The $400 dental stipend for the 2024-2025 fiscal year, negotiated as part of the 2023-2026 PEF/State Agreement, is expected to be in checks dated May 22 (Administration) and May 30 (Institution).
“It took tenacity and hard work to secure the two $400 dental stipends for 2023 and 2024, while holding the State’s feet to the fire and making sure they awarded the dental services contract to a new vendor,” said President Wayne Spence. “Dental was one of the top priorities for our members when we negotiated this last contract, and we are glad to be able to deliver.”
PEF members made their feelings clear to their elected leaders, saying that EmblemHealth was deficient and inadequate to meet their needs. Too few dentists accepted the plan, and the reimbursement rates for members who received out of network dental care were paltry.
This will be the last stipend in light of the fact that a contract with a new vendor is expected to be in place by the Fall. To be eligible, in general, employees must have been in the PS&T unit on April 1, 2024, and enrolled in the NYSHIP Dental Plan having completed the 28-day waiting period on or before April 1, 2024.
For most PEF members, the Office of the State Comptroller (OSC) will process these payments using the check dates noted above. For seasonal and temporary employees who are employed or are expected to be employed for at least six months, the agencies must submit information to OSC, and it is possible that payments for these members may be processed in later checks.
The 2023-2024 dental stipend was paid in March of this year.
More details about this payment and eligibility can be found in Payroll Bulletin 2232 or the PEF/State Agreement on page 118.