Benefits and funds
See below for a list of benefits and funds that are available to workers in our contract. Email us if you have questions that aren’t answered below or if NYU has missed your benefits!
Jump to: Healthcare, Vacation and Paid Leave, Children and Dependents, Miscellaneous.
Healthcare
Health Insurance (No Cost)
What benefit is it?
Graduate employees, whose appointments so specify, shall have costs associated with the student health insurance plan (Comprehensive Plan – Individual Coverage) fully waived.
How do I receive it?
Enroll in a student healthcare plan.
When do I receive it?
Automatically.
Health Insurance (Reduced Cost)
What benefit is it?
Graduate employees who enroll in NYU student health insurance (either the Basic Plan – Individual Coverage or Comprehensive Plan – Individual Coverage), shall have 95% of the applicable premium rate for the semester reimbursed. Please note: health insurance benefits are distributed per semester, not per year. This means you will only be reimbursed for the portion that matches the semesters you work.
How do I receive it?
Either, A) enroll in healthcare and pay only 5% of the premium, in which case a discount will be applied to your account to wipe out the remaining premium balance. NYU strikes the remaining balance during October for the Fall semester and during March for the Spring, and you don’t need to worry about having an outstanding balance for a few weeks into the semester. GSOC recommends this approach so you don’t have to wait for the 95% reimbursement. If you run into any trouble, please write us at gsoc@2110uaw.org
Or, B) pay the entire balance and receive a subsequent reimbursement.
When do I receive it?
Healthcare benefits are sent out after the bargaining unit list is finalized. This usually happens one month (1) into the semester.
Dental Care
What benefit is it?
Graduate employees will be covered by the Stu-Dent Dental Plan at no cost. Please note: health insurance benefits are distributed per semester, not per year. This means you will only be reimbursed for the portion that matches the semesters you work.
How do I receive it?
Either, A) follow the instructions here to make appointments without enrollment, or, B) enroll in the Stu-Dent Dental Plan and receive a reimbursement to match the enrollment fee.
When do I receive it?
Dental benefits are sent out after the bargaining unit list is finalized. This usually happens one month (1) into the semester.
Graduate Employee Health Insurance Support Fund (aka Out-of-Pocket Fund)
What benefit is it?
Graduate employees may apply for reimbursement of any out-of-pocket medical expenses (as defined by Internal Revenue Service regulations) that they incurred under the student health insurance plan, and out-of-pocket dental care expenses incurred for services under the Stu-Dent Plan.
The Fund will be funded as follows:
- Academic Year 2021–2022: $300,000
- Academic Year 2022–2023: $350,000
- Academic Year 2023–2024: $400,000
- Academic Year 2024–2025: $450,000
- Academic Year 2025–2026: $700,000
How do I receive it?
Apply to the annual fund for out-of-pocket costs incurred in the previous academic year, the deadline for which is November 1st. See here for more details.
When do I receive it?
Funds are distributed the semester after the application has been submitted.
Graduate Employee Student Health Insurance Dependent Premium Support Plan
What benefit is it?
Graduate employees who purchase dependent coverage under either the Basic or Comprehensive Student Health Insurance Plan, and provide proof thereof, may, during the subject semester, apply for up to 90% reimbursement of dependent coverage premiums.
The Plan will be funded as follows:
- Academic Year 2020–2021: $200,000
- Academic Year 2021–2022: $225,000
- Academic Year 2022–2023 and thereafter: $250,000
How do I receive it?
Apply to the semester-based dependent premium support fund. The deadlines are January (for Fall coverage) and August (for Spring/Summer coverage). See here for more details.
When do I receive it?
Funds are distributed the semester after the application has been submitted.
Vacation and Paid Leave
Paid Leave
What benefit is it?
In an academic year, graduate employees are entitled to seven (7) sick days, and in the case of bereavement shall be up to three (3) days. Graduate employees shall moreover receive three (3) paid personal days in an academic year (which can be used for religious observance or other matters such as visa/immigration proceedings).
How do I receive it?
Work any kind of appointment.
When do I receive it?
Reach out to your supervisor to request the use of paid leave days.
Accrued Vacation Day (For Hourly Workers)
What benefit is it?
Graduate employees whose appointments are not based on a semester and are hourly appointments, shall accrue one (1) vacation day for every four (4) consecutive weeks worked. Any accrued vacation days not used by the end of the graduate employee’s appointment shall be paid after the appointment end date. A “vacation day” for purposes of this article shall equal 5% of the hours worked for the previous four (4) weeks combined.
How do I receive it?
Work an hourly appointment.
When do I receive it?
Reach out to your supervisor to request the use of accrued paid vacation days. Unused vacation days are converted to a bonus that is deposited approximately one (1) month after the end of the semester. The timeline will be updated on GSOC’s Google Calendar.
Children and Dependents
Parental Leave
What benefit is it?
Graduate employees are eligible for a parental leave of up to six (6) weeks of paid leave in a 12-month period, to bond with their newborn child, newly adopted child, or new foster care child.
Who is eligible?
Graduate employees who have worked in bargaining unit appointments for one semester preceding the commencement of the parental leave. An eligible graduate employee must take parental leave within 12 months following the birth of their newborn child, or within 12 months of when a child is placed in their adoptive care, foster care, or legal custody.
