Leaving UBC

If you are leaving or retiring from your job at UBC, you likely have some questions about what will happen to your benefit coverage, pension and other issues.

This is explained in more detail below, but here’s a summary of some of what you need to know:

  • Your health care benefits – such as extended health and dental plans – will end at the end of the month of your last day worked. However, if you are working in British Columbia under a Work Permit, your health care benefits will end on the last day of the month which your Work Permit expires if this date is prior to or on your last paid day.
  • Your life insurance ends the last day you work. However, you can apply to convert your life insurance coverage to an individual plan.
  • If you are a staff member with unused accrued vacation time, it will be paid out either on your last paycheque or by printed cheque.
  • If you are receiving a Supplemental Employment Benefit (SEB) as part of your maternity or parental leave, this benefit ends on your last day of employment. Please note that if you are employed as a UBC staff member, you are required to repay the amount of your SEB top-up if you do not fulfill the six-month return to work requirement.
  • If you are a member of the UBC Staff or Faculty Pension Plan, you will need to make some decisions about the pension benefits you’ve accumulated during your employment.

When will my benefits end?

Extended Health and Dental Plans

If you are enrolled for Extended Health and Dental through UBC, your coverage will end at the end of the month of your last day worked. 

You have 90 days from the date your coverage ends to submit any claims to Sun Life for reimbursement.

You can purchase coverage for extended health and dental plans from many different insurance companies, including UBC’s provider, Sun Life.  The advantage of choosing a product with Sun Life is that you will not be required to submit medical information as part of your application.  For more information on Sun Life’s individual insurance products, visit Sunlife My Choice Plans or call Sun Life directly at 1-877-893-9893.

If you are 55 or older, another option available to you is the UBC Retirement and Survivor Benefits (RSB) Program.  The RSB offers a continuation of group benefits to UBC community members who retire or leave UBC after age 55. The coverage is not the same as that offered to current UBC employees and you are responsible for paying the monthly premiums. If you’d like to enrol in the program, you must do so within 31 days of your benefits ending as an active employee at UBC.

Employee and Family Assistance Program

Your EFAP coverage ends three months from the first of the month on or following your last day worked.

Life insurance

Your Life Insurance coverage ends on your last day worked. This also applies to your (and your spouse’s, if applicable) optional life insurance and optional accidental death and dismemberment insurance. However, you can convert your coverage into an individual insurance policy or opt for a different one. For more information, visit the Life Insurance Conversion page. You have 31 days from your last day of work to convert your group insurance through UBC into an individual policy.

Long-term disability plan (Income replacement plan/disability benefit plan)

Your Long-term Disability coverage ends on your last day worked.

Tuition fee waiver

Your UBC Tuition Fee Waiver ends on your last day worked at UBC. However, if you are taking a course that began before your last day of work, you will continue to be covered by the UBC Tuition Fee Waiver, provided you already applied for and received the benefit.

Professional Development Reimbursement Fund

Please contact pd.funds@ubc.ca with questions about your professional development funding.

Vacation leave (staff only)

If you have unused accrued vacation time, it will be paid out either on your last pay cheque or by printed cheque. For more information, contact Payroll.

Supplemental Employment Benefit (SEB)

If you are receiving benefits through the Supplemental Employment Benefit (SEB) Program, your benefit will end on your last day of employment. Please note that if you are employed as a UBC staff member, you are required to repay the amount of your SEB top-up if you do not fulfill the six-month return to work requirement. For more information, contact Payroll.

Pension

If you are a member of the UBC Staff or Faculty Pension Plan, visit the UBC Pensions website to learn more about the decision you need to make about the pension benefits you have accumulated during your time at UBC.

Disclaimer

The benefits information on this website is provided as a descriptive summary only. While the University has endeavored to accurately reflect its benefit programs, policies and plans, the information on this website does not create any contractual or other rights between the University and its faculty and staff members. To the extent that there are any conflicts or discrepancies between the benefits information on this website and the benefit plan documents (including group insurance contracts and benefit booklets) or any applicable collective agreement, employment agreement, or UBC policy, the benefit plan documents and collective agreement, employment agreement, or UBC policy will govern in all cases.

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