Author: D&S Agency

  • EEO-1 Data Collection | VA Employee Benefits Consultants

    The EEO-1 Component 1 report is a mandatory annual data collection that requires all private sector employers with 100 or more employees, and federal contractors with 50 or more employees meeting certain criteria, to submit demographic workforce data, including data by race/ethnicity, sex and job categories.  The filing by eligible employers of the EEO-1 Component…

  • Exploring Benefits Lingo | Virginia Benefits Agents

    We all know how confusing and complex benefits and healthcare terms can be- the difference between deductible and co-insurance is a common question for many and there are plenty of others like it.  When you are comfortable and confident in how your plan works, you can make an informed decision on HOW to use and…

  • IRS: Monthly Child Tax Credit payments begin | VA Employee Benefits Advisors

    WASHINGTON —TheInternal Revenue Service and the Treasury Department announced today that millions of American families have started receiving monthly Child Tax Credit payments as direct deposits begin posting in bank accounts and checks arrive in mailboxes. This first batch of advance monthly payments worth roughly $15 billion reached about 35 million families today across the…

  • How to Stay on Track While on Vacation | VA Benefits Firm

    Summer is here and so many of us work hard to lose a few pounds before summer vacation but then get to our vacations and ‘’want to live it up!’’ The problem is that then we end up bloated and unhappy with those decisions.  Vacation is supposed to be a time to relax and unwind…

  • Exploring Heart Health | Virginia Benefits Team

    Heartbreaks are painful, but did you know that heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, with more than 655,000 people dying from the condition each year. This equates to one in four deaths attributed to this awful disease. The most common form of heart disease is coronary artery disease (CAD),…

  • IRS Provides Guidance on Premium Assistance and Tax Credit for Continuation Health Coverage | VA Employee Benefits Agents

    WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today provided guidance on tax breaks under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 for continuation health coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA). Notice 2021-31 PDF provides guidance for employers, plan administrators, and health insurers regarding the new credit available to them for providing continuation health…

  • Data Drop: D&I Appetite, Mental Health Struggles and the Expanding Gig Economy | VA Benefits Advisors

    There are certain issues that have taken center stage in the collective conscious when talking about the workplace, the future of work and how the current workforce is faring under the current conditions. Naturally, as those things enter the collective conscious, researchers find themselves asking what exactly holds true and what can we learn from…

  • Advance Child Tax Credit Payments in 2021 | Virginia Benefits Group

    There have been important changes to the Child Tax Credit that will help many families receive advance payments starting this summer. The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021 expands the Child Tax Credit (CTC) for tax year 2021 only. The expanded credit means: The credit amounts will increase for many taxpayers. The credit for…

  • Exploring In-Network and Out-of-Network Benefits | Virginia Employee Benefits Advisors

    You have surely heard the terms “in-network” and “out-of-network” when referring to doctors or care facilities and your insurance plan. It can be confusing and make you wonder why it matters to you, as the consumer. Let’s explore these terms and find out more! What are Health Insurance Plan Networks? Health insurance plans create networks…

  • IRS Announces HSA Limits for 2022 | Virginia Employee Benefits Agency

    On May 10, 2021, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released Revenue Procedure 2021-25 announcing the annual inflation-adjusted limits for health savings accounts (HSAs) for calendar year 2022. An HSA is a tax-exempt savings account that employees can use to pay for qualified health expenses. To be eligible for an HSA, an employee: Must be covered by a…