Maintaining Benefits For Sessional Lecturers Between Appointments

As  a Sessional Lecturer, you are eligible to maintain your current benefits and pension for a period up to 8 months in between appointments if,

• You previously held an appointment eligible for pension and benefits (FEP002 or FEP010), or
• You held an appointment eligible for pension and benefits (FEP002 or FEP010), within the previous 24 months and have been making continuous benefit contributions.

Maintenance of benefits is optional and individuals may cancel them during the lay off period. Note that if you are reappointed to a position eligible for health benefits only (FEP005), you will only be eligible to continue in the other benefits (e.g. Basic Group Life, Pension, Disability) you maintained during the lay off period.

If you previously held an appointment eligible for a modified benefits package (FEP005), you are not eligible to maintain your current benefits in between appointments.

Keeping your benefits

While you are on summer lay off, you have the option to maintain some or all your current benefits, at your own cost.  This means that you will be responsible for both the employee and employer portions of the premiums.  (You may not sign up for additional benefits during summer lay off.  Only those benefits you had already signed up for during the regular session can be maintained.)  If you are teaching for UBC during the summer, UBC will pay the employer portion of the benefits and pension you wish to maintain for any months in which you hold an appointment.

Financial Services will send you an invoice detailing the cost of maintaining your benefits.  You can select which benefits you wish to maintain at this time. If you have questions regarding your invoice please contact the leave of absence desk in Financial Service as follows:

822-9290 for last names beginning A-K

822-8979 for last names beginning M-Z

Pension

To maintain your pension, you will be responsible to pay both the employee and employer portions of your pension for each month (or portion) you are on summer lay-off. Since this may or may not be to your advantage, contact the UBC Faculty Pension Plan to discuss your options.

Other Benefits

The Benefits Cost Calculator can tell you what it will cost you to maintain your benefits while on summer lay-off.

Canceling your benefits

You may also choose to cancel all of your benefits while on lay-off.  If you take this option, some of your benefits will be automatically reinstated, while you will have to reapply for others. Be aware that re-enrolment in those benefits you cancel will be based on the appointment you return to at the end of your lay off period.

For example: at the end of April you held an appointment eligible for full benefits (FEP002 or FEP010). During the summer lay-off you opt not to maintain Basic Group Life or the Income Replacement Plan and only opt to maintain MSP, Extended Health, Dental, EFAP and Pension. In September, you are given an appointment eligible for health benefits only (FEP005).  You will be eligible to continue MPS, Extended Health, Dental and EFAP,  In addition, as you maintained Pension during the lay-off period you will be eligible to continue Pension enrolment.  You will not be eligible to reapply for Basic Group Life or the Income Replacement Plan until you hold an appointment eligible for pension and all benefits.

Re-apply for benefits

Medical Services Plan (MSP)

If you elect not to maintain your MSP coverage through UBC, you must pay MSP directly or ensure that you have coverage through a spouse or partner’s plan.  Upon your return to work from leave, should you wish to re-enroll in MSP through UBC, you must complete an enrolment form.

Optional Life Insurance,

If you elect not to maintain any of these and then later wish to rejoin, you will need to re-apply for coverage, submitting a health questionnaire and a medical examination may be necessary at your own expense.

Automatic reinstatement

Extended Health, Dental Care, Employee & Family Assistance Program (EFAP) and Basic Group Life Insurance

If you elect not to maintain these benefits, they will be automatically reinstated the first day of the month on or after the date you return to work from lay-off, as long as you meet the eligibility requirements.

Income Replacement Plan (effective July 1, 2004)

If you elect not to maintain this benefit, it will automatically be reinstated the day you return from leave, as long as you meet the eligibility requirements.

Faculty Pension Plan

Upon return to work, your Pension will be automatically reinstated, as long as you meet the eligibility requirements.