Complete your beneficiary change directly on the MetLife  website. If you have any questions regarding making a beneficiary change or if you prefer to complete a paper beneficiary change, please contact MetLife at 1-866-548-7139. You will need to identify yourself as a Washington PEBB subscriber when you call MetLife. This will ensure that you are transferred to the PEBB specialists at MetLife.

State Board Retirement Plans

For the State Board Retirement Plan (SBRP) and the Voluntary Investment Program (SBVIP), change your beneficiary information online by logging into your account on the TIAA website.

DRS Retirement Plans

For Department of Retirement Systems (DRS) retirement plans, such as PERS, TRS, and the Washington State Deferred Compensation Program (DCP), update your beneficiary designation by:

1. Completing the Retirement using the DRS Beneficiary Designation (PDF) form 
   - or -
2. Log in to the DRS webpage and update your beneficiaries online

Make sure to keep a copy of the form for your records.

Change your beneficiary information online by logging into your HSA. 

You’re eligible to continue your health coverage for up to 18 months through COBRA if either of these occur:

• Your employment ends (unless it’s due to gross misconduct)
• You lose eligibility for health insurance because your work hours are reduced

You are not eligible to continue coverage if you’re already covered by another group health plan. Similarly, you lose your COBRA eligibility once you enroll in another group health plan (unless that plan contains a pre-existing condition exclusion).

Should you die or get divorced while working at Seattle Colleges, your dependents can continue to receive coverage for up to 36 months.

When your child loses eligibility due to age, they too can continue to receive coverage for up to 36 months.

If your employment ends before retirement eligibility or you otherwise lose your coverage, you have 60 days to enroll in coverage through COBRA.

To pick a plan and continue your health coverage:

1. Fill out the COBRA Continuation of Coverage Election form
2. Mail the completed form to the Health Care Authority (address listed on the form)

If you choose to continue coverage through COBRA, you must pay the monthly premiums plus administrative fees. You may continue coverage for medical, dental, vision, or all three.

Note: Plans are offered by the state Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB), and what you pay depends on whether or not you have Medicare.

• Continuation of Coverage Premiums (2026)

How to report a death

Campus HR provides support to employees, retirees, and family members in the event of the death of a current employee, dependent of an employee, or retiree. Report a death by contacting the college campus HR office.

What needs to be reported?

The death of a current Seattle Colleges employee or the death of a dependent of a current employee should be reported to HR. HR staff will assist in understanding what impact this has to current benefits and what steps should be taken next. In the event of the death of a retiree, contact the appropriate retirement plan sponsor to assist with potential impacts on retiree benefits.

When reporting a death, please be ready to provide the following information:

• Name
• Your Contact Information
• Copy of the death certificate
• Employee ID number
• A Letter of Appointment of Executor
• For spouses or beneficiaries: proof of identity 

The accordion boxes below contain information relevant to the specific area or service.

Death of a Seattle Colleges employee family member

You can review your health insurance coverage at any time in Employee Self Service or Benefits 24/7 to see which dependent family members are covered under your medical, vision and/or dental insurance. If a covered dependent’s death should occur, this is considered a qualifying life event, which allows you to remove the dependent from your health insurance coverage within 60 days after death. Please contact the Benefits office to request a PEBB Employee Change form, which will require a copy of the death certificate, and allow you to remove a covered dependent.  

Death of a Seattle Colleges employee

The surviving next-of-kin or executor of the estate for a deceased employee will find that the employee’s medical, dental, and vision insurance will end at the end of the month in which the employee passed away. If the employee was covering their spouse or dependents, the Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) will send out a COBRA notice to the covered spouse and/or dependents. This will allow those covered under the deceased insurance to continue their coverage on a temporary basis. For more information on COBRA, visit the Healthcare Authority (HCA) website.

Death of a Seattle Colleges retiree

The surviving next-of-kin or executor of the estate for a deceased retiree will find that if the retiree had PEBB retiree insurance coverage through the State of Washington that the insurance will end at the end of the month in which the retiree passed away. If the retiree elected to cover their spouse or dependents, the Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) will not terminate coverage after the death of the retiree. This will allow those covered under the deceased insurance to continue their coverage. For more information please contact the Healthcare Authority (HCA) website. 

