Pre-collected benefits deductions
Benefits-eligible faculty members and academic professionals paid on an academic pay schedule will notice additional deductions withheld from their paychecks beginning in March and ending with the spring semester. Pre-collected benefits deductions cover summer benefits premiums for health care, life or short-term disability.
The IRS does not allow ASU to collect pre-tax benefits deductions in one tax year for use in another tax year. The university must deduct pre-collected benefits premiums for the summer in the same calendar year of coverage.
Typically, there are six pay dates with pre-collected benefits deductions during the spring. Deductions will begin on the March 6, 2026, pay date and end on the May 15, 2026, pay date. Two deductions for each benefits plan will appear on paychecks: standard benefits deductions, plus pre-collected benefits deductions. Please budget accordingly. Any unpaid pre-collected benefits deductions will be withheld from paychecks in either the summer or the fall.
You cannot opt out of pre-collected benefits deductions if you are planning to leave ASU before or when the spring semester ends. The pre-collect process cannot be stopped for specific individuals. You will be refunded your pre-collect premiums after your separation from employment has been processed in our system.
Deductions not subject to pre-collect
Deductions for flexible spending accounts and the health savings account are not pre-collected. Retirement contributions and long-term disability will continue to be deducted from summer pay.
Coverage changes affected by qualifying life events
If you have a change in coverage in the spring because of a qualifying life event and summer premium adjustments are needed, ASU will take additional deductions from your next paycheck. If you have overpaid for premiums, ASU will reimburse you at the end of the summer. If you have a change in coverage in the summer due to a qualifying life event, any corrections for retroactive, pre-collected benefits premium overpayments or underpayments will be adjusted in the fall.
Last paycheck of the academic year
This is the first full academic year in which academic employees are paid over the academic contract year (August 16–May 15). The last check for the spring semester will be issued on May 29, 2026, and will contain five days of pay. The final check will only be subject to standard deductions.
Pay option changes
Salaried faculty and academic professionals can change their pay schedules each fiscal year. To request a change, an Academic Pay Change request must be submitted in Workday by May 15 each year.
Academic professionals, faculty and postdoctoral scholars on a 10.5-month schedule or less
Standard and pre-collected benefits deductions will be taken for faculty, academic professionals and postdoctoral scholars with contracts for spring of 4.5 months or more, but less than 11 months while in paid status. In June through August, at the end of their contracts, these employees will have benefits but no pay. Any overpayment of benefits deductions will be refunded, if applicable.
Nonacademic positions for less than 12 months
These positions are not eligible for pre-collected benefits deductions. Staff employees working less than 12 months each year will be placed on a short work break with benefits but no pay. Please budget accordingly. Missed benefits deductions will be taken out of the first and, if applicable, the second paycheck when staff members return to paid status.