Employment Forms
The following forms are required for commencement of your employment with the Senate of Virginia. Please download/print, complete, and bring these forms with supporting documents to New Senator Orientation.
Must also provide backup documentation as specified in the form, either:
- 1 document from List A, such as a current passport; or
- 1 document from List B AND 1 document from List C, such as a current driver’s license AND a social security card.
Federal Income Tax Withholding Certificate.
Also requires a copy of your Social Security
Card with matching name.
Virginia Income Tax Withholding Exemption Certificate
Must include a voided check or an official statement from the banking institution, providing your account number and bank routing number.
Required by all employees
Statement Concerning Your Employment Not Covered by Social Security
Senator Compensation
The following information about Senator and Legislative Assistant compensation will be discussed in greater detail at New Senator Orientation.
Salary
$1500 paid monthly ($18,000 annually)
Payday – First day of the month
Office Expense Allowance
$1250/month
Paid through payroll system
Considered taxable income
Additional Compensation
$300/day for one official meeting
$400/day if two or more official meetings attended on that day with additional requirements
Per Diem (Session Only)
$213/day
Mileage Reimbursement
$.655 / mile with additional requirements
Legislative Assistant Compensation
Primary LA Account
Secondary LA Account
Salary = $71,641
Salary = $57,783
Must receive 60% of base fund ($35,168) to be eligible for benefits
Semimonthly earnings can vary
Only one benefited LA per Senator and must be paid from Primary LA account
May have multiple non-benefited employees, must be paid a minimum amount per pay period
Must be employed for 12 consecutive months – This is a full-time position
Does not have to be employed on a continuing basis
No employee may be paid with amounts from both funds
Non benefited employees paid from either fund may not work more than 1500 hours per year
Benefits
Virginia Retirement System-
As a member of the Virginia Retirement System (VRS), you are eligible to qualify for benefits that are a valuable part of your total compensation package.
After your hire date you will receive a welcome letter from VRS and a letter from Mission Square with information on how to create log-in credentials for the defined benefit and defined contribution portions of your retirement plan. For your security, it is recommended you set up your log-in as soon as possible.
Group Life Insurance/Additional Optional Life Insurance – The Senate participates in the VRS Group Life Insurance Program, and you are covered from your first day of benefitted employment. The Senate will pay your portion of the monthly premium for basic group life insurance coverage. The amount of your basic VRS Group Life Insurance equals your creditable compensation rounded to the next highest thousand and then doubled.
You are eligible to purchase additional life insurance for yourself as well as your spouse and dependent children through the Optional Group Life Insurance Program. You pay the premiums for this additional coverage through payroll deductions.
An Optional Life Insurance Enrollment Form is included in this packet.
You must complete the optional life enrollment form with either your options to purchase this insurance or to waive coverage and return it to the Human Resources Office as soon as possible.
Health Insurance/Flexible Reimbursement Accounts
Senate employees have several Commonwealth of Virginia employee health insurance plan options available to them depending upon where they live and work. You must take the time to familiarize yourself with your options and the various costs of coverage. If you decide to elect health insurance coverage the Senate will pay a portion of your monthly premium and you will pay a portion through a tax-deferred payroll deduction. Premiums adjust, depending on whether you elect to cover only yourself or yourself and any eligible dependents. Documentation will be required to substantiate the eligibility of dependents, prior to enrollment.
Flexible Reimbursement Accounts allow you to set aside part of your salary on a pre-tax basis each pay period to pay for certain out of pocket medical costs and for dependent care costs. Specific rules and limitations apply.
Please see the links for detailed information on health insurance and flexible reimbursement accounts.
You must complete the Health Benefits Enrollment/Waiver Form and return it to the Human Resources Office as soon as possible. New employees must enroll for coverage within 30 days of the beginning of employment. If you do not enroll within the first 30 days, you will not have another opportunity to enroll in health insurance until the annual open enrollment period just prior to fiscal year end.