Your guide to the SAS flexible benefits programme

Transcription

1 Your guide to the SAS flexible benefits programme

2 Contents Welcome to My Choice: Your flexible benefits programme at SAS 3 Life Assurance: Save Tax and NI 4 Income Protection: Save Tax and NI 5 Health Screening: Save Tax and NI 6 Pension: Save Tax and NI 7 Private Medical Insurance: Save NI 8 Holiday Trading: Save Tax and NI (when buying) 9 Medical Cash Plan: Save NI 10 Dental Insurance: Save NI 11 Childcare Vouchers: Save Tax and NI 12 Payroll Giving: Save Tax 13 Cycle to Work: Save Tax and NI 14 Healthclub Membership 15 Gymflex: Save NI 16 Critical Illness Insurance: Save NI 17 Travel Insurance: Save NI 18 Tastecard + 19 Lifestyle: Your employee discount scheme 20 How to Make Your Choices: Find out how to access the My Choice site and make your selections 21 Important Information: Key Points and FAQs 23 2

3 Welcome to My Choice Your flexible benefits programme at SAS SAS gives you choice with a best-in-class benefits package SAS, once again, offers you My Choice, the first-class benefits package to provide you and your family with the best options for your individual circumstances. At SAS, we are a people-driven organisation and value each and every employee. As such we put considerable financial value into our flexible benefits packages. I am sure when you read the options detailed in this booklet, you will see that My Choice ensures you receive a highly competitive flexible benefits package to best support you and those closest to you. You will be given the opportunity to choose your benefits on an annual basis during an openelection window. Upon requesting your benefits, you are making a commitment toeep the benefits for the remainder of the enrolment year, concluding 30 June. Please note, SAS offers 500 / 750 every July to spend on any of the benefits within the My Choice programme. Sue Warman HR Director SAS Businesses in UK and Ireland What is My Choice? My Choice has been designed to give you the ability to make certain decisions regarding your benefits. You ll be able to log in to the My Choice site to read through the benefits on offer, choose the levels of cover you are interested in and ultimately select the benefits that suit you best. The benefits on offer have been carefully selected to deliver good value and choice to lead a balanced lifestyle. Each year, you will be able to select your benefits during an enrolment window and it s important that you log in to the My Choice site during this time to make your choices. You can log in as many times as you wish between those dates to model your potential selections, as long as you request your final choices by the end of the enrolment period. Upon requesting your benefits, you re making a commitment to keep the benefits for the next benefits year, :up until 30 June each year. Flex allowance In addition, SAS is giving you added flexibility with a Flex Allowance by offering every employee a 500 / 750 flex allowance to spend on, or put towards, any of the benefits within the My Choice programme (pro rated from start date). 3

4 Life Assurance A great core benefit made better If anything were to happen to you, you d want to look after your family. SAS already provides you with 4x basic salary as a core benefit, which pays a lump sum to your nominated beneficiaries upon your death whilst an employee of SAS. The lump sum is paid tax-free and does not form part of your estate. You now have the opportunity to adjust this benefit to suit your own circumstances by increasing or decreasing your core level of cover within the scheme rules from 2x to 10x your basic salary. Life Assurance offers you peace of mind, at low rates, with no medical underwriting required. It provides savings in Tax and NI when selecting the additional level of cover via Salary Sacrifice. If you decrease your core level of cover, the difference in premium will be added to your Flex Allowance to be used to purchase other benefits. You may not take the value as cash. Reduce, retain or increase your core level of Life Assurance cover Life Assurance Ultimate flexibility to choose the level of cover appropriate for you. Choose to reduce the core cover to release funds to spend on other benefits, increase your level of cover to provide peace of mind or retain your core level of cover. Low cost benefit, high value sum insured No medical underwriting required Release funds to spend on other benefits when decreasing cover Save Tax and NI when increasing cover level Save Tax and NI 4

