Divorce or Legal Separation

Divorce is a challenging process even under the best of circumstances. There are a number of resources available to support you as you navigate the process.

Retirement

As part of your divorce process you, the courts and your legal representative and/or mediator (if applicable) may require documentation of your assets and insurance coverages. UMass Amherst does not have access to the balance of your mandatory or voluntary retirement accounts however your retirement plan administrator will be able to provide the required documentation.

Retirement plan vendors may be able to provide you a sample Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QuaDRO), providing language that each is able to implement. Please have the relevant portions of your proposed divorce decree and/or QuaDRO reviewed by your retirement vendor(s) to ensure they can implement the language as written (avoiding the possibility of the need to return to court to have amended language approved by the court).

Name Change

If your name changes as part of the process, please update Human Resources by providing a copy of your Social Security card with your new name.

MA Group Insurance Commission (GIC) Health Insurance

If your spouse or former spouse is covered under your GIC health insurance plan you are obligated to notify the GIC of the change and provide corresponding legal documentation. The GIC's website reads, in part: 

If you fail to report a legal separation, divorce or remarriage, your health plan and the GIC have the right to seek recovery of health claims paid or premiums owed for your former spouse. Failure to report a remarriage in a timely manner will result in financial liabilities and/or cancellation of coverage to the insured and/or former spouse.

Within 60 calendar days of your divorce or legal separation, please notify the GIC of your family status change either:

• In the MyGIC Portal (uploading a copy of your legal separation or divorce agreement, including page reflecting date of divorce absolute and signature page).
• By completing and submitting a GIC Enrollment/Change Form (Form1) at the Human Resources Employee Service Center, providing a copy of the divorce agreement (including page reflecting date of divorce absolute and signature page).

If your divorce agreement allows you to remove your former spouse and/or dependents from your GIC health insurance plan you may process the change in the MyGIC Portal or on the GIC Enrollment/Change form at the same time.

GIC Optional Life Insurance

Upon legal separation or divorce you may enroll for up to four times your annual salary in GIC Optional Life Insurance (if you do not already carry this amount of coverage or more) without passing a medical evidence of insurability exam. To do this you must complete a GIC GIC Enrollment/Change Form (Form1) to the HRESC within 31 days of the qualifying event with legal proof of separation or divorce.

Dental and/or Dental/Vision insurances

If your divorce agreement allows you to remove your former spouse and/or dependents from your dental/vision insurance coverage you may do so by:

• For USA/MTA and MSP/MTA employees: completing and submitting a BHE Insurance Enrollment Change Form at the UMass Amherst Human Resources Employee Service Center with a copy of the divorce agreement (including page reflecting date of divorce absolute and signature page.
• For Non-Unit employees: completing and submitting a Non-Unit Dental Insurance Enrollment Change Form at the UMass Amherst Human Resources Employee Service Center ith a copy of the divorce agreement (including page reflecting date of divorce absolute and signature page.
• AFSCME and PSU/MTA employees: please contact MA Public Employees' Fund
• IBPO employees: please contact Insurance Administrators Inc. at 617-773-8947
• NEPBA employees: please contact Benefits Strategies
• Non-Unit physicians, please contact the UMass Medical Human Resources Department

Other changes you may wish to consider

Include changing your:

• Tax withholding status in HR Direct
• If not prohibited by your divorce agreement/QuaDRO/DRO, changing designation of beneficiaries for life insurance and retirement plans
  • MA State Employees Retirement System benefits (MSERS/pension system/defined benefit plan) SERS Option D form and When Option D comes before Option C. Contact the MA State Board of Retirement to confirm your SERS beneficiary(ies).
  • MA Group Insurance Commission basic and optional life insurance coverages and beneficiaries. GIC life insurance beneficiaries can be changed online in the MyGIC Portal or via paper form at the Human Resources Employee Service Center (please be certain to bring your beneficiary/ies' names, dates of birth, address and social security number (if applicable). Please log into the MyGIC Portal or contact the GIC to confirm your current GIC life insurance beneficiary(ies). 
  • Contact the University 403(b), Optional Retirement Program account vendor (TIAA or Fidelity, if applicable) and/or Commonwealth 457/SMART vendor(s), if applicable, to confirm your account balance and beneficiary(ies).
• A change in family status is also a qualifying event to make a change your GIC Flexible Spending Account