Do not panic if your city gets a notice from the state indicating your benefits program is being audited.
For many years, the Division of Employee Insurance Program performed audits on EIP-participating public employers. Last year EIP and the South Carolina Retirement Systems merged to form the new Public Employees Benefit Authority. The merger gives PEBA the opportunity to review both benefits programs for cities beginning in late 2013.
According to PEBA, its staff wants the experience to be as painless as possible and will coordinate the audit around city staff schedules. Audits are performed in-house.
The key for city staff is to have all payroll information available for PEBA staff members when requested.
The EIP review includes validating:
benefit eligibility of personnel
proper payroll deductions
documentation for COBRA
MoneyPlus compliance
timeliness of payments to PEBA
The SCRS review includes validating:
benefit eligibility of personnel
proper payroll withholdings
required documentation
appropriate reporting to PEBA