Employee Benefits Resources

Regular full-time and part-time employees who are scheduled to work at least 750 hours per year are eligible for the Home Owner Partnership (HOP) program.

To qualify, you must:

• Not currently own a home in the City of Rochester
• Purchase a home within the Rochester city limits with a purchase price of under $200,000
• Be able to qualify for a standard (conventional, VA, or SONYMA) mortgage loan from a lender
• Complete a Home Buyer Services application and interview with a Home Buyer Services Counselor before signing a purchase offer
• Contribute at least $1,500 of your personal funds towards the purchase (the deposit must be $1,000 or more)
• Be a current full-time or part-time RIT employee scheduled to work at least 750 hours per year at the time of closing and remain employed by RIT for at least five years following the date of closing
  • o NOTE: Visiting faculty may qualify, but would need to repay the RIT portion if they leave RIT employment before five years from the date of closing; they would also need to repay the City if they live in the residence less than five years. Resources and Privileges 5 7/2022
• Complete an approved Home Ownership Class before closing as well as complete three post purchase classes in the first year of home ownership (if you are a first-time home buyer)
• Live in the property as your principal place of residence for at least five years from the date of closing

RIT: Loan that is forgiven over 5 years (repayment not required) if residency and employment requirements are satisfied

• 25% will be taxable in four installments as forgiven: $750 will be taxable after the 24th, 36th, 48th and 60th months
• If residency and employment requirements are not satisfied, repayment will be $3,000 before 24th month, $2,250 before 36th month, $1,500 before 48th month, and $750 before 60th month
• There is one RIT loan per house (i.e., if both purchasers are eligible RIT employees, one will be eligible for the loan).

City: Grant that is forgiven over 5 years if residency requirement is satisfied

•  There is one City grant per house.

Advantage FCU or Genesee Regional Bank (GRB): Grant that is forgiven over 5 years if mortgage from them (repayment not required) if residency requirements are satisfied

•  Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) may not be required
•  GRB also will provide a $500 discount on closing costs
•  There is one Advantage FCU/GRB grant per house

RIT limits this program to 10 employees per calendar year. There is one RIT loan per house and one city grant per house. Participation will be determined on a first come, first served basis, based on the date of the closing.

For questions, contact the City representative at 585-428-6888 or HomeBuyer@cityofrochester.gov.

To get started, complete the Service Request called Request Home Owner Partnership Eligibility Letter at the RIT Service Center (RSC) portal. For RIT questions, refer to the RSC portal or call the RSC at 585-475-5000.

NOTE: Issuance of an RIT eligibility letter does not guarantee the RIT loan or the City or Advantage FCU/GRB grant. RIT limits this program to 10 employees per year. Participation will be determined on a first come, first served basis, based on the date of closing.

All regular full-time and part-time employees who are scheduled to work 750 or more hours per year become eligible for the Adoption Assistance Program upon employment.

Employees will be reimbursed for up to $2,000 for the following expenses incurred in the placement and adoption of a child:

• Fees of a private or government adoption agency that is accredited or licensed.
• Placement fees including professional evaluation through home studies, interviews with prospective adoptive and natural parents, physical exams and private placement fees by a doctor, lawyer or other appropriate professional.
• Temporary foster care fees including foster care required immediately before placement of a child in your home.
• Legal and court fees including court supervision, termination of natural, parental rights, final adoption procedures and birth certificate preparation.
• Traveling expenses including costs for meals and lodging.

Full or partial payment may be requested any time after the child is placed in the home. This policy does not require that the employee wait for reimbursement until the final date of adoption has occurred. In cases of multiple adoptions, the adoption of each child will be considered separate, however a maximum of $4,000 will be paid under this policy to any family during any twelve-month period.

This program excludes, but is not limited to, the following expenses related to adoption.

• Professional counseling for the natural parents.
• Institutional living expenses such as an orphanage, children’s home or unwed mothers home for the child or natural mother.
• Fees related to establishing legal guardianship.
• Fees related to the adoption of children over the age of 18 unless the child is physically or mentally incapable of caring for him/herself.
• Fees related to surrogate parenting arrangements, illegal adoptions or adoption of a spouse’s child.
• Contested legal actions to establish parental rights before adoption.
• Maternity fees for the natural mother, including pre and postnatal care, obstetrical fees and related hospital charges.

RIT employees and retirees are automatically a participant in RARES with no added cost.

You obtain discounts in one of two ways:

1. Show your card at the box office or retail counter; or
2. Advance purchase of tickets or coupons.

Each employer who joins receives a unique membership ID# which allows any employee from that organization to access the web-site and find out information about RARES, download forms, etc. When you visit the RARES web-site at www.rares.org, you can enter this membership ID# in the Membership ID box to the upper left of the home page. This will take you to a page designed for members only. The "discounts" tab will take you to a listing of all discounts available to you as a RARES member and how you can access these discounts. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the RARES office at (585) 789-0223/v or by e-mail at RARESBOD@gmail.com.

To view a copy of the current RARES ID card and ID, see Where can I find our RARES card or ID?

As an RIT employee, you have access to RIT’s recreational facilities, including the Student Life Center, pool, outdoor tennis courts, running track and nature trails.

We also encourage you to take advantage of the many services offered through the Wallace Library. In addition to books, magazines, newspapers, and pamphlets, the library has microfilm, microfiche, motion pictures, audio and video cassettes, slide/tape sets, and filmstrips. An on-line computer catalog aids in the search for materials. A current RIT identification card is required before materials may be checked out.

Margaret's House offers quality care and education for children eight weeks to eight years of age. Conveniently located, Margaret's House is a short walk from the academic buildings and student living areas on campus. Margaret's House serves mainly children of students, staff and faculty but is open to families from the surrounding communities.

Employees are also eligible to join the Advantage Federal Credit Union, which offers checking and savings Resources and Privileges accounts, certificates, and loans to RIT employees. The credit union has a location on campus for your convenience.

You can also use your RIT ID card as a debit card — called Tiger Bucks — by making deposits to your debit card account. With this account, you will receive a 10% discount in all Dining Services facilities when you pay with your ID card. You may add to your account as needed or choose the convenience of direct deposit through payroll deduction. For more details, refer to the Dining Services website.

Employees enjoy the convenience of personal computer repair services from the RIT Digital Den, RIT’s computer sales retail store. They offer two different services plans as well as a single incident purchase option.

You can meet directly with a technician who is trained to answer your technical questions during certain hours. Appointments are recommended but not required; call them for technician hours and to schedule an appointment.

For questions and details about the plan costs, visit the RIT Digital Den website or call 585-475- 2505.