Divorce or Separation

Notify the Benefits Office of Your Divorce or Separation

You must notify the Benefits Office within 31 days of your divorce or legal separation because this event will affect your spouse's continued eligibility for benefits.

Need to Change Your Benefits?

Medical, Dental, Vision, and Spouse Life Coverage

When you become legally separated or divorced, your ex-spouse's eligibility to be continued as a dependent under your medical and/or dental coverage may change, as shown below.

1. Your spouse was the only dependent covered on your medical, dental, and/or vision plan.

You will need to cancel medical, dental, and vision coverage for your ex-spouse within 31 days:

Medical, dental, and vision coverage end on the last day of the month that includes the end date of the pay period in which the separation becomes legal or your divorce is final.

If you do not cancel your ex-spouse from the coverage within 31 days of your divorce, the Spouse Coverage contribution rate will continue to be deducted from your pay; however, your ex-spouse will not be covered. To cancel coverage, complete the Benefits Change packet or contact the Benefits Office.

COBRA Continuation Coverage

Your ex-spouse may continue group medical and/or dental coverage under state and federal continuation provisions, commonly referred to as COBRA. Generally, group coverage may be continued until your ex-spouse is covered under another group insurance for a maximum of 36 months.

To elect continuation of group medical and/or dental coverage, your ex-spouse must complete a Request for Continuation of Coverage form, obtained from the Benefits Office, no later than 60 days after the date of legal separation or divorce.

2. You have children covered on your family medical, dental, and/or vision plan and plan to continue coverage for them.

You will need to cancel coverage for your spouse as outlined above. Coverage for your children does not change.

Spouse Life Coverage and AD&D

When you are divorced, spouse life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment coverage cannot be continued on your ex-spouse, nor can he/she continue the coverage under COBRA continuation. You will need to cancel these policies within 31 days.

Flexible Spending Accounts

Divorce is considered a significant change in family status and qualifies for a change in election in a health care or dependent day care flexible spending account. You must make your election change no later than 31 days after the date of your divorce or legal separation.

Change Beneficiary Designation

Due to the divorce, you may wish to change the beneficiary designation for your retirement plan and life insurance.

Additional Changes

Update Personal Information in Employee Self-Service

Update your address.
Change your name. (Contact the Records Office.)
Update your emergency contact information.

Update your name and address with your retirement company.

Update your W-4 Tax Information in Employee Self-Service

Update the number of federal and state withholding allowances.

Paycheck Calculator

Calculate your net (take-home) pay, based on changes to your W-4 allowances.