Library: Policy

340:2-1-5. Employee benefits

Revised 9-15-21

(a) Benefits.  Oklahoma Human Services (OKDHS) employee benefits include:

(1) a core benefit allowance for the employee's mandatory coverage of:

(A) health insurance;

(B) dental insurance;

(C) basic life insurance; and

(D) disability insurance;

(2) an increased benefit allowance for the employee's dependents' health, dental, and life insurance coverage;

(3) premium conversion for qualifying insurance benefits, when chosen;

(4) reimbursement accounts, when the employee chooses, for:

(A) child care and dependent elder care expenses;

(B) qualifying medical expenses; or

(C) both; and

(5) retirement benefits through the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS) or Pathfinders.

(b) Unemployment compensation.  OKDHS employees may qualify for unemployment compensation under certain circumstances.  When correspondence related to unemployment compensation is received in an OKDHS office, Human Resource Management (HRM) is immediately contacted.  HRM serves as the official representative for the unemployment compensation process and, a written response from OKDHS must be postmarked, pursuant to timeframes established by the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission (OESC).  When the written response is not submitted timely, OESC determines the eligibility for compensation only from the information provided by the claimant.  OKDHS employees, as deemed necessary by HRM, cooperate in the unemployment compensation process to ensure valid benefit determinations.

(c) Eligibility for OKDHS program benefits. Benefits through OKDHS programs are available to OKDHS employees as well as legal dependents, who meet all conditions of eligibility for the specific program for which application is made.  The application for benefits, the determination of original eligibility and continuing eligibility, and the delivery of services are handled in the same manner as for any other individual, except that an employee cannot certify himself or herself, relatives, or unrelated persons living in the employee's home.

(d) Other benefits. Other benefits, including deferred compensation, leave, and paid holidays are provided to employees, pursuant to the Oklahoma Personnel Act and OKDHS rules.