5 Income Protection Securing your income when you need it most If you are unable to work, through injury or illness, state benefits provide only a very basic income. Relying on these alone could severely affect your lifestyle and that of your family. SAS already provides you with a core level of this valuable benefit, which gives you an income in the event that you can t work due to illness or injury. My Choice makes it possible for you to flex your level of cover to suit your own circumstances. You now have the opportunity to increase or decrease your level of cover, within the scheme rules, of between 50%-70% of salary. If you decrease your core level of cover, the difference in premium will be added to your Flex Allowance to be used to purchase other benefits. You may not take the value as cash. To increase your level of cover you must be actively at work when selecting the benefit. You cannot select a level of cover over 120,000 per year. There is no medical history to declare and you will save Tax& NI on the cost of the premium. Providing you with financial security in case you are unable to work Income Protection You can choose from 3 levels of cover which best suits your security requirement. When decreasing your level of cover, you will release funds to spend on other benefits. Peace of mind, when you most need it No medical underwriting required Release funds to spend on other benefits when decreasing cover Save Tax and NI when increasing cover level Save Tax and NI 5

6 Health Screening A proactive approach to health and wellbeing management Health screening is designed to check key health areas, help you monitor your health and identify areas of your lifestyle which may contribute to future health risks. Following the assessment you will be provided with a personalised action plan to help you improve or maintain a healthy lifestyle. A range of health assessments are available to you, with each one catering for different needs, and can be taken annually to help you pro-actively manage your health and wellbeing. The assessments are 100% confidential but, with your consent, a copy of the report can be sent to your GP. You can choose the level of cover you want from the range of options. You should check the policy document on the My Choice site for the details of each assessment and guidelines about tests which are available to those of particular ages. Please note, that mammograms are typically only available to females over the age of 40. Your own personal health check up Health Screening Choose from a selection of screening options to help you lead a healthier, proactive lifestyle. Choose from facilities all over the UK Tailored options to suit male, female and high risk age groups Save Tax and NI on the full cost of your assessment Receive a fully personalised report to help you lead a healthier lifestyle Save Tax and NI 6

7 Pension The most tax-efficient long-term savings plan Are you saving enough to afford the lifestyle you want when you retire? We all know that planning for our future financial security is important and, whatever your age, it s never too soon to start. Thinking about what you could afford to live on in retirement and where that income will come from will help you make your choices now. Through your SAS pension, you can build valuable benefits for the future and provide some protection for both you and your family, and you are eligible to join the SAS Pension Scheme at any time. You can contribute from 2.5% up to 100% of your earnings as long as you do not lower your earnings below the National Minimum Wage and your total contributions do not exceed the annual limit of 40,000. Your contributions go further with Tax and NI savings Service at SAS SAS Contribution Your Minimum Contribution 0 2 years years You will be automatically opted into Salary Exchange so that you will not have to pay tax and National Insurance on the contributions you make (subject to the annual tax limit). Pension Make sure you give yourself the best possible chance of a comfortable retirement. Save Tax and NI on all contributions via Salary Exchange Employee contributions from as little as 2.5% of salary SAS contributions of up to 10% of salary Full range of investment options available online via the My Choice site Save Tax and NI 7

8 Private Medical Insurance New upgraded cover option available Private Medical Insurance, also known as private healthcare, enables you to access private medical care rather than using the NHS. It provides you with choice about how, when and where you receive medical care, without waiting lists. As a private patient, you will have access to an extensive list of hospitals and specialists with whom you can access private treatment. Most private hospitals will offer a private room with en-suite bathroom and TV. SAS provides all employees with this important core benefit. You now also have the opportunity to not only add your family to standard level of cover, but, to also trade up to an uncapped outpatient limit and uncapped consultant benefits. All levels of cover are underwritten by AXA PPP on a Medical history disregarded basis, meaning and you will not have to declare any previous medical history to join or claim. All selections to add family members and/or trade up your cover, will be paid via Salary Sacrifice, saving you National Insurance. The SAS paid element will remain as a P11d benefit in kind. Benefit from high quality treatment and shorter waiting times Private Medical Access to private care for you and your family, with added flexibility to trade up cover. Medical history disregarded underwriting for you and your family Benefit from corporate rates when adding family and trading up Save National Insurance on premiums Choose treatment in private facilities where and when you want Save NI Level of cover Employee only Employee and partner Employee and children Employee and family Annual cost to SAS core cover Annual cost Top Up Annual cost to employee Top Up ,152 1, , ,440 1,

