Congratulations on expanding your family! As your family grows, please consider the following:
1. Changes to your benefits
- You have 31 days from the date of the birth to make changes to your benefits. You may:
- Add your new dependent(s) to your medical, dental and vision plans (your newborn will not automatically be added to your coverage).
- Enroll in or increase your health care and dependent care flexible spending accounts (FSAs), as applicable.
- Review your life and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) options and make any necessary changes.
- Consider options available to you outside of the University when you are evaluating your benefits during this time.
- Contact HR Shared Services to make these changes. If you do not contact us within 31 days, you must wait for the next annual enrollment to make changes to your benefits.
- You will need to provide a copy of your child’s birth certificate and social security number (when available), or documentation of legal guardianship, placement for adoption or adoption agreement.
- Review eligibility for the Dependent Care Subsidy. Please note, this program is only offered once a year (generally, after Open Enrollment closes). If you believe you may be eligible, be sure to apply during the next application period.
- Review the adoption assistance benefits for reimbursement of eligible adoption-related expenses.
- Consider any changes you need to make to your voluntary retirement contributions or auto and home insurance.
2. Review and update your beneficiaries
- You may wish to update your beneficiary designations [PDF] for life and AD&D insurance. You are automatically the beneficiary of any spouse/same-sex domestic partner or child life insurance.
- Your spouse is automatically the beneficiary for your 403(b) retirement account, unless he or she signs written consent for you to name someone else as the beneficiary. Call TIAA at 855.842.2873 (TTY: 800.842.2755) or visit tiaa.org/syr for assistance.
3. Update your personal information and payroll tax withholding, as needed
- Review your personal information in MySlice and make any necessary updates.
- While in MySlice, you can also update your federal and state tax withholding status.
4. Review leave and disability benefits
- Staff and faculty may be entitled to disability benefits, FMLA leave as well as the New York State Paid Family Leave for baby bonding.
- Faculty may also be entitled to a parental leave.
5. Remember your wellness and worklife resources
- Parenting information and support, including child care referrals, are provided by the Faculty and Staff Assistance Program through Carebridge.
- Review the lactation spaces available throughout campus and coverage for breast pumps available through the University medical plan.
- Learn more about Syracuse University’s Early Childhood Education Programs.
- Check out the University’s Financial Wellness hub to find additional resources available to you as you are planning your future.
Should you have any questions, or require accommodations to access any information on this webpage, please reach out to HR Shared Services at 315.443.4042.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information contained within this website is accurate. However, benefits are governed by legal documents (which, in certain circumstances, may include insurance contracts). If there is any difference between the information in this website and the official documents, the official documents will control. As is the case with all of Syracuse University’s employee benefit plans, the University reserves the right to modify or terminate these benefits at any time.