Life Events

• Review WGU’s leave policies in the Employee Handbook.
• Notify your manager about the timing of your leave.
• Contact the Employee Benefits team by visiting the WGU People Center to begin the claims process.
• Review WGU’s benefits for programs you may want to take advantage of, such as back-up child care or a Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA).
• Get a Social Security number for your new child, if an application has not yet been submitted.
• Add your new child to your benefits coverage and make any other applicable benefit changes within 30 days of birth or adoption or placement in your home.
• Consider updating your life insurance beneficiary information.
• Consider updating your retirement plan beneficiary information.
• Change your tax withholdings.
• Update your will. Get assistance from LegalShield if you’re a member.
• Get help with questions about your health benefits, finding resources, and understanding your benefit coverage.
• Notify your manager of your return to work and discuss flexible working arrangements.
• Complete any required return to work forms.
• Access free, confidential counseling through Spring Health.

This is a qualifying life event. When you experience a qualifying life event, such as adding a new child to your family, you have 30 days to make benefits changes related to your event. For any questions, please visit the WGU People Center to submit a request for additional information. 

• Update your personal information, if necessary, in Workday.
• If you’re changing your name, get a new Social Security card
• Change or update your benefits coverage within 30 days.
• Update your life insurance beneficiary information.
• Update your retirement plan beneficiary.
• Update your tax withholdings.
• Update your direct deposit, if necessary, in Workday.
• Update your will. Get assistance from LegalShield if you're a member.

This is a qualifying life event. When you experience a qualifying life event, such as getting married, you have 30 days to make benefits changes related to your event. For any questions, please visit the WGU People Center to submit a request for additional information.

• Update your personal information, if necessary, in Workday.
• If you’re changing your name, get a new Social Security card.
• Change or update your benefits coverage within 30 days.
• Update your life insurance beneficiary information.
• Update your retirement plan beneficiary.
• Update your tax withholdings.
• Update your direct deposit, if necessary, in Workday.
• Update your will. Get assistance from LegalShield if you're a member.
• Access free, confidential counseling through Spring Health.

This is a qualifying life event. When you experience a qualifying life event, such as getting divorced, you have 30 days to make benefits changes related to your event. For any questions, please visit the WGU People Center to submit a request for additional information.  

• Access free, confidential counseling through Spring Health.
• Review WGU’s bereavement and personal leave policies.
• Update your benefits coverage, if necessary, within 30 days.
• Contact the Social Security Administration to end benefits received by the deceased (if disabled or retired) and to determine if benefits are available to the surviving spouse and dependent children.
• Submit life insurance claims if you are the beneficiary.
• Update your life insurance beneficiary, if necessary.
• Update your retirement plan beneficiary, if necessary.
• Update your tax withholdings.
• Update your direct deposit, if necessary, in Workday.
• Update your will. Get assistance from LegalShield if you’re a member.

This is a qualifying life event. When you experience a qualifying life event, such as a death in your family, you have 30 days to make benefits changes related to your event. For any questions, please visit the WGU People Center to submit a request for additional information. 

• Contact WGU People Center at Benefits@wgu.edu for answers to questions you may have about your change in work status.
• Adjust your benefits coverage, if your eligibility for benefits has changed, within 30 days of your work status change.
• Access free, confidential counseling through Spring Health.

This is a qualifying life event. When you experience a qualifying life event, such as a change in your work status, you have 31 days to make benefits changes related to your event. For any questions, please visit the WGU People Center to submit a request for additional information.

• Enroll in Western Governors University benefits coverage, if necessary, within 30 days of the loss of other benefits coverage.
• Access free, confidential counseling through Spring Health.

This is a qualifying life event. When you experience a qualifying life event, such as gaining or losing other benefits coverage, you have 30 days to make benefits changes related to your event. For any questions, please visit the WGU People Center to submit a request for additional information.

• Notify your manager.
• Review WGU’s retiree benefits and enroll if you or a family member is over 65.
• Learn about your options for receiving Social Security benefits, if eligible.
• Apply for Medicare, if eligible.
• Questions about Medicare? Contact Health Advocate for additional assistance.
• Decide when and how to access retirement savings.
• Convert supplemental life insurance to individual policy, if desired. Visit the Reliance Standard website for more information.
• Access free, confidential counseling through Spring Health.

This is a qualifying life event. After you’ve retired, you may be eligible for Medicare and/or Social Security benefits. Learn more on the Social Security website. You may also have the option of enrolling in other coverage, such as COBRA coverage or your spouse’s benefits. Ask your spouse’s employer for their enrollment process and deadline.

• Get help managing your condition and using your health benefits.
• Review WGU’s sick and disability leave policies.
• Notify your manager of your expected absence or discuss flexible work arrangements.
• Access free, confidential counseling through Spring Health.
• Get legal support for living wills or other documents. Contact LegalShield if you're a member.

This is not a qualifying life event. You are not able to change your benefits coverage due to this event.