The death of a loved one has a profound impact on the lives of everyone around them. This includes impacts on benefits you or the deceased elected as a University of Washington employee. This resource page can help you navigate the different things to consider when a UW employee, their dependent, or a UW retiree passes away.<\/p>\n
The University of Washington Benefits Office provides support to employees, retirees and family members in the event of the death of a current UW employee, dependent of a UW employee, or UW retiree. Report a death by contacting our office or filling out the online form on the right panel of this webpage.<\/p>\n
The death of a current UW employee or the death of a dependent of a current UW employee should be reported to the Benefits Office. The Benefits Office will assist you in understanding what impact this has to current benefits and what steps should be taken next. In the event of the death of a UW retiree, the Benefits Office can assist family members with potential impacts on retiree benefits.<\/p>\n
When reporting a death, please be ready to provide the following information:<\/p>\n
In the event of a death of a current UW employee, we suggest that you also notify the UW employee’s department<\/a>. If you are having trouble finding the department\u2019s contact information, let us know and we can help you.<\/p>\n How do I reach the UW Benefits Office?<\/strong><\/p>\n You can call the Benefits Office at 206-543-4444 Monday \u2013 Friday from 8 am \u2013 5 pm, or email at benefits@uw.edu<\/a>. After we have been notified of the death, we will provide a Summary of Benefits letter to you.<\/p>\n Return to top<\/a><\/p> Death of a UW employee family member<\/strong><\/p>\n You can review your health insurance coverage at any time in Workday to see which dependent family members are covered under your medical, vision and\/or dental insurance. If a covered dependent\u2019s death should occur, this is considered a qualifying Life Event<\/a>, which allows you to remove the dependent from your health insurance coverage within 60 days after death. Please contact UW Benefits to complete a PEBB Employee Change form, which will require a copy of the death certificate, and allow you to remove a covered dependent. If you are eligible for any premium refund, UW Payroll will process the refund. Contact UW Payroll<\/a>\u00a0for questions.<\/p>\n Death of a UW employee<\/strong><\/p>\n The surviving next-of-kin or executor of the estate for a deceased UW employee will find that the UW employee\u2019s medical, vision and\/or dental insurance will end at the end of the month in which the UW employee passed away. If the UW employee was covering their spouse or dependents, the Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) will send out a COBRA notice to the covered spouse and\/or dependents. This will allow those covered under the deceased insurance to continue their coverage on a temporary basis. For more information on COBRA, visit the HCA. If you are eligible for any premium refund, UW Payroll will process the refund. Contact UW Payroll<\/a>\u00a0for questions.<\/p>\n Death of a UW retiree<\/strong><\/p>\n The surviving next-of-kin or executor of the estate for a deceased UW retiree will find that if the UW retiree had PEBB retiree insurance coverage through the state of Washington that the insurance will end at the end of the month in which the UW retiree passed away. If the UW retiree elected to cover their spouse or dependents, the Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) will not terminate coverage after the death of the UW retiree. This will allow those covered under the deceased insurance to continue their coverage. For more information please contact the HCA<\/a>.<\/p>\n Return to top<\/a><\/p> Death of a UW employee family member<\/strong><\/p>\n Please review and, if necessary, change your beneficiary information online by logging into your account with\u00a0TIAA.<\/a><\/p>\n Death of a UW employee<\/strong><\/p>\n Once identified, the spouse or beneficiary of the UW employee\u2019s retirement account can work directly with TIAA<\/a> to request a distribution of the account. This will allow the spouse or beneficiary to either transfer the funds, or receive a distribution of the account balance.<\/p>\n Death of a UW retiree<\/strong><\/p>\n Once identified, the spouse or beneficiary of the UW employee\u2019s retirement account can work directly with TIAA<\/a> to request a distribution of the account. This will allow the spouse or beneficiary to either transfer the funds or receive a distribution of the account balance.