Eligibility for an employee whose work circumstances are described by more than one of the eligibility categories in subsections (1) through (5) of this section shall be determined solely by the criteria of the category that most closely describes the employee's work circumstances.

Hours that are excluded in determining eligibility include standby hours and any temporary increases in work hours, of six months or less, caused by training or emergencies (except governor-declared emergencies) that have not been or are not anticipated to be part of the employee's regular work schedule or pattern. Any hours worked in direct response to a governor-declared emergency are not excludable and must be included in determining eligibility. In order to include excluded hours in determining eligibility, employing agencies must request and receive the public employees benefits board (PEBB) program's approval.

For how the employer contribution toward PEBB benefits is maintained after eligibility is established under this section, see WAC 182-12-131.

(1) Employees are eligible for PEBB benefits as follows, except as described in subsections (2) through (5) of this section:

(a) Eligibility. An employee is eligible if they are anticipated to work an average of at least 80 hours per month and are anticipated to work for at least eight hours in each month for more than six consecutive months.

(b) Determining eligibility.

(i) Upon employment: An employee is eligible from the date of employment if the employing agency anticipates the employee will work according to the criteria in (a) of this subsection.

(ii) Upon revision of anticipated work pattern: If an employing agency revises an employee's anticipated work hours or anticipated duration of employment such that the employee meets the eligibility criteria in (a) of this subsection, the employee becomes eligible when the revision is made.

(iii) Based on work pattern: An employee who is determined to be ineligible, but later meets the eligibility criteria in (a) of this subsection, becomes eligible the first of the month following the six-month averaging period.

(c) Stacking of hours. As long as the work is within one state agency, employees may "stack" or combine hours worked in more than one position or job to establish eligibility and maintain the employer contribution toward PEBB benefits. Employees become eligible through stacking when they meet the requirements described in (a) of this subsection. They must notify their employing agency if they believe they are eligible through stacking. Stacking includes work situations in which:

(i) The employee works two or more positions or jobs at the same time (concurrent stacking);

(ii) The employee moves from one position or job to another (consecutive stacking); or

(iii) The employee combines hours from a seasonal position with hours from a nonseasonal position or job. An employee who establishes eligibility by stacking hours from a seasonal position or job with hours from a nonseasonal position or job shall maintain the employer contribution toward PEBB benefits as described in WAC 182-12-131(1).

(d) When PEBB benefits begin. Medical, dental, basic life insurance, basic accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance, employer-paid long-term disability (LTD) insurance, employee-paid LTD insurance (unless the employee declines the employee-paid LTD insurance as described in WAC 182-08-197(1)), and if eligible, benefits under the salary reduction plan begin on the first day of the month following the date an employee becomes eligible. If the employee becomes eligible on the first working day of a month, then coverage begins on that date. Supplemental life insurance and supplemental AD&D insurance begin on the first day of the month following the date the contracted vendor receives the required form or approves the enrollment.

(2) Seasonal employees, as defined in WAC 182-12-109, are eligible as follows:

(a) Eligibility. A seasonal employee is eligible if they are anticipated to work an average of at least 80 hours per month and are anticipated to work for at least eight hours in each month of at least three consecutive months of the season.

(b) Determining eligibility.

(i) Upon employment: A seasonal employee is eligible from the date of employment if the employing agency anticipates that they will work according to the criteria in (a) of this subsection.

(ii) Upon revision of anticipated work pattern. If an employing agency revises an employee's anticipated work hours or anticipated duration of employment such that the employee meets the eligibility criteria in (a) of this subsection, the employee becomes eligible when the revision is made.

(iii) Based on work pattern. An employee who is determined to be ineligible for benefits, but later works an average of at least 80 hours per month and works for at least eight hours in each month and works for more than six consecutive months, becomes eligible the first of the month following a six-month averaging period.

(i) The employee works two or more positions or jobs at the same time (concurrent stacking);

(ii) The employee moves from one position or job to another (consecutive stacking); or

(iii) The employee combines hours from a seasonal position or job with hours from a nonseasonal position or job. An employee who establishes eligibility by stacking hours from a seasonal position or job with hours from a nonseasonal position or job shall maintain the employer contribution toward PEBB benefits as described in WAC 182-12-131(1).

