If You Are a New Employee

All contracted full-time and part-time employees are eligible to participate in the SCPS benefit programs described in this handbook.  However, if you have a part-time contract, you pay higher contribution amounts, and you are not eligible to participate in the retirement or life insurance programs.

You have 30 days from the start of your contract to complete your ESS Benefits enrollment.  Following this 30-day window, changes can only be made during the annual open enrollment period or within 30 days of a qualifying life event.

You also have 30 days from the start of your contract to select guaranteed coverage through our Optional Group Life Insurance program, without completing evidence of insurability forms.  Following this 30-day window, there is no other time to have a guaranteed election of Optional Group Life Insurance.

If You Are a Current Employee

You may enroll, add, or cancel coverage for yourself or your dependents, or change your health care benefit and FSA participation during Open Enrollment.  Late enrollments for these programs are not accepted.

At any other time during the year, you may only enroll, add, or cancel coverage for yourself or your dependents, or change your health care or dental coverage and FSA participation if you experience a status change or qualifying event as defined by IRS regulations.  You must notify the Benefits office and complete your ESS Life Event to change your benefits’ enrollment within 30 days of the qualifying event.  However, Stafford County Public Schools processes July, August and September payroll checks for 10- and 11-month employees prior to the end of the fiscal year which is June 30th.  As a result, no changes can be made to these checks after June 15th of each year regardless of qualifying life event per policy and regulation 4705-R.  The next opportunity for changes to payroll deductions, direct deposit accounts, health and dental insurance or addresses to be made effective is September 1st for 11 month employees and October 1st for 10 month employees.    (The only exception is the addition of a newborn to insurance in which case the parent will pay with a personal check for the premium increase.)