9 Holiday Trading Create your own annual leave entitlement to suit your needs Modifying your annual holiday entitlement may appeal for all sorts of reasons - the chance to spend more time with your children during school holidays, the opportunity to take longer or more frequent breaks, or freeing up the value of holiday to spend on other things more important to you. You can select to increase or decrease your current annual holiday entitlement by 5 days through Holiday Trading. Holiday buying will result in an exchange of salary for the relevant value of holiday bought, holiday selling will release the cash value to spend on other benefits, or take as cash through payroll. The cost of holiday buying and value of holiday sold will be spread over the 12 months of holiday and flexible benefits year, 1 July 2014 to 30 June The taking and authorising of holiday will continue to be with the agreement of your line manager. Normal business considerations around workload management and multiple team members on leave at the same time will apply. Part-time employees will be able to buy additional leave to the maximum number of hours worked per week. Buy or Sell up to an additional 5 days annual leave Holiday Trading Create your own annual leave entitlement to suit your needs for the next 12 months. Save Tax and NI when buying additional days leave Sell unwanted entitlement to free up cash to spend on other benefits or take as cash through payroll Buy or sell up to 5 days, subject to keeping a minimum of 20 or maximum of 35 days The cost of buying and selling is spread over the 12 month flexible benefits year Save Tax and NI (when buying) 9

10 Medical Cash Plan A medical benefit for you and your family Medical cash plans help you and your family stay healthy by providing access to valuable services and the ability to claim cash back toward the cost of your everyday healthcare, such optical visits; dental visits and treatment, homeopathy sessions and therapy treatments.there is no medical evidence required to join this scheme and you can claim back your expenses from the first day of cover. There are six levels of cover to choose from, select the most appropriate level of cover depending on your anticipated expenses over the next 12 months. Everyday medical expenses paid Level of cover Annual level 1 Annual level 2 Annual level 3 Annual level 4 Annual level 5 Annual level 6 Employee only Employee and partner Health Cash Plan A Health Cash Plan provides generous levels of cash back for everyday medical costs. Choose the level of cover most appropriate for you and family, full details on the My Choice site New provider Westfield Health will enable you to claim for complimentary or medical treatment without going to your GP first No medical evidence required to join You will save National Insurance when participating in this benefit You can claim back the cost of treatment for a range of things such optical visits; dental visits and treatment, homeopathy sessions and therapy treatments Save NI 10

11 Dental Insurance Keep you and your family in good oral health Good oral hygiene is not just about having a brighter smile. There is evidence to show that general health and oral health are strongly linked. Recent research shows that poor oral hygiene has been linked with a higher risk of developing chronic illnesses such as heart disease.* Dental cover can help encourage regular visits to the dentist and hygienist, which will help keep you in good oral health and generally healthy overall. This benefit, which employees can voluntarily participate in, is provided by, Denplan. There are a range of cover levels for you to choose from to cover you and your family, according to your annual dentistry costs. You and your family can take advantage of various levels of dental insurance cover Family Option Lucent 1 Lucent 2 Lucent 3 Lucent 4 Lucent 5 Lucent 6 Employee Employee partner Employee plus children Employee plus family (*) - source: British Medical Journal, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of London - posted on the British Heart Foundation website on 28 May Dental Insurance Dental Insurance helps to meet the costs of expensive dental treatments. Choose the level of cover most appropriate for you and your family, full details on the My Choice site Previous dental treatment and oral condition is not taken into account Claim back costs for routine examinations, hygiene treatments and restorative treatments You will save National Insurance when participating in this benefit Save NI 11

