Making Changes to your Benefits

County Departments:

Birth, Adoption or Legal Guardianship

Dependent Becomes Inelligible

Domestic Partnership Registration

Termination of Domestic Partnership

Life Events

Birth, Adoption or Legal Guardianship

Benefits

Giving birth, adopting a child, and becoming a legal guardian are all "qualifying status changes" in terms of your benefits. That means you may change your benefit enrollment without having to wait until the annual open enrollment period. Contact your department representative for assistance with any benefit elections.

Medical, Dental, Vision Benefits

If you will be adding a child to your health benefits, you will need to complete a Life Event in PeopleSoft Self Service within 60 days of the birth, adoption or guardianship placement. Please note that your paperwork must include the official event date. Supporting documentation will be required.

Life Insurance

You may want to consider purchasing Additional Life Insurance or Voluntary Dependent Life Insurance for your spouse and child or changing the amount of life insurance that you currently purchase for yourself. Enroll within 60 days of the event to take advantage of plan guarantee issue provisions. Ready Enroll

Flexible Spending Account

You may elect to participate in or change the amount you contribute to your Health Care and/or Dependent Flexible Spending Account by completing a Life Event in PeopleSoft Self Service within 60 days of the event.

Leave Programs

You may be eligible under the terms of the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and/or California Family Rights Act (CFRA) to bond with your new child. Information about your rights and responsibilities for leave is available on the Employee Services website.

Retirement Program

Review your beneficiary designation . The birth or adoption of a child revokes a designation you may currently have on file with CalPERS. Forms and additional information are available on the CalPERS website.

Taxes

You may want to review your W-4 tax document so that you are claiming the correct deductions. Contact the Auditor Controller department for additional information.

Social Security Number

Remember to apply for your baby's or child's Social Security number (SSN). The easiest time to do this is when you give information for your child’s birth certificate. If you wait to apply for a number at a Social Security office, there may be delays while they verify your child’s birth certificate. For more information, visit the Social Security Administration web site.

Contact Information

For more information on Human Resources-related issues, contact your department representative.

NOTE: This is intended to be a summary of benefits, services and procedures. For full details, refer to benefit plan booklets and law.

Dependent Becomes Ineligible

You will need to know when your child becomes ineligible under your benefits.

Benefits

At age 26, your child will not be eligible for benefits as your dependent, regardless of whether he or she is still in school. He or she will be dropped from coverage automatically at the end of the month of their 26th birthday. Continued coverage may be available for permanently disabled dependents. Contact a Benefits Specialist to learn more.

Health Benefits

Your child may be eligible to continue some medical benefits through COBRA.

Life Insurance

Your dependent may be able to convert or Port Voluntary Life Insurance coverage you have purchased. Converting allows you to buy an individual policy while porting allows you to buy group term life portability insurance. To begin the application process:

1. Review your certificate(s) of insurance for eligibility details.

2. Call The Standard at 1 (800) 368-1135

3. To convert life insurance, submit your application and premium payment within 60 days coverage has reduced or ended.

4. To port life insurance, submit your application and premium payment within 60 days after your employment has terminated.

Contact Information

For more information on Human Resources-related issues, contact your department representative.

NOTE: This is intended to be a summary of benefits, services and procedures. For full details, refer to benefit plan booklets and law.

Domestic Partnership Registration

The County offers some programs and services for those in same-sex or opposite-sex domestic partner relationships.

Benefits

Domestic Partnership registration is a "qualifying status change" in terms of your benefits. This means that you can change most of your benefit elections without waiting until the annual open enrollment period. Complete a Life Event in PeopleSoft Self Service to make election changes on account of an consistent with this event. Contact your department representative for assistance with any benefit elections.

Medical, Dental, Vision Benefits

Will you be adding your partner to your benefits? Changing to your partner's benefit program? You will need to complete a Life Event in PeopleSoft Self Service within 60 days of the qualifying status change and provide a copy of your Domestic Partnership Registration. All changes to your health insurance enrollment must be made during annual open enrollment or within 60 days of a qualifying status change.

Health Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

You may also submit claims for your domestic partner and/or his or her children under the county’s Health Care Flexible Spending Account Program (HCFSA) IF they meet the IRS definition of medical dependent. In that case, eligible expenses incurred for your domestic partner and/or his or her children will be eligible for reimbursement under the HCFSA. All changes to your FSA enrollment must be made during annual open enrollment or within 60 days of a qualifying status change and consistent with the event.

