Benefits enrollment: What you need to know

Coverage begins the first day of the pay period after your hire or eligibility date or after you complete enrollment — whichever is later. 

Note: Benefits do not start on your hire or eligibility date.

Complete enrollment includes: 

• Selection of benefits in the Workday portal 
• Submitting all required supporting documentation by the deadline. 

The Office of Human Resources must receive all required documents within 30 days of your hire or eligibility date. After 30 days, you can only change your benefits during open enrollment or if you have a qualifying life event. Learn more about how and when you can enroll and update your benefits. 

Exceptions for rehires and transfers within the Arizona university system — ABOR, NAU and UofA — or Arizona state agencies: 

• Rehire within 30 days: If you are rehired within 30 days of leaving a benefit-eligible position, your coverage starts on your hire date. You must confirm your enrollment in Workday and keep the same benefit elections. 
• Transfer within 30 days: If you transfer from another agency or university, your coverage starts on your hire date or the start of the next pay period after your previous coverage ends — whichever is later. There may be a gap in coverage and elections must remain the same. Contact HR support online to request an agency transfer.

Retirement plans 

Arizona State University employees are required to participate in a retirement program if they work 20 or more hours per week for at least 20 weeks in a fiscal year, as outlined in Title 38 of the Arizona Revised Statutes regarding social security and retirement.

Postdoctoral scholars, undergraduate and graduate student workers, F1, J1, M1 and Q1 visa holders are exempt from all mandatory retirement programs.

If you meet the following criteria and want to decline participation in the Arizona State Retirement System and Optional Retirement Plan, complete and fax the ASRS 65+ Membership Waiver Form to HR Retirement at 480-993-0008 within one week of employment. 

• Age 65 or older. 
• Hired on or after Aug. 2, 2012.

• Not an active, inactive, disabled or retired ASRS member. 

   

Arizona State Retirement System 

University staff who meet the membership criteria must participate in the Arizona State Retirement System. Participation begins the first day of the pay period after a 182-day waiting period. Note: You may owe retroactive contributions. 

Exception: If you already have an active ASRS account or were hired before July 20, 2011, your participation starts on your hire or eligibility date. 

Optional Retirement Plan 

Faculty, administrators, academic professionals and other university staff may choose between the ASRS and the Optional Retirement Plan. Participation begins on the first day of the pay period after you complete enrollment. 

Public Safety Personnel Retirement System

Certified ASU peace officers regularly assigned hazardous duty and employed for at least 40 hours per week for more than six months must participate in the Public Safety Personnel Retirement System. Participation starts on the first day of the pay period that includes day 91 of your employment. 

Exception: Participation begins on your hire or eligibility date if you are already a PSPRS member.