Life events can be complex but UA Benefits is here to help
Are you going through a life event?
If you are going through a life event, the administrative paperwork can be daunting.
Whatever life brings to you, the UA Benefits team is here to help you navigate your
employer sponsored benefits.
What is a life event?
Life events can include wonderful memories such as getting married, bringing home
a new family member, starting a new job, or changing your name. It can also be a difficult
time for you or a member of your family including going through a divorce, unexpectedly
losing employment, or experiencing a death in the family.
Regardless of the life event, the UA Benefits team is here to assist. Below is a high-level overview of some of the most common life events. This list is not exhaustive and is meant to provide a jumping off point for employees to get started. If you would like to discuss a specific situation, please reach out to the Benefits team at ua-benefits@alaska.edu, (907) 450-8242, or schedule a one-on-one appointment.
Update your benefits
- Complete a life event form to add your spouse and any dependent children. You may also remove yourself if you are being added to your new spouse’s coverage.
- You have 30 days from the day of the event to complete this form. Late forms are not accepted. Review our life event article for more information.
- Do not wait for the marriage certificate to submit your life event form. Official documentation can be provided to the Benefits team later.
- Unsure what changes to make, if any? Contact TouchCare.
Consider new benefits
- Consider spouse supplemental life insurance
- You have 30 days from the day of the event to complete the life event form to elect new benefits. Late forms are not accepted. Review our life event article for more information.
- Unsure what these benefits are and if they make sense for your situation? Contact TouchCare.
Update your beneficiaries
- Update beneficiaries on your retirement and/or life insurance plans. Review our recent Beneficiary article for more information.
Update your personal information / change your name
- Log into UAOnline to update your emergency contact, mailing address, personal email address or phone number.
- Update your name or status with a UA HR change form.
Tax withholdings
- Update your W4 on UAOnline to ensure proper tax withholdings.
Update your benefits
- Complete a life event form to add your new dependent child.
- You have 60 days from the day of the event to add your new family member to coverage. However, any additional benefit changes must be made within the first 30 days of the event. Late forms are not accepted. Review our life event article for more information.
- Do not wait for the birth certificate or official adoption papers to submit your life event form. Official documentation can be provided to the Benefits team later.
- Unsure what changes to make, if any? Contact TouchCare.
Consider new benefits
- Consider a Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (DC FSA) to set aside pre-tax dollars for day care charges for dependent children under the age of 13.
- Consider child supplemental life insurance.
- You have 30 days from the day of the event to complete the life event form to elect new benefits. Late forms are not accepted. Review our life event article for more information.
- Unsure what these benefits are and if they make sense for your situation? Contact TouchCare.
Update your beneficiaries
- Update beneficiaries on your retirement and/or life insurance plans. Review our recent Beneficiary article for more information.
Update your personal information
- Log into UAOnline to update your emergency contact, mailing address, personal email address or phone
number.
Family and Medical Leave
- Reach out to the Leaves team (ua-hr-leaves@alaska.edu) to discuss your eligibility for Family and Medical Leave (FML).
Tax withholdings
- Update your W4 on UAOnline to ensure proper tax withholdings.
Update your benefits
- Complete a life event form to add or remove your spouse and any dependent children. You may also remove yourself if you are being added to your new spouse’s coverage due to them starting a new job.
- You have 30 days from the day of the event to complete this form. Late forms are not accepted. Review our life event article for more information.
- Unsure what changes to make, if any? Contact TouchCare.
Update your benefits
- Complete a life event form to remove your child on their 26th birthday.
- You have 30 days from the day of the event to complete this form. Late forms are not accepted. Review our life event article for more information.
- Coverage for your child will end at the end of the pay period in which they turn 26. Review the chart of pay periods.
- COBRA coverage will be offered to your child. Reach out to UA Benefits at ua-benefits@alaska.edu, (907) 450-8242, or schedule a one-on-one appointment for questions on COBRA.
Update your benefits
- Complete a life event form to remove your spouse as of the date of divorce.
- You have 30 days from the day of the event to complete this form. Late forms are not accepted. Review our life event article for more information.
- Do not wait for the divorce decree to submit your life event form. Official documentation can be provided to the Benefits team later.
- Coverage for your former spouse will end at the end of the pay period in which the divorce is final. Review the chart of pay periods.
- COBRA coverage will be offered to your former spouse. Reach out to UA Benefits at
ua-benefits@alaska.edu, (907) 450-8242, or schedule a one-on-one appointment for questions on COBRA.
Update your beneficiaries
- Update beneficiaries on your retirement and/or life insurance plans. Review our recent Beneficiary article for more information.
Update your personal information
- Log into UAOnline to update your emergency contact, mailing address, personal email address or phone
number.
Tax withholdings
- Update your W4 on UAOnline to ensure proper tax withholdings.
Understand if a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) is necessary
Here we will focus only on the plans that UA administers. All questions regarding the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) and Teachers Retirement System (TRS) must be directed to the State of Alaska Division of Retirement and Benefits (DRB) at 1-800-821-2251.
Set expectations ahead of time. This process can take a few months to complete due to required waiting periods and working through the court system.
- Understand what retirement plans are affected. You can find what retirement plans
you are enrolled in on UAOnline > Employee Dashboard > Benefits > Current Summary > Select. At UA, you can be enrolled
in the:
- Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) - contact DRB
- Teachers Retirement System (TRS) - contact DRB
- Optional Retirement Plan (ORP) - contact UA Benefits
- UA Pension Plan - contact UA Benefits
- Voluntary 403(b) - contact UA Benefits
- Voluntary 457(b) - contact UA Benefits
- Reach out to the Benefits team and request a template for the UA plan(s) affected.
- Speak to an attorney that has experience in preparing QDROs. Provide them with the
UA template and complete a draft.
- Provide the draft to UA Benefits prior to submitting to a judge. This allows UA Benefits
to catch any errors in the QDRO before it is submitted for official signature.
- Once UA Benefits completes their review, submit the QDRO to the judge for official
signature.
- Once the judge signs, submit a certified copy of the QDRO to UA Benefits.
- UA Benefits provides a preliminary letter to the retirement plan fund sponsor (TIAA,
Fidelity, Corebridge, Lincoln). A 45-day waiting period commences.
- After 45 days, UA Benefits provides a final letter to the retirement plan fund sponsor and the plans are divided per the QDRO.
Emailed via benefits newsletter on 9/9/2025.
Contact Benefits: (907) 450-8242 | ua-benefits@alaska.edu | schedule one-on-one time