Life Insurance

You may list your domestic partner as your Basic Term Life Insurance beneficiary on the policy the county purchases for you (if eligible) by designating your beneficiary with The Standard any time.

You may also purchase Additional Spouse/Domestic Partner coverage and/or Additional Child Life Coverage for your partner and his or her children if you are enrolled in Additional employee life coverage. You should enroll within 60 days of the qualifying status change to take advantage of the plan’s guarantee issue provisions. After this initial eligibility period you may be required to provide evidence of insurability to elect coverage for your Domestic Partner in the future. These changes are made by you using The Standard's enrollment portal.

Retirement Program

Review your beneficiary designation designation. Your domestic partnership registration revokes a designation you may currently have on file with CalPERS. Forms and additional information are available on the CalPERS Website.

In order for the Survivor Continuance benefit to be payable to your domestic partner after retirement, you and your domestic partner must have registered your partnership at least one year prior to your retirement date. If you retired before it was legally possible to register your partnership but have since registered, your partner may still be considered an eligible survivor. If this is your situation, contact CalPERS to request an Affidavit of Domestic Partnership for Survivor Continuance form. CalPERS will determine if your domestic partner is an eligible survivor.

CalPERS doesn't require you to notify them when you enter into or terminate a registered domestic partnership for beneficiary or survivor benefits. However, these events will revoke any previously filed beneficiary designations for any pre-retirement death benefits or post-retirement lump sum death benefits. In that case, the lump sum death benefits would be automatically paid to your registered domestic partner, or if none, to your next closest surviving family member. You can choose to complete a new Beneficiary Designation form when these events occur.

Address Change

HR System

Making sure your home and mailing addresses are correct in the HR System is critical so that you will continue to receive special mailings that are sent to the mailing address. You can make the change by completing an Address Change in PeopleSoft under the Personal Details tile.

Postal Service

The US Postal Service website allows you to submit your address change online or complete a form and print it out to mail in.

Taxes

You may want to review your Form W-4 Employee's Withholding Allowance Certificate so that you are claiming the correct deductions. Contact the Auditor Controller department for forms and questions.

Direct Deposit

Are you changing your bank account? Make sure your Direct Deposit information changes as well. You can download and complete a Direct Deposit Request Form to start, or a Direct Deposit Cancellation form to end direct deposit. Contact the Auditor Controller department for forms and questions.

Contact Information

For more information on Human Resources-related issues, contact your department representative.

NOTE: This is intended to be a summary of benefits, services and procedures. For full details, refer to benefit plan booklets and law.

Marriage

Before the "big day" arrives, there are some factors to consider that will make the transition from your single life to married life smoother.

Benefits

Marriage is a "qualifying status change" in terms of your benefits. This means that you can change most of your benefit elections without waiting until the annual open enrollment period. Contact your department representative for assistance with any benefit elections.

Medical, Dental, Vision Benefits

Will you be adding a spouse to your benefits? Changing to your spouse's benefit program? you will need to complete a Life Event in PeopleSoft Self Service within 60 days of the marriage.

Life Insurance

You may list your spouse as your Basic Term Life Insurance beneficiary on the policy the county purchases for you (if eligible) by designating your beneficiary with The Standard any time. You may also purchase Additional Spouse/Domestic Partner coverage and/or Additional Child Life Coverage for your spouse and his or her children if you are enrolled in Additional employee life coverage. You should enroll within 60 days of the qualifying status change to take advantage of the plan’s guarantee issue provisions. After this initial eligibility period you may be required to provide evidence of insurability to elect coverage for your spouse in the future. These changes are made by you using The Standards enrollment portal.

Retirement

Your marriage revokes a designation you may currently have on file with CalPERS. There are separate beneficiary designation forms you need to complete if you are still working or retired.

If you're retired, you may need to review your current tax withholding and exemptions.

In order for the Survivor Continuance benefit to be payable to your spouse after retirement, you must be married at least one year prior to your retirement date.

Last Name Change

There are several things to consider if you will be changing your name.

HR System

If you will be changing your last name, the change will need to edit the name tile in PeopleSoft Self Service. You will need to upload a copy of your new Social Security Cared with you new name.

Administrative

Contact your supervisor or department representative to find out how your department handles changes to business cards, departmental email, directories, and name plates.

Social Security Card

If you change your name, be sure to notify Social Security. See the Social Security web site for more information, or visit your local Social Security office.