12 Childcare Vouchers Save on a range of childcare costs it s not just for nurseries Childcare vouchers are a simple and cost-effective way for employees to save money on childcare costs. SAS currently operates a voucher scheme via salary sacrifice, where part of your salary can be exchanged for childcare vouchers of the same value. Childcare vouchers provide full or partial reimbursement of childcare expenses to a registered childcare provider. Childcare vouchers can be used to pay for registered or approved childcare whether this is for nursery, pre-school, after-school or holiday clubs for children up to age 15 (or 16 if the child is disabled). Childcare vouchers enable you to make Tax and NI contributions savings on childcare. This benefit is provided by Computershare. Please note: In Autumn 2015, the new government Tax-Free Childcare scheme will be launched. Employees won t be able to register for the current Childcare vouchers scheme after Tax-Free Childcare is introduced in Autumn 2015, but those already registered by this date will be able to continue using it for as long as SAS offers it. For further information, please see: uk/government/news/tax-free-childcare-10-thingsparents-should-know Childcare Vouchers Save Tax and NI on childcare costs for registered childcare, for children up to 15 years old. Maximise your savings based upon your tax band Use for paying for breakfast clubs, after school clubs, summer camps, nursery costs and more Save up your vouchers in your online account, until you need them Monthly maximums permitted are per parent, not limited by number of children Save Tax and NI Last chance to save up to 933 a year in childcare costs through Tax and NI savings The tables below illustrate the typical level of income tax and employee National Insurance savings available. Basic Rate Taxpayer (*) Weekly tax-exempt amount Monthly tax-exempt amount Annual tax-exempt amount Parents in the scheme before 6 April 2011 Parents who joined the scheme after 6 April ,916 2,916 Savings (*) 20% Tax, 12% NI Higher Rate Taxpayer (*) Weekly tax-exempt amount Monthly tax-exempt amount Annual tax-exempt amount Parents in the scheme before 6 April 2011 Parents who joined the scheme after 6 April ,916 1,484 Savings 1, (*) 40% Tax, 2% NI Additional Rate Taxpayer (*) Weekly tax-exempt amount Monthly tax-exempt amount Annual tax-exempt amount Parents in the scheme before 6 April 2011 Parents who joined the scheme after 6 April ,916 1,166 Savings 1, (*) 45% Tax, 2% NI 12

13 Payroll Giving Payroll Giving is the most popular form of charitable giving Payroll Giving allows you to give tax-free donations to any charity you wish. Your donation is deducted straight from your pay before the taxman touches it, so it costs you less to give more! You can give to any UK registered charity or charitable organisation recognised by the Inland Revenue. This can include places of worship, schools, scout groups, and many other organisations, as well as the well known National charities. Simply choose a monthly amount(s) and the charity(ies) you wish to benefit from your donation and Charities Aid Foundation will take care of the rest. Costing you less to give more to the charities you support Payroll Giving The most tax and cost-efficient method for you to donate to the charity of your choice. Choose to donate to any UK registered charity, both local and national Your donation is deducted straight from your pay Save Tax on the full amount of your donation Save Tax 13

14 Cycle to Work Cycle to Work, from Evans Cycles Cycling is a great way to travel to and from work. It s quick, easy, convenient, great for the environment and great for you! We have partnered with Evans Cycles for this benefit, the UK s largest independent cycle retailer. You will receive a voucher value for the amount you have selected through My Choice, which you can then take into any Evans Cycle Store and exchange for the lease of a cycle and qualifying equipment, up to the value of the voucher. The rules of the Cycle to work scheme stipulate that the bike should mainly be used to either commute the distance to work or to, say, your local train station. However, Mountain bikes and leisure bikes are also available to lease under this scheme meaning you ll be able to take advantage of these savings in your leisure time as well. The lease cost of the cycle will be deducted in 12 equal instalments, from your salary via salary exchange, meaning you save Tax and NI at your current rate on the full amount. For example, if you choose the maximum voucher amount of 1,000 your salary will be reduced by per month. At the end of the 12 month lease period, there may be the opportunity for the ownership of the cycle to be transferred to you. Save up to 42% on the cost of a new bicycle, worth up to 1,000 Cycle to Work Save up to 42% on the cost of leasing a brand new cycle, worth up to 1,000. Income tax and National Insurance savings can add up to around 42% off the shop floor price of the bike and accessories Choose from a wide range of bicycles available in the UK Spread the cost over 12 equal monthly instalments Enjoy the health benefits of commuting to work Save Tax and NI 14

