Benefits Information for New Employees

Let’s Talk Benefits …

Washington State University offers a comprehensive benefits package, encompassing a sizable amount of our employees’ overall compensation package. Options to best fit our employees’ and their families’ needs are offered, and we are happy to extend these benefits to you!

New employees will receive a notification through Workday letting them know they need to make their benefit elections within the 31-day election window. This site contains general information to assist you with making your benefit elections; it is applicable to the majority of our new employees, but may not address all individual benefit scenarios. A key piece of information is the 2026 Enrollment Guide, the Public Employees Benefits Board’s (PEBB) primary benefit publication.

Enrollment Deadlines

Benefit elections must be made in Workday within the election window to receive preferred coverage. If no election is submitted, certain rights and options may be lost. Listed below are the due dates and links to additional information on the benefits offered through WSU.

Retirement

Faculty/Administrative Professionals have 30 days from their date of hire to make an election; Classified Staff and eligible nonpermanent employees have 90 days.

• Faculty and Administrative Professional Employees
• Civil Service, Bargaining Unit, and Hourly Employees
• Law Enforcement Officers and Firefighters
• Voluntary Retirement Plans – additional optional retirement benefit. No due date

Medical and Dental Insurance

Election due within 31 days of hire/benefit eligibility.

• Medical Insurance information
• Dental Insurance information
• Vision Insurance information
• Dependent Eligibility – includes list of valid dependent verification documents
• Dependents with Disabilities
• Extended Dependents

Long Term Disability (LTD)

Election due within 31 days of hire/benefit eligibility.

LTD – Optional Long Term Disability insurance is not available to seasonal employees who work a season that is less than nine months. These individuals are eligible for the Basic LTD.

Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP) and/or Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

Election due within 31 days of hire/benefit eligibility.

• DCAP
• FSA – available for those enrolled in a non-CDHP medical plan or who waived coverage

Life Insurance

Election due within 31 days of hire/benefit eligibility.

• Life Insurance Form
• Life Insurance information

Other Benefits and Information

No associated due dates.

• Liberty Mutual – Car, Home and Rental Insurances
• GET – Guaranteed Education Tuition
• Pre-Tax Commuter Benefit – Pay for your work-related travel expenses, including transit passes, non-WSU campus parking, and vanpool, pre-tax through WageWorks.
• Employee Assistance Program – The EAP provides confidential counseling and referral services to WSU faculty and staff, as well as free legal consultation and financial counseling services, and comprehensive work-life and wellness resources.