Address Change

HR System

Making sure your home and mailing address is correct in the HR System is critical so that you will continue to receive special mailings that are sent to the home address. Address changes are made by updating your address in PeopleSoft Self Service under the Personal Details tile.

Postal Service

The U.S. Postal Service web site allows you to submit your address change online or complete a form and print it out to mail in.

Payroll Taxes

You may want to review your Form W-4 Employee's Withholding Allowance Certificate so that you are claiming the correct deductions. Contact the Auditor Controller department for forms and questions.

Contact Information

For more information on Human Resources-related issues, contact your department representative.

NOTE: This is intended to be a summary of benefits, services and procedures. For full details, refer to benefit plan booklets and law.

Death of a Dependent

The surviving family of the deceased dependent should consider the following when confronted with the death of a loved one.

Notification of Death

Social Security

When a Social Security beneficiary dies, many funeral directors voluntarily provide death information directly to Social Security; however, family members of a deceased individual still have the legal responsibility to notify Social Security.

The County of Riverside

It is the employee's responsibility to report the death of a dependent to their department representative. To change your health plan enrollment, or to change your Flexible Spending Account (FSA) enrollment, complete and submit a Benefit Election Form. To change or cancel Voluntary Dependent Life Insurance login to the online election portal for The Standard and complete your election change and any beneficiary changes that may be appropriate.

Death Benefit Life Insurance Claims

If you purchased voluntary spouse or dependent child life insurance coverage, you will need to contact the Benefit Division at (951) 955-4981, to file a claim in order to receive the benefit. Life insurance proceeds are payable to the employee. A certified copy of the Final Certificate of Death, which can be obtained from the funeral service provider, is necessary in order to Pay the claim. An "assignment" transfers financial responsibility of funeral expenses from the beneficiary to the insurance benefit. The beneficiary completes an assignment and the funeral service provider is paid directly from the life insurance benefit. Obtain a certified copy of the Certificate of Death and the Assignment from the funeral director and forward them to the Benefits Division. Once all of the documentation is received Standard will pay the claim.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

The death of a loved one can be stressful in many ways. The Employee Assistance Service offers free, confidential, professional counseling and referral services to help you and your family with any issues that may arise due to the death of your family member.

Contact Information

For more information on Human Resources-related issues, contact your department representative.

NOTE: This is intended to be a summary of benefits, services and procedures. For full details, refer to benefit plan booklets and law.

Divorce

If you and your spouse will be getting a divorce, the following will facilitate this transition. See the Termination of Domestic Partnership section below if you are ending a domestic partner relationship.

Benefits

Divorce is a "qualifying status change" in terms of your benefits, which means that you may change your benefit elections without waiting until the annual open enrollment period. Effective the date of the divorce, your spouse and any covered step-children will no longer be eligible for benefits. You MUST complete a Benefit Election Form to remove the ineligible dependents within 60 days of your final divorce. You will need to provide documentation of your divorce when you change your benefits. Contact your department representative for assistance with benefit elections.

Health Coverage Continuation

You will need to drop your spouse and any step-children from your health coverage within 60 days of the divorce. Contact your department representative for more information. Your ex-spouse and step children may be eligible for continuation of health coverage through COBRA, but that right will be jeopardized if you or your ex-spouse does not provide timely notification of your divorce.

Life Insurance

You may want to review the amount of Voluntary Term Life Insuranced or Dependent Term Life Insurance you have purchased for yourself and your children. You can also change your beneficiary for the Basic Life Insurance policy the county purchases for you (if eligible). Your ex-spouse is no longer eligible for coverage under the County of Riverside Group plan and you must remove him/her and any ex-step children from coverage to avoid additional premium deductions from your pay warrent. Your ex-spouse and any children no ineligilbe may be able to convert Voluntary Term Life Insurance), or Dependent Life Insurance benefits to an individual policy. Visit The Standard enrollment portal to review/modify coverage elections and make necessary beneficiary changes..

Retirement

Your CalPERS benefits are considered community property under California law. You should contact the CalPERS Community Property Unit to see how this may impact the benefits you are receiving now if you are already retired, or your future retirement benefits if still working. CalPERS will need a copy of your property settlement agreement.

Be sure to review your Beneficiary Designation form. Your dissolution of marriage revokes a designation you may currently have on file with CalPERS.

You may also want to review your current Power of Attorney, or consider completing a CalPERS Special Power of Attorney form.