How do I receive it?
Submit a formal request to your supervisor. Parental leave must be taken on a continuous basis and cannot be taken intermittently or on a reduced schedule.
When do I receive it?
Immediately upon approval of the request.
Child Care Subsidy
What benefit is it?
The University will allocate $200,000 for the calendar year beginning January 1, 2021 to provide a child care subsidy to bargaining unit employees.
It will be funded as follows:
- Calendar year begining January 1, 2021: $200,000
- Calendar year begining January 1, 2022: $225,000
- Calendar year begining January 1, 2023: $250,000
- Calendar year begining January 1, 2024: $275,000
- Calendar year begining January 1, 2025: $300,000
- Calendar year begining January 1, 2026: $325,000
How do I receive it?
Apply to the annual child care fund. For expenses in calendar year 2023, apply here by January 31, 2024.
When do I receive it?
Funds are distributed the semester after the application window is closed.
Bright Horizons Enhanced Family Supports
What benefit is it?
Graduate employees shall have access to the Bright Horizons Enhanced Family Support Benefits, including, but not limited to, a free membership to sittercity.com. Refer to this NYU page for more information.
How do I receive it?
Register and create a profile by hitting “Join Today” and entering your NYU Employee ID (your N number). You may need to be further verified if prompted.
When do I receive it?
After your registration is approved.
Graduate Employee Student Health Insurance Dependent Premium Support Plan
What benefit is it?
Graduate employees who purchase dependent coverage under either the Basic or Comprehensive Student Health Insurance Plan, and provide proof thereof, may, during the subject semester, apply for up to 90% reimbursement of dependent coverage premiums.
The Plan will be funded as follows:
- Academic Year 2020–2021: $200,000
- Academic Year 2021–2022: $225,000
- Academic Year 2022–2023 and thereafter: $250,000
How do I receive it?
Apply to the semester-based dependent premium support fund. The deadlines are January (for Fall coverage) and August (for Spring/Summer coverage). See here for more details.
When do I receive it?
Funds are distributed the semester after the application has been submitted.
Miscellaneous
Pre-Semester Training Pay
What benefit is it?
Graduate employees who are required to attend a pre-semester training/organizational session shall receive $150.00 per day.
How do I receive it?
The training pay should automatically be reflected in the first paycheck of the semester. If it is not, reach out to your departmental supervisor.
When do I receive it?
The pay is added to the first paycheck of the semester.
Travel & Meal Allowance
What benefit is it?
Graduate employees who are required as part of their duties to engage in authorized out-of-town travel, shall, upon presentation of appropriate documentation, be reimbursed for ordinary and necessary expenses in accordance with University policies applicable to travel and meal expenses for University faculty and administration.
How do I receive it?
Reach out to your supervisor before and after the required travel to generate a reimbursement link.
When do I receive it?
Within two weeks of submitting a reimbursement request.
Group Legal Plan
What benefit is it?
Graduate employees shall be eligible to enroll in the group legal plan offered to other university employees at the same rate, currently $16.50 per month.
How do I receive it?
Apply to the group legal plan.
When do I receive it?
After your application is approved.
International Graduate Employee Accounting and Legal Assistance Fund
What benefit is it?
International graduate employees who are resident or non-resident aliens for tax purposes may apply for reimbursement of any out-of-pocket tax-related and legal expenses associated with their international student status. Please note: fees for visa services are generally not eligible for this fund.
It will be funded as follows:
- Academic Year 2021–2022: $10,000
- Academic Year 2022–2023: $12,000
- Academic Year 2023–2024: $15,000
- Academic Year 2024–2025: $18,000
- Academic Year 2025–2026: $20,000
How do I receive it?
Apply to the annual fund for out-of-pocket costs incurred in the previous academic year, the deadline for which is November 1st. See here for more details.
When do I receive it?
Funds are distributed the semester after the application window is closed
Vacation Payout for Unused Vacation Days (For Hourly Workers)
What benefit is it?
Graduate employees whose appointments are not based on a semester and are hourly appointments, shall accrue one (1) vacation day for every four (4) consecutive weeks worked. Any accrued vacation days not used by the end of the graduate employee’s appointment shall be paid after the appointment end date. A “vacation day” for purposes of this article shall equal 5% of the hours worked for the previous four (4) weeks combined.
How do I receive it?
Work an hourly appointment.
When do I receive it?
Reach out to your supervisor to request the use of accrued paid vacation days. Unused vacation days are converted to a bonus that is deposited approximately one (1) month after the end of the semester. The timeline will be updated on GSOC’s Google Calendar.
Service Bonus (For Semeter-Based Workers)
What benefit is it?
Graduate employees who have a semester-based appointment, and who have worked at least one (1) semester-based appointment in the past, will be eligible for a service bonus for every academic semester worked after meeting the one-semester bargaining unit eligibility requirement. The service bonus shall be in the amount of 7% of the total amount earned in the semester just completed.
How do I receive it?
Work a semester-based appointment after having already done so at least once in the past.
When do I receive it?
The bonuses are deposited approximately one (1) month after the end of the semester. The timeline will be updated on GSOC’s Google Calendar.