15 Healthclub Membership All new memberships must be booked through GymFlex This is the benefit to choose if you are currently a member of a club that is not within the GymFlex option. Please note: Marlow Club is now part of GymFlex. If you would like to continue your membership, you must renew through the Healthclub membership. An individual enrolment window will be open to you shortly before your membership expires to allow you to renew. Failure to renew within this given window will result in your membership expiring and we will be unable to renew it for you. For those employees who have a membership which renews at another date in the year, your current costs will be pre-populated within this benefit option. You will then have the opportunity to complete your details later in the year when your subscription is due for renewal. All new memberships must be requested via the GymFlex option including Marlow Club. No NEW memberships will be granted under the Healthclub Membership option. This benefit applies ONLY to employees with current club memberships outside of the GymFlex option Healthclub Membership Manage your club membership, even if it renews in another month of the year If you are a current member of the Marlow Club or any club listed in GymFlex you must now sign up for this via GymFlex and not under the Healthclub membership benefit All new memberships must be requested by the GymFlex scheme no new Healthclub memberships will be approved Net pay benefit 15

16 Gymflex Offering more choice and discounted memberships Selecting your gym membership through the GymFlex scheme can save you money, even if you are already a member in a fixed term contract (see below for details). Participating gyms now include David Lloyd, Virgin Active, LA Fitness, Nuffield Health, Fitness First, DW Sports, Everyone Active, Total Fitness, Greens and Marlow Club. The key benefits of the scheme are: Discounted rates, typically saving up to 40% on standard membership prices Take advantage of annual up front rates, but pay monthly No National Insurance is due on the value of the membership, potentially saving you an additional 12% on top of the discount Over 1,700 participating health clubs across the UK Different membership options available at many clubs All memberships are for a year, and are non-cancellable and non-transferrable. Memberships are available for existing members and new joiners at all clubs. Existing members part way through a fixed term contract at Virgin Active, Fitness First, LA Fitness, DW Sports, Total Fitness & Nuffield Health are able to transfer immediately to a GymFlex membership provided you are currently paying via direct debit. Members at any other clubs should speak to GymFlex on to check before making your selection. Save up to 40% at over 1,500 participating clubs across the UK including Marlow Club. Marlow Club must now be selected through GymFlex. Gymflex The widest selection of discounted club memberships, from National chains to local independents. Flexibility to choose a club near to home or the office Annual subscription rates, with the benefit of payment monthly via salary sacrifice Save NI on your subscription Save NI 16

17 Critical Illness Insurance New for this year - providing support when you most need it Critical Illness cover can help to take away some of the financial strain by paying you a one-off tax-free lump sum if you are diagnosed with or experience any one of a number of specified illnesses, and if you meet the required survival period. Illnesses includes heart attacks, strokes, multiple sclerosis (further illnesses can be seen in the policy document) or any surgical procedure defined in the policy. The lump sum can give you the means to help pay for domestic alterations or specialist equipment, cover day to day expenses, fund private treatment or provide an income. You can purchase cover of up to 500,000, in units of 25,000, subject to a maximum of 5 x salary or the next highest number of units available. You do not need to provide medical information or history. Instead, this policy carries what is known as a pre-existing condition clause. This means that conditions which existed prior to you joining the scheme will be excluded from your cover. On selecting Critical Illness for the first time, any level of benefit may be selected. This benefit is in addition to the Income Protection benefit. Provides a tax free lump sum should you become critically ill Critical Illness Insurance Providing support when you most need it. Cover of up to 500,000 in units of 25,000 No medical underwriting Select cover for yourself and/or your partner Save NI 17

18 Travel Insurance Annual travel insurance policies to suit your needs Travel Insurance is designed to provide you, or you and your family, with security should you fall ill or suffer an accident or loss while abroad. The travel insurance benefit offers you comprehensive, year-round personal travel insurance, including cover for winter sports, for your holiday and leisure travel. You can choose to cover yourself only, or add your partner and/or children too. Family cover includes you and your permanent partner living at the same address, plus all of your eligible dependant children. Each person covered under your policy is insured separately, so you can all travel independently and still be covered. Your medical history will be disregarded for the purposes of this policy. However the insurer, OIM, may refuse to pay a claim on medical grounds in certain circumstances. In summary, you must be reasonably fit for the trip that you propose to undertake. See the policy on the My Choice site for further details. You should check the Key Facts document and Policy Document carefully for full details of restrictions and exclusions, to ensure this travel insurance cover is suitable for you. Comprehensive year round cover for you and your family Family Cover European Monthly Cost Worldwide Monthly Cost Employee Employee & Partner Employee & Children Family Travel Insurance Annual Travel Insurance for European and worldwide travel, including winter sports. New for this year: Greater levels of cover for winter and dangerous sports (such as diving up to 50 metres) Options available to cover family members Extensive, leisure travel cover at corporate negotiated rates Medical history disregarded underwriting Save NI on the cost of the benefit Save NI 18