Last Name Change

HR System

If you will be changing your last name, the change will need to be made through your department representative so that you will continue to receive your mail, and will be listed properly in directories. Please complete the Request for Status Change and forward this request to your department representative.

Administrative

Contact your department representative to find out how your department handles changes to email accounts, business cards, departmental directories, and name plates.

Social Security Card

If you change your name, be sure to notify Social Security. To change the name shown on your card, you need to complete Form SS-5 (which is available for download or at your local Social Security office) and submit evidence of your identity. Your card will have your new name but the same number as your old card. Changing your name on your card requires one or more documents identifying you by both your OLD NAME and your NEW NAME. See the Social Security web site for more information, or visit your local Social Security office.

Address Change

HR System

Making sure your home and mailing addresses are correct in the HR System is critical so that you will continue to receive important notifications and mailings sent to the current mailing address on your record. You can make the change by completing a Request for Status Change and forward this request to your department representative.

Postal Service

The U.S. Postal Service Web site allows you to submit your address change online or complete a form and print it out to mail in.

Employee Assistance Services (EAS)

Divorce can be stressful in many ways. The Employee Assistance Services offers free, confidential, professional counseling and referral services to help you and your family with any issues that may arise during your divorce.

Contact Information

For more information on Human Resources-related issues, contact your department representative.

NOTE: This is intended to be a summary of benefits, services and procedures. For full details, refer to benefit plan booklets and law.

Name/ Address Change

Will you be changing your name or address? Review the following information to learn how to make the transition as smooth as possible.

Name Change

HR System

If you will be changing your last name, the change will need complete the Change of Status form and forward this request to your department representative.

Administrative

Contact your supervisor or department representative to find out how your department handles changes to business cards, departmental email, directories, and name plates.

Social Security Card

If you change your name, be sure to notify Social Security. See the Social Security web site for more information, or visit your local Social Security office.

Address Change

HR System

Making sure your home and mailing address is correct in the HR System is critical so that you will continue to receive important notifications and mailings that are sent to the home address on record. Address changes are made by completing a Change of Status form. Forward this request to your department representative.

Postal Service

The U.S. Postal Service web site allows you to submit your address change online or complete a form and print it out to mail in.

For more information on Human Resources-related issues, contact your department representative.

NOTE: This is intended to be a summary of benefits, services and procedures. For full details, refer to benefit plan booklets and law.

New Employees

If you have recently started working at The County of Riverside, the following information will help you better understand your benefits.

Benefit Eligibility

The Benefit Enrollment Guide has helpful information to help you determine the benefits for which you qualify. Be sure to complete a Benefit Election form to make your health benefit elections within 60 days of your date of hire. If you do not elect a medical plan within 60 days of your date of hire, you will be automatically enrolled in the PPO plan.

For more information on Human Resources-related issues, contact your department representative.

Retirement Program

California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) provides retirement and health benefits to more than 1.6 million public employees, retirees, and their families and more than 3,000 employers.

CalPERS offers a "defined benefit" plan which provides benefits that are calculated using a defined formula, rather than contributions and earnings to a savings plan. Retirement benefits are calculated using a member's years of service credit, age at retirement and final compensation (average salary for a defined period of employment). There are a variety of retirement formulas that are determined by the member's employer (State, school, or local public agency); occupation [miscellaneous (general office and others), safety, industrial or peace officer/firefighter]; and the specific provisions in the contract between your agency and CalPERS.

o There are three types of CalPERS Retirement:

· Service retirement

· Disability retirement

· Industrial disability retirement

o CalPERS also provides death benefits for active and retired members paid to eligible beneficiaries or survivors.

o my|CalPERS is the secure, self-service website that allows you to quickly and easily access your personal information and conduct business with CalPERS. Log in or register now to start experiencingmy|CalPERS and all that it has to offer.

NOTE: This is intended to be a summary of benefits, services and procedures. For full details, refer to benefit plan booklets and law.

Retirement

After many years of service with the County of Riverside, there are some things you will want to review before you retire.

To be eligible for service retirement, most CalPERS members must be at least age 50 with a minimum of five years of CalPERS-credited service. If you became a member on or after January 1, 2013 you must be at least age 52. To retire, you must not only permanently separate from all CalPERS covered positions, but you must also submit a retirement application.

A CalPERS service retirement is a monthly benefit payable for your lifetime. When you apply for retirement, you will select a retirement option that impacts your benefit and the benefits payable to your beneficiaries, including options to provide lifetime monthly benefits to your surviving beneficiaries and/or lump sum benefits.

