Events

Domestic Partnership

The university offers some programs and services for those in same-sex or opposite-sex domestic partner relationships.

Benefits
Domestic Partnership is a "qualifying status change" in terms of your benefits. This means that you can change most of your benefit elections without waiting until the annual open enrollment period. Contact the Office of Human Resources Customer Service Center for assistance with any benefit elections. You can also set up an individual consultation with a Benefit Consultant to go over your coverage and options.

Medical, Dental, Vision Benefits
Will you be adding your partner to your benefits? Changing to your partner's benefit program? You will need to complete and submit a Health Election Form and either an Affidavit of Same-Sex Domestic Partnership for Health and Life Insurance or an Affidavit of Sponsored Dependency For Health Care Coverage if you are in an opposite-sex domestic partnership.

Life Insurance
You may list your domestic partner as your Group Term Life Insurance beneficiary on the policy the university purchases for you (if eligible) by submitting a Group Term Life Insurance Change of Beneficiary form.

If you are part of a same-sex domestic partnership, you may also purchase Dependent Group Life Insurance (DGLI) for your partner and his or her children. Just submit a Dependent Group Life Insurance (DGLI) Enrollment form to enroll. (The university's Affidavit of Domestic Partnership and an additional DGLI affidavit will be required for DGLI enrollment.)

Family and Medical Leave (FML) and Sick Leave
Staff and faculty who are eligible for FML and sick leave may apply leave for situations affecting their domestic partner and dependents. Refer to Policy 6.05, Family and Medical Leave for more information (Affidavit of Domestic Partnership required).

Address Change

HR System
Making sure your home address is correct in the HR System is critical so that you will continue to receive special mailings that are sent to the home address. Your departmental Human Resources contact will be able to make the changes in the HR System.

Postal Service
The U.S. Postal Service Web site allows you to submit your address change online or complete a form and print it out to mail in.

Non-Citizen Requirements
ALL NON-CITIZENS (also called aliens) must report any address changes to US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) while residing in the United States within 10 days of the change. Failure to do so can result in a $200 fine and 30 days in jail, or possible deportation. Non-citizens should notify the USCIS if they no longer live at the address that they listed on the I-94 form upon entry into the United States by submitting Form AR-11, the Alien's Change of Address Card. Each member of a family must submit an individual form. Spanish, Chinese, and Russian versions of the Form AR-11, are also available on the USCIS web site. The AR-11 form may also be ordered by phone at 1-800-870-3676. The Office of International Education offers assistance to non-citizens at Ohio State - faculty and staff can visit the web site for frequently asked questions and directions on filling out the form.

Taxes
If you have moved, you may need to change your school district or county on the W-4 form - this will affect your paycheck. Contact the Tax Office for more information.

Child Care Program
Children of a faculty or staff member's domestic partner are now eligible for enrollment at the university's Child Care Program (Affidavit of Domestic Partnership required).

Direct Deposit
Are you changing your bank account? Make sure your direct deposit information changes as well. You can contact Payroll Services to discuss changes in your bank information, or download and complete a Direct Deposit Enrollment Form to start or end direct deposit.

Vacation Time
If you are planning to take a vacation, make sure you notify your manager well in advance and fill out an Application for Leave Form. Ask your departmental Human Resources contact for your vacation balance. If you are traveling outside of Ohio or internationally and you are a member of a university-sponsored health plan, remember to pack your GlobalCare card for emergency medical referrals.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
The Ohio State Employee Assistance Program offers free, confidential, professional counseling and referral services to help you and your partner with any issues that may arise.

Contact Information
For more information on Human Resources-related issues, contact the Office of Human Resources Customer Service Center.

Note that you may end your partner's participation in any of the programs listed even if you are still part of a domestic partnership with him/her.

This is intended to be a summary of benefits, services and procedures. For full details, contact the Office of Human Resources Customer Service Center, refer to benefit plan booklets, or visit the Policies web site.

The Ohio State University

www.osu.edu

Domestic Partnership