Home > Calculation Setup > Plan Definitions > Benefit Definitions > Benefit formula > Accrual Basis Components > Constant

Constant

Constant components are available as both Benefit Formula Components and Accrual Basis Components.  This type of component may be either a constant value for all records or a value that depends upon the contents of a coded field in the Data Dictionary.  As numbers may be typed directly into the benefit formula, you need create a component with a constant value for all records only if it makes the formula more easily understood. A component that varies by coded field is useful when a component’s value in a benefit formula varies among different divisions, but the structure of the benefit formula is the same.

Constant Value is the single value for all records entered as a numeric value or Plan Constant

If the value varies by coded field, the contents of this field will determine the value assigned to the component. Select from the list of coded fields in the data dictionary. The codes for the field will populate the first column of the spreadsheet that becomes accessible. The spreadsheet will map the codes of the field to the related values you enter in the second column for the component. Any numeric value is allowed.

Prorate plan year amount over cash balance crediting periods checkbox will prorate the value based on the cash balance crediting periods that are setup. For example the cash balance crediting periods is set to quarterly, the value is 12,000, and the Prorate plan year amount over cash balance crediting periods checkbox is clicked on then the system will set the constant value to 3,000 during each of the four cash balance crediting periods. When the crediting frequency is bi-weekly or weekly, the number of crediting periods in a plan year is variable (26 or 27 for bi-weekly crediting and 52 or 53 for weekly crediting) and crediting periods will cross Plan Years. For weekly and bi-weekly crediting, ProAdmin counts the end of crediting period dates (i.e., the crediting date) to determine the appropriate prorate for each plan year.