19 Tastecard + Hundreds of offers on everything from hotels, theatre, dining and days out SAS has teamed up with Tastecard to offer staff an unbelievable rate on annual membership. As a SAS employee, through My Choice, you qualify for Tastecard+ as a free upgrade to the standard Tastecard. Tastecard+ offers hundreds of exclusive member s only discount offers, competitions and giveaways to help you save money on even more than just dining out! They have everything from discounted hotels; theatre offers; special dining discounts at Michelin Star and AA Rosette restaurants, to reduced price days out; free cinema tickets or competitions giving you chance to win fantastic holidays! Get up to 70% off hotels when you book hotels in the UK and abroad with Tastecard+ Enjoy discounted fine dining with our range of exclusive Restaurant offers... Including discounts at Michelin Star and AA Rosette restaurants! Special discount offers for theatre, comedy, cinema and music events plus FREE film preview tickets, as well as other competitions to win tickets and VIP passes Save money on day trips with friends and family with our Days Out Offers with discounted or 2 for 1 tickets to top UK attractions nationwide! You can choose as many Tastecards as you like, so that your whole family can benefit from the scheme. Each card costs just per year. You will be asked how many cards you require and will be contacted by Tastecard for the full details of the cardholders, after you have made your selection. Enjoy massive savings on hotels, dining, entertainment and days out To view all participating restaurants and terms and conditions, visit Please see individual restaurant pages for terms and conditions as further restrictions may apply. To manage your card on the go, you can download the free App for iphone, Blackberry and Android. Tastecard Choose multiple cards so that your family can enjoy the benefit too Huge savings on dining out with thousands of 50% off and deals Wide selection of participating restaurants all over the UK Free App for smartphones to manage your card on the go 19

20 Lifestyle Save money all year round on everyday purchases Everyone s trying to live on less. So it s good to know that Lifestyle helps you do just that; giving you access to a range of offers that aren t available on the high street. Lifestyle, available both during the flex enrolment window, and all year round through My Choice, is a package of products and services offered to you at a discount. There s no catch just use the online links within Lifestyle to shop at your favourite retailers. The chances are, if there s something you want, Lifestyle will have it and at a great discount. For example: High street vouchers Overseas and UK holidays and travel Gym membership, health and beauty Experience days, theme parks, sports and leisure activities Home furnishings and garden products MOT, servicing and driving lessons Clothing, footwear and accessories Available all year round. Save on grocery shopping, family adventures and gain cash discounts and retail vouchers. Lifestyle Lifestyle is available all year round and saves you money on things you are already purchasing. Restaurants, wine and supermarkets Children s toys and equipment Using Lifestyle is easy. Simply visit the Lifestyle section of the My Choice site and have a look at the deals on offer. You can make your purchases instantly by selecting the offer and going to the checkout. Discounts are either applied when you buy, or in the form of cashback, paid directly into your bank account. Make sure you register to be kept up to date with deals, discounts and offers, based upon your preferences. Thousands of deals, discounts and offers available from leading retailers Discounts available all year round, not just within the My Choice enrolment window Save over 1,000 from regular, everyday spending via Lifestyle Register for Lifestyle to be kept up to date with offers to suit you 20

21 How to Make Your Choices 1. On the My Choice homepage, you can access your flexible benefits, your Total Reward Statement and the online shopping site Lifestyle through My Discounts. 2. We would recommend that you check your personal details. If you need to clarify any of the information on this page, please contact the helpline. 3. Access the online shopping site Lifestyle through MyDiscounts to take advantage of fantastic savings all year round. 4. Access your Total Reward Statement to view a personalised Statement that details all of the rewards you currently receive from SAS this will update monthly. 5. Click Take me there for Flexible Benefits to review your current default benefits. You can explore each option by clicking on the View link. 6. You can see the options that are available for each of the benefits. We would recommend that you click on the Benefit information tab to read about the benefit before making your selection. 21

