GA .....................................................................................................__ Ei.too Fall 1996 ~~1n s i d e E R S .Pl --------------------------------------------------------------- The Employees' Retirement System ERS Board Ruling 1>ilteet 1>epoai! The ERS Board of Trustees ruled during the August 1996 meeting that Direct Deposit will be mandatory beginning with retirement benefit checks for January 1997. CURRENT RETIREES For those of who are already retired and receiving this newsletter, you will be required to sign up for Direct Deposit if you have a bank account. This gives you several advantages. The first and most obvious advantage is that your check cannot be lost or stolen. As you may know, if your check is lost, stolen or just misplaced, we cannot begin the replacement process for six working days. By the time a check is replaced, you may have been without your benefit for an uncomfortable length of time. Second - with Direct Deposit you have immediate access to your money on the last working day of each month. If you are out of town, sick, or just cannot get to the bank no problem. Your money is automatically deposited in the bank for you. Our advice - if you do not have Direct Deposit now, act early - use the form printed on page 3. Fill it out - mail to us and beat the January deadline. NEW RETIREES For any ERS member retiring after September 1, 1996, Direct Deposit will also be a requirement. Direct Deposit forms will be required with all retirement applications. RETIREES WITHOUT BANK ACCOUNTS For any retiree unable to obtain a bank account or unable to obtain an account with a bank not capable of the direct deposit process, ERS will continue to mail those individual checks. If you fall into this category, please write to us explaining your particular circumstances. Be sure to include your Social Security number on all correspondence. WHATYOU NEED TO KN.OW As you probably know, Social Security is also moving in this direction. Governmental savings in directly depositing benefits is considerable. The immediate issue is to notify state retirees of this new procedure and to assist you in signing up. We urge you to get a jump on the January deadline by completing and sending us the form printed on page 3. Jn lhi1 i1111e: SIX FLAGS INFORMATION 2 DIRECT DEPOSIT FORM 3 TAX-AIDE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED 4 page 2 INSIDE ERS STATE EMPLOYEES DAY Once again, the State Employees Credit Union has reserved the entire Six Flags park exclusively for state employees and this includes, of course, retirees. The dates: SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9 & SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1996. Enjoy short lines and free parking while saving money! The regular admission price is $32 at the gate, but if you order your tickets early from the Credit Union for these special days, your price is: Six Flags 6 OR MORE TICKETS-$16 EACH 5 OR LESS TICKETS - $17 EACH TICKETS ATTHEGATE ON Nov. 9 & 1o~ $21 EACH OVER GEORGIA The newest rollercoaster - Viper is just coiled and ready to "strike Theme Park A Time Warner Entertainment Company twice." All the favorites will still be on hand to thrill you - Ninja, The Looping Starship, Ragin' Rivers, Thunder River, Splashwater Falls, Free Fall, The Great-American Scream Machine, The Mind- Bender, The Dahlonega Mine Train, and a local favorite - the Georgia Cyclone, and more. Back by popular demand is The Hanson Cars. Closed to make room for The Georgia Cyclone just inside the front entrance, The Hanson Car ride has been moved to another location and re-opened after many families missed the fun of the antique cars and self-drive track. Then, of course, you'll be entertained in the many other shows, games, and attractions you've always loved at Six Flags. New attractions include Bugs Bunny World Games, Remember when Drive-In, and the Rabun Gap Melodrama. Use the form below to order by mail or stop by the State Employees Credit Union offices at the address below. For more information call (404) 656-3748 or Toll Free 1-800-659-7328. Ir---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1 I I STATE EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION DAYS I I I I Tickets good Sat. Nov. 9 or Sun. Nov. 10, 1996 I I t Free Parking BOTHdays! Name: _____________________________________________ SS#:_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Address: ___________________________________________________________________ City: ------------------------------------------- St: ------------------- Zip: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Phone: (home) ______________ Office:----------------- Agency (if not r e t i r e d ) : - - - - - - - - - - - - - Please send me _ _ _ _ tickets to State Employees Appreciation Days Total enclosed: $ ----------------------------- Tickets are $17 each or $16 each in groups of six (6) or more in one order. Include a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Mail to: State Employees' Credit Union #2 M.L.K. Jr. Dr. SE Balcony Level, East Floyd Tower Atlanta, GA 30334 INSIDE ERS Direct Deposit of Net Monthly Benefit page 3 Direct Deposit takes TWO MONTHS to start. The first month, the check is mailed to your home address. Direct Deposit begins the NEXT month. SS# _ ____.l__J,_ _ _ HOME PHONE# (,__ _,) - - - - - - - - CURRENT HOME ADDRESS: number city street state apt.# zip IMPORTANT Check box if this is a NEW address. D I authorize the Employees' Retirement System to electronically deposit my net monthly benefit into my bank account. I understand that this is a mandatory requirement as required by the ERS Board of Trustees and that the following conditions apply: ERS is authorized to adjust any entries made in error. This arrangement remains in effect until I cancel or supersede it in writing to ERS. I agree to immediately notify ERS of any change in my home address. Failure to abide by these conditions can jeopardize deposit of my monthly benefit. Signature Date A check from the account your deposit is to be made must be attached. Mark it "VOID" 4[TACH VOIDED CHECKHERE ~ llelurn 11: EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM Two NORTHSIDE 75 SUITE 300 ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30318-7778 This account is the following: (check one) D CHECKING ACCOUNT D SAVINGS ACCOUNT page 4 TAX..-AIDE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Once again TAX-AIDE volunteers are preparing for another tax season as they celebrate the continued growth of the program. Last season in Georgia alone, 37,000 persons benefited from the help provided by 639 volunteers at some 208 sites. Imagine being the volunteer who spots an error on an old tax return that results in a refund of thousands of dollars to someone living on a fixed income. Or the person who finds an overlooked deduction that makes the difference between a tax bill and a refund. Or someone who discovers new ways to save money on his or her own tax return, thanks to the training received as a volunteer. These experiences and many more like them are encountered by TAX-AIDE volunteers every tax season. Would you like to be part of this exciting program? TAX-AIDE volunteers typically have no accounting background but are good with numbers and usually have experience in preparing their own tax returns. They like to help people who are often intimidated by tax forms and rules. Self-study materials are provided along with one week of training at numerous sites throughout Georgia. In return, volunteers are asket to give at least four hours per week between February 1 and Ap:i. il 15 to help others in ur near their own communities. ~mplopees' l\ttirement ~psttm Two Northside 75, Suite 300 Atlanta, Georgia 30318-7778 INSIDE ERS TAX-AIDE volunteers are trained under the IRS Tax Counseling for the Elderly program to correctly complete personal federal and state tax returns that do not entail specialized or extensive forms. They are specifically trained to handle items that frequently apply to senior taxpayers, such as taxable and non-taxable pensions and social security, sale of primary home, tax credit for the elderly, earned income credit, child or dependent care credit, differences between feder-al and state credits or exclusions, estimated tax, etc. Are you a candidate? Preparations for next year's tax season are underway now, so call or write John Winge, Georgia AARP TaxAidetrCE Coordinator, 502 University Circle, Athens, GA, phone (706) 549-2320. Rudolph Johnson Director Jim Larche Deputy Director Inside ERS is published by the Employees' Retirement System for the retirees of Georgia State goveniment. Nonie Johnson Editor BULK RATE U.S. POSTAGE PAID ATLANTA GA PERMIT NO. 3336