Benefits 101
Benefits eligibility for field hourly Team Members is determined by the number of service hours a Team Member earns over a specified time frame. There are two types of eligibility:
Benefits 101
You first become eligible for benefits following your hire date or date of promotion.
Initial eligibility
This is how you become eligible for benefits for the first time.
You will be benefits-eligible the first of the month following or coinciding with your hire date. If you are promoted from an hourly position, your benefits eligibility will be the first of the month following or coinciding with your promotion effective date.
You have 45 days from when you become eligible for benefits to enroll in coverage. For example, if you can join the benefits plan starting on June 1, you will have until July 15 to enroll.
Learn more about how to enroll.
Should you experience a step-down to an hourly position, you will remain benefits-eligible for the remainder of the plan year. You will then be measured for the following plan year eligibility.
Annual eligibility
Once a year, we take a look at who gains, maintains, or loses eligibility for the next calendar year.
Team Members must have at least one year of continuous service to be reviewed for annual eligibility. Team Members must earn 1,560 hours of service (an average of 30 hours per week) over a specified period of time. Generally, the period of time checked for annual eligibility will be 52 weeks beginning and ending in early October.
Initial eligibility
This is how you become eligible for benefits for the first time.
Generally, you must have 1 year of continuous service and earn 1,560 service hours (an average of 30 hours per week) within your initial measurement period to be eligible for benefits. Your initial measurement period begins on the first day of the pay period following the pay period in which you first have hours and ends 12 months later, provided you have not had a Break in Service (described below). If you have earned 1,560 hours of service at the end of your initial measurement period, you will become eligible for benefits. Benefits will be effective on the first of the month following the end of your initial measurement period. You are guaranteed benefits eligibility for 12 months from your effective date.
For example, Mary is hired on July 25 but doesn’t begin working until the pay period that begins August 18, 2020. Her initial measurement period will be from August 18 through August 17, 2021. If she earns 1,560 hours of service or more, her benefits will be effective September 1, 2021, and will not end earlier than August 31, 2022.
You have 45 days from when you become eligible for benefits to enroll in coverage. For example, if you can join the benefits plan starting on June 1, you will have until July 15 to enroll.
Learn more about how to enroll.
Annual eligibility
Once a year, we take a look at who gains, maintains, or loses eligibility for the next calendar year.
For annual eligibility, a Team Member must earn 1,560 hours of service (an average of 30 hours per week) over a particular period of time. Generally, the period of time checked for annual eligibility will be 52 weeks beginning and ending in early October.
The hours that were included for determining your eligibility for benefits in 2022 were hours of service (including credited hours for eligible leave) included in pay dates between October 3, 2020, and October 2, 2021. For 2023 eligibility for benefits, the hours included for determining your eligibility for benefits include the pay dates between October 3, 2021 and October 2, 2022.
If you were determined to be eligible under initial eligibility but not annual eligibility, you will be able to continue on your benefits for 12 months from your initial effective date.
Contacts
BBI Resource Center
General benefits information and eligibility