form from the HR Connect website at the HR Connect Employee Web Portal at
    https://doehrconnect.custhelp.com
    Login with your Windows/Outlook user ID and password. Then click on the "Forms" button in the "Helpful Links" box on the right.
  2. Complete the form based on the instructions provided on the form.  You must complete the entire form, as incomplete forms will not be processed.
  3. Send the completed form and supporting documents to HR Connect as indicated in the form's instructions, such as the W-4 form and/or a IT-2104, or Certificate of Affirmation to the following address:

Division of Human Resources/HR Connect
New York City Department of Education
65 Court St.
Room 102
Brooklyn, NY 11201

Is it possible to receive an electronic tax form instead of waiting for it to arrive via mail?

Department of Education employees may choose to receive their W-2, 1127 Waiver and 1095-C forms electronically instead of on paper. Electronic delivery is voluntary, secure and accurate. You can also download the documents to your computer.

To choose electronic delivery, log in to your NYCAPS Employee Self-Service NYCAPS ESS account and complete the online form. You will receive an email by mid-January each year with instructions for accessing electronic W-2, 1127 Waiver and 1095-C forms. The electronic version may be printed or saved to your computer.

If you have previously chosen electronic delivery, you do not have to re-enroll. The enrollment deadline to receive electronic delivery of 2023 forms will be January 2024. Check the DOE HR Connect website for specific deadline dates. 

Where can I find my DOE employee reference number?

Your employee reference number is the seven-digit employee identification number found on your DOE pay stub. 

What is the daily pay rate for a substitute teacher?

The daily rate of pay for a substitute teacher, effective Feb. 1, 2019, is $188.75. Effective May 14, 2020,, it was$193.47; and effective May 14, 2021,  it was $199.27. Effective Sept. 14, 2022, the pay rate is $205.25. The workday is fixed at 6 hours and 50 minutes per day, inclusive of lunch.  

What is the daily pay rate for a substitute paraprofessional?

Effective Feb. 1, 2019, the daily pay rate for a substitute paraprofessional was $157.87 and based on a workday of 6 hours and 50 minutes. If a principal chooses to release the substitute para at the end of the student day, the pay will be prorated based on a 6-hour, 20-minute workday.

Pay for substitute paras increased on May 14, 2020, to $161.82, and to $166.67 as of May 14, 2021. As of Sept. 14, 2022, the daily pay rate is $171.67.