Purpose:
The purpose of this bulletin is to provide agencies with instructions for manual payment of the 2024 Judicial Longevity Payment (JLP) and to provide instructions for payments not processed automatically.
Affected Employees:
Employees in the following bargaining units who meet the eligibility criteria are affected:
| Civil Service Employees Association | Bargaining Unit 87 |
| Unrepresented Graded Non-Judicial Employees | Bargaining Unit 86, 88, and CT |
Background:
Chapter 1 of the Laws of 2023, which implemented the 2021-2026 Agreement between the Unified Court System of the State of New York (UCS) and the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA – BU 87), provides for a longevity lump sum payment based upon total number of years spent at a salary at the maximum of the salary grade. Consistent with prior practice, when a CSEA Agreement is reached, the negotiated changes detailed in the Labor Relations Memorandum are extended to Management/Confidential and Unrepresented employees in graded positions in Bargaining Units 86, 88 and CT.
In addition, employees must have completed eight years or more, or 13 years or more of continuous service at a basic annual salary rate equal to or greater than the maximum of their grade as of April 1, 2024; served the equivalent of 120 workdays in each fiscal year and had a performance rating other than “Unsatisfactory” and received a 2023 JLP payment in the amount of $5,050 (8 Year) or $6,900 (13 Year) to be eligible for a Longevity Lump Sum payment in April 2024.
Note: The 2021-2026 CSEA agreement phases out the Judicial Longevity Payment beginning in April 2023. The four year rate of JLP has been abolished for 2023 going forward through the end of the current contract. The JLP payment amount that an employee qualifies for in April 2023 (8 or 13 Year) is the amount the employee will be entitled to until this payment completely phases out. The JLP payment will be ended for all employees after March 31, 2026.
Effective Dates:
The April 2024 Longevity Lump Sum Payment will be processed with the following effective date and check date:
| Pay Cycle/Pay Period Type | Payment Effective Date | Check Date |
|---|---|---|
| Administration 1 Lag | 03/28/2024 | 04/24/2024 |
Eligibility Criteria:
Employees in graded positions (Grade 501-537) are eligible for the April 2024 JLP payment provided the employee:
- Is in an eligible bargaining unit on 04/01/2024; and
- Has a Payroll Status of Active, Leave With Pay or Leave of Absence due to a Workers’ Compensation Leave or an Unpaid Military Stipend Leave on 04/01/2024; and
- Has a Comp Rate Code of ANN or BIW (only if the employee is on a Paid Military Stipend Leave) on 04/01/2024; and
- Has completed eight (8) years or more, or thirteen (13) years or more at a base annual salary equal to or greater than the maximum salary of the employee’s grade (based on 2023 JLP qualifications) on 04/01/2024; and
- Has completed 120 workdays in each fiscal year; and
- Received a performance rating of at least “Satisfactory” for service during the previous year; and
- Received a 2023 JLP payment in the amount of $5,050 (8 Year) or $6,900 (13 Year).
Agency Actions:
UCS must submit an Excel spreadsheet file no later than 04/08/2024 to OSC containing the following information for all eligible employees:
- Employee ID
- Employee Record
- Earnings Code – JLP
- Effective Date – 03/38/2024
- OT Effective Date – 03/28/2024
- Payment Amount - $5,200 or $6,900 (Based on JLP amount received in 2023)
- End Date – 03/26/2025
Active employees (including employees on a Leave With Pay or Paid Military Stipend Leave) receive the amount based on the employee’s percentage in effect on 04/01/2024.
Eligibility After Final File Is Sent To OSC
If an employee is ineligible for the 2024 JLP payment at the time the spreadsheet file is submitted to OSC but becomes eligible on or before 03/28/2024, the JLP payment must be manually entered by agencies on the Additional Pay page using Earnings Code JLP in Administration Pay Period 1L or in the Pay Period in which the employee returns from leave.
| Earnings Code: | JLP |
|---|---|
| Effective Date: | 03/28/2024 or date of return from leave |
| OT Effective Date: | 03/28/2024 or date of return from leave |
| Annual Addl Earnings: | $5,200 or $6,900 (Based on JLP amount received in 2023) |
| End Date: | 03/26/2025 |
OSC Actions:
OSC will upload the final file into PayServ on the Additional Pay page on 04/11/2024.
Overtime Calculation Information:
The April 2024 JLP payment is included in the calculation of overtime compensation (refer to the Online Payroll Manual accessed from the PayServ Bulletin Board – Payroll Manuals > Earnings Manual > Time Entry Payments > Overtime Compensation). The April 2024 JLP payment will be included in the calculation of overtime earned from the OT Effective Date through the End Date on the employee’s Additional Pay page for Earnings Code JLP.
If an employee is appointed to an ineligible position effective after receiving the April 2024 JLP payment, the payment cannot be included in the compensation calculation of any overtime earned on or after the date of the appointment. Therefore, agencies must insert a row on the Additional Pay page at the Effective Date level of Earnings Code JLP and enter the following information:
| Effective Date: | Last date in eligible position (date prior to appointment) |
|---|---|
| OT Effective Date: | Same as original OT Effective Date |
| Annual Addl Earnings: | Same as original amount (populates automatically) |
| End Date: | Same as Effective Date |
| Goal Balance: | Same as Annual Addl Earnings (to prevent making another payment) |
Retirement Information:
The UCS JLP payment is not part of the basic annual salary, but it is considered pensionable earnings.
Tax Information:
The UCS JLP payment is supplemental taxable income and will be included in the employee’s taxable gross subject to employment taxes and income taxes.
Federal, State and New York City income tax withholding will be calculated using the Aggregate method. Yonkers income tax withholding will be calculated using the Flat Rate method. Yonkers Flat Rate Withholding is 1.95975% for Yonkers residents and 0.50% for Yonkers non-residents.
Payroll Register and Employee’s Paycheck/Advice:
The Earnings Code JLP and the amount paid will be displayed on the Payroll Register. The Earnings Description Judicial Long Lump Sum Payment and the amount paid will appear on the employee’s paycheck stub or direct deposit advice.
Questions:
Questions regarding this bulletin may be directed to the Payroll Earnings mailbox.
Questions regarding retirement may be directed to the Payroll Retirement mailbox.
Questions regarding withholding taxes may be directed to the Tax and Compliance mailbox.