Domestic Partner Benefits
Clerical Union Employees | Human Resources

Eligible employees may include their domestic partner and the eligible dependent children of the domestic partner in the university’s health, dental and tuition remission plans. A domestic partnership can be defined as two unmarried individuals who have a committed relationship of indefinite duration with obligations akin to those of marriage including shared financial responsibilities. Domestic partnership benefits apply to both same sex and opposite sex relationships.

The benefits that are available to your domestic partner are the same as the benefits available to the spouse of a University employee. However, the IRS does not recognize an unmarried domestic partner as a legal spouse for federal income tax purposes. Therefore, the tuition remission benefits and the University contribution to the health plan for the partner’s coverage are considered taxable income to you and must be included in your paycheck as taxable income. Also, any health or dental premium cost you are required to contribute for dependent coverage on behalf of your partner must be contributed as an after-tax deduction. We advise you to consult with your own tax advisor regarding these issues.

Specific benefits offered are:

• Health insurance, dependent coverage, taxable benefit (Does NOT include right to COBRA or other continuation benefits in the event of termination of the domestic partnership, or the employee’s death or separation from service).
• Dental insurance, dependent coverage, taxable benefit (COBRA does not apply).
• Tuition remission, domestic partner and the eligible dependent children of the domestic partner, taxable benefit, both undergraduate and graduate levels.
• Under the University’s funeral and “Family and Medical Leave” policies, a domestic partner shall be considered a member of the immediate family.

Criteria for a Domestic Partnership:

1. You are each other’s sole domestic partner, have been for a period of at least six months and intend to remain so indefinitely.

2. Neither of you is married.

3. You both are at least eighteen (18) years old and mentally competent to consent to contract.

4. You are not related by blood to a degree of closeness that would prohibit legal marriage in the sate in which you reside.

5. You reside in the same residence and intend to do so indefinitely.

6. You are jointly responsible for each other’s common welfare and share financial obligations. Joint responsibility for each other’s common welfare and shared financial obligations may be demonstrated by the existence of three of the following, which you can provide if requested:

• Domestic partnership agreement,
• Joint mortgage or lease of residence,
• Designation of domestic partner as beneficiary of Roosevelt University’s group life insurance policy and as a beneficiary for the death benefit payable from the employee’s retirement contract,
• Designation of domestic partner as primary beneficiary in employee’s will,
• Durable property and health care powers of attorney,
• Joint ownership or least of personal motor vehicle, joint checking or savings account of joint credit account.

In order to take advantage of domestic partner benefits, you must establish your partnership with Roosevelt University by completing the Statement of Domestic Partnership form. You also have the responsibility to notify the University of a change or termination of a domestic partnership by completing and submitting the appropriate form.

Forms

• Statement of Domestic Partnership Change or Termination (PDF, 5K)
• Statement of Domestic Partnership (PDF, 18K)

Human Resources | Benefits | Clerical Union Employees