Page History
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International Staff workers have their ME Ministry Expense amounts included with their needs-based salary. Therefore, this ME bonus page applies only to USU.S.-based employees. |
Overview
Ministry Expense Bonus
Ministry Expense (ME) Bonuses are available for missionaries Bonus is available for Reliant employees (associates are not eligible) to cover reasonable and necessary taxable expenses through a monthly payroll addition. The Ministry Expense Bonuses paid are proportionate to the hours worked, must relate closely to actual expenses incurred, and also provide a reasonable financial standard under which to operate.
Bonus rates
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20 or 25 Hours
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The ME Bonus is for employees to cover routine, ongoing ministry expenses. This taxable bonus will be added to a paycheck each month. Expenses covered by an employee’s ME bonus include; meals with co-workers, gifts for co-workers, monthly internet costs, local mileage (under 50 miles) and tolls for normal commutes for local ministry, local parking under $10, HSA employee contribution (if on Reliant’s medical insurance plan), other routine and ongoing ministry expenses. Routine and ongoing expenses in the example categories are designated for recovery solely through the ME Bonus and are not eligible to be submitted by U.S. employees for reimbursement through any other submission types. Field workers may set the monthly ME bonus amount they think is appropriate to cover their typically incurred monthly expenses (up to the limits set below). The ME Bonus amounts are submitted through support goals.
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Monthly phone plan costs are calculated separately on the employee support goal submission to be entered as non-taxable and should not be included in the total taxable amount requested for the ME bonus. |
- The ME Bonus for Full-Time and 30-hour employees is up to $600/month.
- The ME Bonus for 25-hour, 20-hour, and hourly employees is up to $300/month.
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Key Change to the Standard: Previously the ME bonus was broken down into individual expense category maximum amounts. Reliant is now asking U.S. field workers to determine the appropriate total bonus amount (up to a specific, designated monthly total) based on the amount needed for the individual field worker. The total amount that can be received for routine, ongoing monthly expenses has been increased when you include the monthly mobile phone service non-taxable payment below in the support goal submission total. The local mileage amount has also changed from 100 miles to 50 miles. Mileage over 50 miles one-way is now eligible to be submitted through an expense submission. |
Monthly Mobile Phone Service
Employees may request through support goal submission, a tax-free, monthly recurring payment in their paycheck for monthly phone services. Field workers may set the monthly mobile phone service amount they think is appropriate to cover their typically incurred monthly phone service expenses (up to the limits set below).
- Up to $100/month for full-time and 30-hour employees
- Up to $50/month for 25-hour, 20-hour, and hourly employees
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Key Change to the Standard: Mobile phone service costs used to be included in the ME bonus total, which resulted in additional taxable income for field staff. Under the new Standard, mobile phone service costs are tax deductible. Paid employees may now submit a request through their support goal to recover monthly phone service payments through a non-taxable monthly amount included in their paycheck. This monthly request is distinct from a one-time phone purchase reimbursed through the normal expense submission |
$80
$60
$40
Hourly staff may take up to $3/hour total for these four categories
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If you are benefits-eligible and are currently on a medical insurance plan, then you are eligible for an HSA contribution ME bonus. Please see HSA - Health Savings Account for more information.
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Note for hourly staffOn your support goal, you will be able to select a total ME amount per hour that will be multiplied by the number of hours worked. You will be eligible for up to a maximum of $3 per hour (for hours you work each month) for all ME Bonus categories (not each category). You may select the $3 amount or less based on your needs. This ME bonus will be automatically entered and paid with your time card hours each month. Example: You work 20 hours across an entire monthly time sheet. You have selected a $3 hourly ME bonus on your support goal. You will be automatically paid a $60 ME bonus for the month. Note: If your church or ministry is fully funding the MTD account you are responsible for, you may be eligible for a fixed amount hourly ME bonus that is agreed upon with Reliant and your supporting church, and approved within your support goal. |
Steps
1. Submit a Support Goal with your desired bonus amounts
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