<\/p>\n Additionally, if the UW retiree was receiving payments from the University of Washington Supplemental Retirement Plan (UWSRP), and had elected a survivor, that survivor will be provided information to continue these benefit payments in the survivor\u2019s name.<\/p>\n Death of a UW employee family member<\/strong><\/p>\n Please review your beneficiary information and if necessary update your beneficiary by:<\/p>\n Death of a UW employee<\/strong><\/p>\n Once identified, the spouse or beneficiary of the UW employee\u2019s retirement account can work directly with the Department of Retirement Systems at 800-547-6657 to review options for the deceased\u2019s account.<\/p>\n Death of a UW retiree<\/strong><\/p>\n Once identified, the spouse or beneficiary of the UW retiree\u2019s retirement account can work directly with the Department of Retirement Systems at 800-547-6657 to review options for the deceased\u2019s account.<\/p>\n Return to top<\/a><\/p> Death of a UW employee family member<\/strong><\/p>\n Please review your optional insurance coverage and your listed beneficiaries on the MetLife website<\/a>. If you have any life insurance questions, please contact MetLife at 1-866-548-7139 for assistance, and if necessary to file a life insurance claim.<\/p>\n Death of a UW employee<\/strong><\/p>\n Once identified, the spouse or beneficiary of the UW employee\u2019s life insurance can work directly with MetLife at 1-866-548-7139 for questions, and if necessary to file a life insurance claim.<\/p>\n Death of a UW retiree<\/strong><\/p>\n Retiree life insurance is an optional choice for UW retirees, and is provided through the State of Washington Heath Care Authority. To see if the retiree had retiree coverage you can work directly with MetLife at 1-866-548-7139 for questions, and if necessary to file a life insurance claim.<\/p>\n Return to top<\/a><\/p> Death of a family member<\/strong><\/p>\n A death of a dependent is considered a qualifying life event. If this occurs, you have 60 days to make a change or enroll. View the FSA and DCAP user guide<\/a> and make changes through Workday<\/a>. If you\u2019re unsure whether or not an event qualifies, contact Navia Benefit Solutions<\/a>.<\/p>\n Death of a UW employee<\/strong><\/p>\n If the UW employee elected to participate in either of these pre-tax spending accounts you can contact Navia Benefit Solutions<\/a> to review options for the deceased\u2019s account. The UW Benefits Office can assist you if you are unsure if this benefit was elected by the employee<\/p>\n Death of a UW retiree<\/strong><\/p>\n This doesn\u2019t apply to UW Retirees who retired prior to the current calendar year.<\/p>\n Death of a UW employee family member<\/strong><\/p>\n Please review your beneficiary information and if necessary update your beneficiary information online by logging into your HealthEquity account<\/a>. If your medical coverage will change to single only coverage you may need to adjust your elective contributions to ensure you do not over contribute for the year. Contact your tax advisor or Health Equity<\/a> for further assistance if you have any questions.<\/p>\n Death of a UW employee<\/strong><\/p>\n If the UW employee elected to participate in this benefit, the spouse or named beneficiary can contact Health Equity<\/a> to review options for the deceased\u2019s account. The UW Benefits Office can assist you if you are unsure if this benefit was elected by the employee<\/p>\n Death of a UW retiree<\/strong><\/p>\n If prior to retirement the UW retiree elected to participate in this benefit, the spouse or named beneficiary can contact Health Equity<\/a> to review options for the deceased\u2019s account. The UW Benefits Office can assist you if you are unsure if this benefit was elected by the employee. Note this benefit was not available to UW employees prior to January 1, 2012.<\/p>\n VEBA<\/strong><\/p>\n This benefit is available only for UW Campus Police Officers and eligible UW Retirees. For questions about this account contact Customer Care: 888-828-4953 or customercare@veba.org<\/a>. The Benefits Office will provide further information on VEBA availability.<\/p>\nMedical, Dental and Vision Insurance<\/h4>\n
Retirement plans<\/h4>\n
UW Retirement plans (UWRP & VIP)<\/h5>\n
State retirement plans (PERS, TRS, PSERS, DCP, & LEOFF)<\/h5>\n
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Life insurance<\/h4>\n
Pre-tax spending accounts<\/h4>\n
Medical Flexible Savings Account (FSA), Limited Purpose Flexible Savings Account (FSA), or Dependent Care Assistance Plan (DCAP)<\/h5>\n
Health savings account<\/h5>\n