22 7. Within the benefit information you can find the key scheme rules, which will help you when you choose the benefits and explain the selection process. There are also links to key documents in the top right hand corner. 8. Once you are ready to make your choice, click on the My Selection tab and select the option you want. Remember to press the Save Choice once you have selected the option you require. 10. When you have made all of your choices you will be able to see the summary totals in the purple boxes on the right hand side. IMPORTANT When you have checked this and have finalised all of your benefit selection you need to Request your benefits package by reading the terms and conditions in the green box, ticking the box to confirm your acceptance and then click on Request this benefit package. Once this is complete you will be sent an to your address confirming your selections. 22

23 Important Information Key Points and FAQs What is My Choice? My Choice is SAS flexible benefits programme. My Choice has been designed to give you the ability to make certain decisions regarding your benefits on an annual basis. You ll be able to log in to your new My Choice site to read through the benefits on offer, choose the levels of cover you are interested in and ultimately select the benefits that suit you best. The benefits on offer have been carefully selected to deliver value and choice to lead a balanced lifestyle. Payment for the benefits is taken directly from the employee s salary. The advantage is that most of the choices on offer give Tax and/or NI savings, through partaking in salary exchange. When does the flexible benefits year run? SAS flexible benefits year will run from 1 July - 30 June every year. What is salary exchange? Salary exchange happens when you choose to give up part of your cash pay, under your contract of employment, in return for the employer s agreement to provide you with a non-cash benefit of the equivalent value. How do I access the My Choice site? The enrolment window for you to choose your benefits will be communicated. During this time, please visit the My Choice site through the link available on Grapevine. If working remotely, you will need to be logged in via VPN to access the site. You can log in as many times as you wish between those dates to model your potential selections, as long as you request your final choices by the end of the enrolment window. What will happen if I don t make my choices within the enrolment window? If you do not access My Choice within the enrolment window to make your benefits selection, your benefits will revert to default and you will lose your flex fund. Are there any special circumstances which will allow me to make changes outside of the enrolment window? Within the My Choice programme, you will select your benefits on an annual basis within the enrolment window. However, there are certain situations that might happen in your life that require you to review your selection of benefits outside of the annual enrolment window. These situations, called Life Events, mean that you may be allowed to make changes to the benefits you have selected to better suit your changing needs. What is a Life Event? Life Events are significant life changing situations that may require you to review elements of your benefits package. These include: births, adoptions, deaths, marriage or divorce. Why does SAS provide some benefits as core benefits? Can we opt out of these? There are some employee benefits that SAS deem as core to your employment and other benefits that can be selected to match your personal lifestyle. The core benefits (see individual benefits overviews) are designed to underpin SAS culture. Some core benefits will include an element of choice and you will be able to increase or decrease the level of cover, but must remain in the overall scheme, for example Life Assurance. Others will not form part of My Choice, for example the employee assistance programme. What is Flex Allowance? SAS is giving you added flexibility with Flex Allowance by offering every employee a 500 / 750 flex allowance to spend on, or put towards, any of the benefits within the My Choice programme (pro rated from start date). Who do I contact if I have any issues with My Choice? sasmychoice.helpdesk@aon.com or call

24 Choose from 16 flexible benefits and access your online shopping discounts Life Assurance Income Protection Health Screening Pension Private Medical Holiday Trading Health Cash Plan Dental Insurance Childcare Vouchers Payroll Giving Cycle to Work Healthclub Membership Gymflex Critical Illness Insurance Travel Insurance Tastecard + Lifestyle: employee discount scheme Make your benefit selections through Grapevine SAS and all other SAS Institute Inc. product or service names are registered trademarks or trademarks of SAS Institute Inc. in the USA and other countries. indicates USA registration. Other brand and product names are trademarks of their respective companies SAS Institute Inc. All rights reserved UK1014