(d) When PEBB benefits begin. Medical, dental, basic life insurance, basic AD&D insurance, employer-paid LTD insurance, employee-paid LTD insurance (unless the employee declines the employee-paid LTD insurance as described in WAC 182-08-197(1)), and if eligible, benefits under the salary reduction plan begin on the first day of the month following the day the employee becomes eligible. If the employee becomes eligible on the first working day of a month, then coverage begins on that date. Supplemental life insurance and supplemental AD&D insurance begin on the first day of the month following the date the contracted vendor receives the required form or approves the enrollment.

Exception:

Seasonal employees who work a recurring, annual season with a duration of less than nine months are not eligible for the employee-paid LTD insurance benefit.

(3) Faculty are eligible as follows:

(a) Determining eligibility. "Half-time" means one-half of the full-time academic workload as determined by each institution, except that half-time for community and technical college faculty employees is governed by RCW 28B.50.489.

(i) Upon employment: Faculty who the employing agency anticipates will work half-time or more for the entire instructional year, or equivalent nine-month period, are eligible from the date of employment.

(ii) For faculty hired on quarter/semester to quarter/semester basis: Faculty who the employing agency anticipates will not work for the entire instructional year, or equivalent nine-month period, are eligible at the beginning of the second consecutive quarter or semester of employment in which they are anticipated to work, or has actually worked, half-time or more. Spring and fall are considered consecutive quarters/semesters when first establishing eligibility for faculty that work less than half-time during the summer quarter/semester.

(iii) Upon revision of anticipated work pattern: Faculty who receive additional workload after the beginning of the anticipated work period (quarter, semester, or instructional year), such that their workload meets the eligibility criteria as described in (a)(i) or (ii) of this subsection become eligible when the revision is made.

(b) Stacking. Faculty may establish eligibility and maintain the employer contribution toward PEBB benefits by working as faculty for more than one institution of higher education. Faculty workloads may only be stacked with other faculty workloads to establish eligibility under this section or maintain eligibility as described in WAC 182-12-131(3). A faculty becomes eligible through stacking when they meet the requirements as described in (a) of this subsection. When a faculty works for more than one institution of higher education, the faculty must notify their employing agencies that they work at more than one institution and may be eligible through stacking.

(i) Medical, dental, basic life insurance, basic AD&D insurance, employer-paid LTD insurance, employee-paid LTD insurance (unless the faculty declines the employee-paid LTD insurance as described in WAC 182-08-197(1)), and if eligible, benefits under the salary reduction plan begin on the first day of the month following the day the faculty becomes eligible. If the faculty becomes eligible on the first working day of a month, then coverage begins on that date. Supplemental life insurance and supplemental AD&D insurance begin on the first day of the month following the date the contracted vendor receives the required form or approves the enrollment.

(ii) For faculty hired on a quarter/semester to quarter/semester basis under (a)(ii) of this subsection, medical, dental, basic life insurance, basic AD&D insurance, employer-paid LTD insurance, employee-paid LTD insurance (unless the faculty declines the employee-paid LTD insurance as described in WAC 182-08-197(1)), and if eligible, benefits under the salary reduction plan begin the first day of the month following the beginning of the second consecutive quarter/semester of half-time or more employment. If the first day of the second consecutive quarter/semester is the first working day of the month, then coverage begins at the beginning of the second consecutive quarter/semester. Supplemental life insurance and supplemental AD&D insurance begin on the first day of the month following the date the contracted vendor receives the required form or approves the enrollment.

(4) Elected and full-time appointed officials of the legislative and executive branches of state government are eligible as follows:

(a) Eligibility. A legislator is eligible for PEBB benefits on the date their term begins. All other elected and full-time appointed officials of the legislative and executive branches of state government are eligible on the date their terms begin or the date they take the oath of office, whichever occurs first.

(b) When PEBB benefits begin. Medical, dental, basic life insurance, basic AD&D insurance, employer-paid LTD insurance, employee-paid LTD insurance (unless the employee declines the employee-paid LTD insurance as described in WAC 182-08-197(1)), and if eligible, benefits under the salary reduction plan begin on the first day of the month following the day the employee becomes eligible. If the employee becomes eligible on the first working day of a month, then coverage begins on that date. Supplemental life insurance and supplemental AD&D insurance begin on the first day of the month following the date the contracted vendor receives the required form or approves the enrollment.

(5) Justices and judges are eligible as follows:

(a) Eligibility. A justice of the supreme court and judges of the court of appeals and the superior courts become eligible for PEBB benefits on the date they take the oath of office.

PDFWAC 182-12-114

How do employees establish eligibility for public employees benefits board (PEBB) benefits?