State Board Retirement Plans (SBRP & SBVIP)

Death of a Seattle Colleges employee family member

Please review and, if necessary, change your beneficiary information online by logging into your account with TIAA.

Death of a Seattle Colleges employee

Once identified, the spouse or beneficiary of the employee’s retirement account can work directly with TIAA to request a distribution of the account. This will allow the spouse or beneficiary to either transfer the funds, or receive a distribution of the account balance.

Death of a Seattle Colleges retiree

Once identified, the spouse or beneficiary of the employee’s retirement account can work directly with TIAA to request a distribution of the account. This will allow the spouse or beneficiary to either transfer the funds or receive a distribution of the account balance.

Additionally, if the retiree was receiving payments from the State Board Supplemental Retirement Plan (SBSRP), and had elected a survivor, that survivor will be provided information to continue these benefit payments in the survivor’s name. 

State Retirement Plans (PERS, TRS, and DCP)

Death of a Seattle Colleges employee family member

Please review your beneficiary information and if necessary update your beneficiary by:

Updating your beneficiary online with the DRS or completing the Retirement DRS Beneficiary Designation form.

If submitting the completed form, return to the address listed on the form.

Death of a Seattle Colleges employee

Once identified, the spouse or beneficiary of the employee’s retirement account can work directly with the Department of Retirement Systems (DRS) at 800-547-6657 to review options for the deceased’s account.

Death of a Seattle Colleges retiree

Once identified, the spouse or beneficiary of the retiree’s retirement account can work directly with the Department of Retirement Systems at 800-547-6657 to review options for the deceased’s account.

Death of a Seattle Colleges employee family member

Please review your optional insurance coverage and your listed beneficiaries on the MetLife website. If you have any life insurance questions, please contact MetLife at 1-866-548-7139 for assistance, and, if necessary, to file a life insurance claim.

Death of a Seattle Colleges employee

Once identified, the spouse or beneficiary of the employee’s life insurance can work directly with MetLife at 1-866-548-7139 for questions, and, if necessary, to file a life insurance claim.

Death of a Seattle Colleges retiree

Retiree life insurance is an optional choice for retirees and is provided through the State of Washington Heath Care Authority. To see if the retiree had retiree coverage you can work directly with MetLife at 1-866-548-7139 for questions, and, if necessary, to file a life insurance claim. 

Medical Flexible Savings Account (FSA), Limited Purpose Flexible Savings Account (FSA), or Dependent Care Assistance Plan (DCAP)

Death of a Seattle Colleges employee family member

A death of a dependent is considered a qualifying life event. If this occurs, you have 60 days to make a change or enroll. View the FSA and DCAP user guide and make changes through Navia Benefit Solutions.

Death of a Seattle Colleges employee

If the employee elected to participate in either of these pre-tax spending accounts you can contact Navia Benefit Solutions to review options for the deceased’s account. The Benefits Office can assist you if you are unsure if this benefit was elected by the employee

Death of a Seattle Colleges retiree

This doesn’t apply to retirees who retired prior to the current calendar year.

Health Savings Account (HSA)

Death of a Seattle Colleges employee family member

Please review your beneficiary information and, if necessary, update your beneficiary information online by logging into your Health Equity account. If your medical coverage will change to single only coverage, you may need to adjust your elective contributions to ensure you do not over contribute for the year. Contact your tax advisor or Health Equity for further assistance if you have any questions.

Death of a Seattle Colleges employee

If the employee elected to participate in this benefit, the spouse or named beneficiary can contact Health Equity to review options for the deceased’s account. The Benefits Office can assist you if you are unsure if this benefit was elected by the employee

Death of a Seattle Colleges retiree

If prior to retirement the retiree elected to participate in this benefit, the spouse or named beneficiary can contact Health Equity to review options for the deceased’s account. The Benefits Office can assist you if you are unsure if this benefit was elected by the employee. Note: this benefit was not available to employees prior to January 1, 2012. 

VEBA

For questions about this account contact Customer Care: 888-828-4953 or customercare@veba.org. The Benefits Office will provide further information on VEBA availability. 

For information about bereavement leave, visit the Vacation, Sick Leave, and Holidays webpage.