Congratulations!

As you plan for your growing family, you may want to review your FCPS benefits:

1. If you are an FCPS employee and planning to take a parental leave, you will want to review the Time Away from Work webpage. This page will provide an overview of your leave benefits, such as Paid Parental Leave (PPL) and leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), as well as disability benefits for those who may be eligible. 

2. View the FCPS Expecting Parent Workshop materials or sign up for a virtual session! The presentation provides information on how to prepare and plan for your time away from work as well as additional resources that may be available through your health plan or the FCPS Employee Wellness Team. Find more information on the Expectant Parent Workshop webpage.

3. Think about potential health insurance changes.
If you are planning to add your child to your health and/or dental insurance, you must complete and submit the Medical & Dental Enrollment and Change Form (HR-124) to the Office of Benefit Services via FCPS StaffConnect along with the appropriate supporting documentation. 

• If you are adding a baby, the required supporting documentation will be a copy of the Proof of Birth letter from the hospital or the birth certificate. 
  • You must complete and submit these documents within 30 calendar days of the child’s date of birth in order for the enrollment to be processed.  Your child’s medical benefits will become effective on the child’s date of birth. 
  • If you do not submit a copy of the birth certificate at the time of enrollment, you must send a copy to the Office of Benefit Services in order to maintain coverage for your child. When you receive the Social Security card, please update the SSN through UConnect.
• If you are adding an adopted child, the required supporting documentation will be a photocopy of the Final Adoption Decree or an Interlocutory Decree of Adoption with the presiding judge’s signature and seal OR a photocopy of the child’s birth certificate showing the employee as the adopting parent.
  • You must complete these documents within 30 calendar days of the adoption decree/birth certificate in order for the enrollment to be processed and your child’s medical benefits to become effective on the date of adoption (or date placed for adoption). As an adoptive parent, you do not have to wait until the adoption is final to add your child to your health plan.
• If you are gaining legal guardianship/custody of a child, the required supporting documentation will be a photocopy of the final court order or order of custody with the presiding judge's signature and date.
  • You must complete these documents within 30 calendar days of the adoption decree/birth certificate in order for the enrollment to be processed and your child’s medical benefits to become effective on the date of custody (or date placed in foster care). 

4. In addition to making benefit plan changes, you may also want to consider the following:

• Life Insurance: You may also want to elect optional life insurance for your spouse and/or children at this time. Visit the Life Insurance webpage for more information.
• Beneficiary designations for life, deferred compensation plans: 403(b) and 457(b), and retirement pension plans (FCERS, VRS, and ERFC): As an FCPS employee, you may have more than one plan that requires beneficiary designations. To learn how to change your beneficiary for your life insurance or your retirement, visit the Changing Beneficiaries webpage. 
• Tax withholdings on state and or federal.
  You can change your withholding for federal income taxes through UConnect. Click on "Pay" then "Tax Withholding" to review your federal and state withholdings and make changes as appropriate. Follow the instructions to view/update your current withholdings. Your tax withholding change will be effective on the next available payroll cycle. If you have any questions, please email [email protected].