• New-Hire Information - Payroll / Benefits / Retirement

    Welcome to Horry County Schools. 

    Please review the entire page carefully and complete all required forms and steps prior to your start date. Use the checklist at the end to confirm you have reviewed and completed all required Payroll & Benefits new hire paperwork.

    1. Payroll

    Payroll is processed on a semi-monthly basis. All employees are paid twice a month based on the published payroll schedule.  If your work schedule is less than 240 days per school year, your pay will be spread over the summer based on the Payroll Year for your group.    View calculation examples here. If you are a temporary employee, your time entries will be processed by the bookkeeper responsible for the location or work you perform.

    Direct deposit is strongly encouraged and can be activated by submitting an authorization form.  Direct deposit pay notices are posted to the self-service portal. Your portal account will not be active until your hire date. You must have access to your HCS email account in order to register for the portal.  Direct deposit processing may take up to two pay periods to become active.  During this time your paychecks will be mailed to the address on file in Human Resources. If you have recently moved, make sure HR has your correct address. 

    Paychecks will be mailed to your home address until you submit your direct deposit request.  If you choose not to enroll in direct deposit please review HCS lost check replacement procedure.

    Salary and wages discussed by Human Resources and Payroll are in gross (unreduced) amounts.  Your gross pay may be reduced by tax deductions, benefit enrollments, and retirement plan contributions. 

    Withholding Tax: Your withholding tax will be calculated using the default Federal and SC State rates until you submit new W-4 certificates to Payroll. Federal and SCW4 certificates are available online.

     

    2. Benefits

    New employees hired into an insurance eligible position must refuse or elect benefits within 30 days of their hire date. HCS uses Ward Services to administer your benefit enrollments. It is your responsibility to schedule a time to go over your benefits with a Ward Services Representative. 

    1. Schedule a time to meet with a Ward Services Representative and review your options here.
    2. Additional information can be found on PEBA's New Employee page.
    3. Complete beneficiary form for HCS Basic Life and Sick Leave Bank form

    If you are transferring from another SC school district or state agency, your benefit options may be limited.  You still need to meet with a representative from Ward Services, but let them know you are a PEBA transfer.

    Sick and Personal Leave information.  If you are transferring from another PEBA covered employer, contact your account manager to see if your unused sick leave will transfer to HCS.


    3. Retirement 

    ALL newly hired employees must make a retirement election with the South Carolina Public Employee Benefit Authority (PEBA). You have 30 days from your hire date to make your retirement plan election, and your election of retirement plan is mandatory in many cases. Your enrollment email from PEBA will include the deadline date and plan options. If you do not make a selection within that time period, you will automatically become a member of SCRS based on your eligibility.  Most employees must choose either option one or option two listed below. Employees hired in a transportation related or temporary job may have the option to refuse membership (option three). If you are a previous enrollee with PEBA, your options as a returning member may be limited.

    1. Elect to join PEBA's SCRS traditional defined benefit plan
    2. Elect to join PEBA's Optional Retirement Plan (ORP)
    3. Elect not to join PEBA - non-membership (Subs, temps and bus drivers only)

    Retirement information and videos can be found on PEBA's website.  PEBA also publishes a retirement enrollment guide with additional information.

    You will receive an enrollment email from PEBA. Follow the instructions to make your retirement election. Emails are sent to the address on file with Human Resources.  If you do not make an election within 30 days of your hire date, you will be automatically enrolled in option 1. Check your spam folder and contact us if you do not receive the email by your hire date.

    Please review the information on our Retirement page for additional information.

    ** Please note it is your responsibility to submit the appropriate beneficiary information to PEBA.

     

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    Checklist 

    Submitting required forms:  Please do not send your forms back using regular, unencrypted email.

    • Mail to: HCS Payroll, PO Box 260005, Conway SC 29528
    • Contact your account manager to start encrypted email communication
    • Fax to: 843-488-6726