Adding your Newborn to Benefits!

Congratulations!! I want to remind you that according to the State of Delaware Eligibility and Enrollment Rules, you have 30 days to elect to add your newborn to your benefits. You are encouraged to review the entire eligibility and enrollment rules at https://dhr.delaware.gov/benefits/cob/documents/dependent-children-eligibility.pdf?ver=0324.

In regards to newborns, please see the following:

Coverage for child/ren born to regular office or employee or eligible pensioner or legal spouse who is covered under the State Plan will begin on the date of birth provided a request to enroll the child is made within 30 days of the date of birth and provided the necessary paperwork is received within 30 days of the request to enroll.

The following documents are mandatory for enrollment. However, please complete and return the Enrollment Change Form as soon as possible. We are aware the supporting documents such as birth certificate or SSN may take a few weeks to obtain.

• SSN information - please provide a copy of the card or call with the number as soon as possible. If the SSN is not provided within 8 weeks, you will receive an IRS Error Notification. Please do not email SSN information. The most secure method to send this information is via phone call, fax or US Mail.

• Birth Certificate - submit a copy of the birth certificate to the Benefits Specialist and the Leave Coordinator within six weeks.

Please take note, you can email all completed forms or mail completed form to Colonial School District Attn: Benefits Specialist 318 East Basin Road, New Castle, DE 19702.

The Dependent Coordination for must be completed upon initial enrollment of the child within a healthcare plan. Since this is the first time you are enrolling your newborn onto your healthcare plan, you must complete a Dependent Coordination form. Everyone must complete this form upon the birth of a child, however, a subsequent form may be requested at a later date. If your dependent is solely covered under your insurance, please mark "no" to the first question then sign the form (no other information is needed). Please select the applicable form:

Highmark Dependent Coordination Form - https://dhr.delaware.gov/benefits/cob/documents/highmark-cob-form.pdf

Aetna Dependent Coordination Form - https://dhr.delaware.gov/benefits/cob/documents/aetna-dependent-cob.pdf?ver=0614

Your newborn will change your family in many ways. One aspect you may want to consider is within your tax exemptions. Please take some time and discuss with your tax consultant regarding any modifications that should be considered for the upcoming tax year.

There are two forms to consider in reference to your taxes! See below.

Flexible Spending Accounts (if applicable)

Flexible Spending Account – In order to maintain Health Care FSA, you must make arrangements PRIOR to going on unpaid leave how to pay coverage after you return to work. Also note, dependent care expenses are not eligible for reimbursement during the period of PAID or Unpaid Leave. See complete rules at https://dhr.delaware.gov/benefits/fsa/plan-booklet.shtml

This is a good time to double check to ensure that your beneficiaries are updated on all applicable benefits. Take note of the following benefits:

• District Life Insurance – MetLife is the new administrator as of 7/1/2026 for the District’s life insurance plan. Employees can check for this coverage via their most recent paycheck. The deduction code for the District's life insurance is DISTLIFEBT.

• Pension Plan – The State of Delaware Pension Office is the administrator of the pension plan. Enrollment is automatic for all employees hired into a pension-creditable position. The code for this deduction is RegPenCd or RegNewHire. Here is the link to update beneficiaries for this plan.

• Voya is the administrator for The State of Delaware Deferred Compensation Plans. Employees can enroll in this plan at any time once upon completion of three full months of employment with the State of Delaware. The code for this deduction is TSA01 or DC 457(b). You can update your beneficiaries via https://delaware.beready2retire.com/.

• State Life Insurance – Securian Life is the administrator of the State of Delaware’s Life Insurance program. Benefit eligible active employees may apply for enrollment and/or make coverage changes at any time after the exhaustion of the initial eligibility period. Employees can verify enrollment in this plan by checking their pay stub for the STLIFE deduction code. Here’s the link to update your beneficiaries https://dhr.delaware.gov/benefits/life/documents/beneficiary-designation-form.pdf

Employees who are on an approved leave of absence covered by Paid Parental Leave and/or FMLA should keep in mind that there is an expectation that the employee will return to work after the leave of absence. Paid Parental leave and/or FMLA programs offer wonderful benefits such as job protection, benefits continuation, and paid leave. Please be advised that PPL and FMLA are not to be taken prior to resignation, retirement, etc.

Employees who fail to return to work after utilizing PPL and/or FMLA are required to reimburse the Colonial School District and the State of Delaware for any health and non-health benefits premiums that were paid during the leave of absence. This amount can range from $3,500.00 to $8,000.00.

Contacts:

Myeshia Jones-Christopher, Benefits Specialist

Email: Myeshia.JonesChristopher@colonial.k12.de.us

Darcel Porter, Benefits Secretary

Email: Darcel.Porter@colonial.k12.de.us

Address: 318 East Basin Road, New Castle, DE 19720

Website: https://www.colonialschooldistrict.org/employees/benefits/

CSD

The Colonial School District shall not discriminate in its employment practices or its educational programs and activities of students on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, domicile, marital status, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any legally protected characteristic.