Visit the CalPERS website for more information about applying for retirement. We also recomend that you come to a Retirement Workshop and schedule an appointment with a Retirement Counselor for more assistance with the process. You will be making a lot of very important decisions as you retire and following these recomendations will insure that you make well educated choices..

Medical, Dental, Vision Benefits

When you leave County employment y are also eligible to continue your current benefits under the provisions of the Consolidated Omnibus Reconciliation Act (COBRA). If you retire within 120 days of seperation from the County of Riverside, receive a CalPERS retiement warrant and were in an benefit eligible classification upon retirement, you are also eligible for benefits in the County of Riverside retiree benefit program plans. You should compare the coverage options and the cost of coverage under both options before making a choice.

Life Insurance

You may want to consider continuing Voluntary Life Insurance or Voluntary Dependent Life Insurance for your spouse and child or changing the amount of life insurance that you currently purchase for yourself. These benefits are available on a guarantee issue basis (you will not have to prove that you are in good health), but you must act quickly. Review the information about the Portability and Conversion options available to you be sure to request your continued coverage within 30 days of your retirement..

Flexible Spending Account

You may elect to continue your participation in the Health Care by electing continued coverage under the provisions of the Consolidated Omnibus Reconciliation Act (COBRA). You will be responsible for continuing your premiums on an after-tax basis, but continuing your participation insures that you have access to any remaining balance in your account for claims indured during the remainder of the plan year and grace period. If you do not elect to continue participaiton in this program, you may submit claims incured before the end of your employment only and the claim must be submited for payment by the end of the Calendar year.

Employee Assistance Services (EAS)

Transitioning to retirement is exciting, but it can also be stressful. The County of Riverside EAP offers free, confidential, professional counseling and referral services to help you and your family with any issues that may arise.

Social Security

Generally, you should apply for retirement benefits three months before you want your benefits to begin. For more information, visit the Social Security Administration web site.

Contact Information

For more information on Human Resources-related issues, contact your department representative.

NOTE: This is intended to be a summary of benefits, services and procedures. For full details, refer to benefit plan booklets and law.

Termination of Domestic Partnership

If you and your partner will be ending your domestic partner relationship, the following factors will facilitate this transition.

Programs and Services

Health Benefits

Should your relationship with your same-sex domestic partner end, your domestic partner will lose eligibility for the County’s benefit plans.

You MUST complete and submit Benefit Election Form to terminate coverage for your ex-partner and any of his/her dependent children who lose eligibility, within 60 days of the qualifying event.

Life Insurance

You may wish to change the beneficiary of the Basic Term Life Insurance policy the county purchases for you (if eligible) and your Voluntary Life Insurance Coverage, if you have elected this benefit. Your partner may be able to convert Voluntary Dependent Group Life Insurance benefits to an individual policy. Contact The Standard Insurance Company for more information.

Retirement

CalPERS doesn't require you to notify them when you enter into or terminate a registered domestic partnership for beneficiary or survivor benefits. However, these events will revoke any previously filed beneficiary designations for any pre-retirement death benefits or post-retirement lump sum death benefits. In that case, the lump sum death benefits would be automatically paid to your registered domestic partner, or if none, to your next closest surviving family member. You can choose to complete a new Beneficiary Designation form when these events occur.

Address Change

Making sure your home and mailing address is correct in the HR System is critical so that you will continue to receive important notifications and mailings that are sent to the home address on record. Address changes are made by completing a Change of Status form. Forward this request to your department representative.

Postal Service

The U.S. Postal Service web site allows you to submit your address change online or complete a form and print it out to mail in.

For more information on Human Resources-related issues, contact your department representative. Visit the Benefits web site to learn about your benefits.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Engagement and marriage can be stressful in many ways. The Employee Assistance Program offers free, confidential, professional counseling and referral services to help you and your spouse with any issues that may arise.

Contact Information

For more information on Human Resources-related issues, contact your department representative. Visit the Benefits web site to learn about your benefits.

NOTE: This is intended to be a summary of benefits, services and procedures. For full details, refer to benefit plan booklets and law.

Life Events

There are many things to consider when major life changes like retirement, marriage, birth or adoption of a child or termination of employment occur. Each type of live event below lists your options, tells you who to consult with questions, links you to forms and publications, and describes how to make changes to your benefits, your contact information, and more.

Your department human resources representative is there to help you with these changes. If you do not know who your department representative is, find your department on the department representative list and contact them for assistance.