At Pitt, we pride ourselves on taking care of you, our employees. Faculty and staff can take part in our education benefits, review retiree benefits packages, and explore health and wellness options. Pitt's benefits offerings are among the region's best, including a medical plan with no deductibles, tuition remission, life insurance, optional dental and vision coverage, a contributory retirement plan, and more. Information on all available insurance plans can be found in the Health & Wellness section.
Your Benefits at Pitt
Health and Wellness
Find information on available medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans, plus details on flexible spending accounts, travel coverage, long term care coverage, and more. Explore your health and wellness benefits.
Education
Pitt offers education benefits to faculty, librarians, research associates, post-doctoral associates, post-doctoral scholars, staff, their spouses, domestic partners, and dependent children. This benefit is available at the Pittsburgh campus and all regional campuses. Learn more about the education benefit.
Retirement Savings Plan
The Defined Contribution Plan is the retirement savings plan offered to newly hired and current employees and offers a robust University match of 150% for contributions between 3-8% after an employee becomes vested. Find more information about the retirement savings plan.
Additional Benefits Offerings
Pitt offers a variety of additional benefits offerings--including programs, services, and resources, to help our employees attain and maintain a healthy, balanced life style.
- PittPerks: Provides a broad range of discounts and the opportunity to purchase certain voluntary benefits at group rates through payroll deductions to employees.
- Financial and Legal Resources
- GreenPath: Finance and debt management services
- Savi: Student loan assistance
- MetLife Legal Services
- Child and Family Care Resources
- Care.com: Network of providers for dependent care
- University Child Development Center
- Caring for family at all stages of life
- Parents-to-be and new parents
- Mental, Emotional, and Physical Wellness:
- Leaves of absence
- Time off
- Life Solutions: Pitt's employee assistance program
- Wellness for Life
Enrollment, Eligibility, & Status Changes
Benefits coverage varies based on position type. For information on what you are eligible for, review this detailed benefits breakdown.
New Hire Benefits Enrollment Process
As a new employee of the University of Pittsburgh, you will need to enroll in benefits through Pitt Worx. Get started in the benefits enrollment process for newly hired staff and faculty.
Changing Your Benefits Elections
You can make changes to your benefits elections if you experience a life event (Qualified Status Change). A life event is an IRS qualified event that allows you to make a change in your enrollment elections during the plan year (outside of the open enrollment period). Review the list of the University’s recognized life events (Qualified Status Changes) and instructions on how to make a status change to your benefit selections.
Coverage for Dependents
The University of Pittsburgh offers health care coverage for spouses, domestic partners, and children of employees, when the required documentation is provided. Enrollment will not be processed without all required documentation. Find all information about documentation requirements for dependents.
Benefits Provisions
Pitt offers health and wellness plans, retirement savings plans, and COBRA coverage for faculty and staff, including step-by-step instructions on how to make changes to current Benefits coverage. Explore the Benefits Provisions page for plan summaries and additional information.
Benefits Premium Collections
Benefits premiums for health and welfare coverage are deducted from the employee’s paycheck. These deductions can occur on a pre-tax or after-tax basis depending on the election and employee’s job category. Review the Benefits Premium Collections page for more information about premium collections and the taxation of certain benefits.
Summary Guides to Benefits
Looking for a summary of Pitt's benefit plans? We have guides based on position type below. You can also find information on our different insurance plans on the Health & Wellness Benefits page.
- Full-Time Summary Guide1,2 (July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2023): Online | PDF
- Part-Time Summary Guide3 (July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2023): Online | PDF
- Retiree Summary Guide4 (January 1 - December 31, 2022): Online | PDF
- For more information about retiree coverage, please visit the Retirees page.
- Post-65 Retiree Summary Guide (January 1 - December 31, 2022): Online | PDF
- Student Summary Guide (September 1, 2022 - August 31, 2023): Online | PDF
- For more information about student coverage, please visit the Students page.
Benefits Coverage Verification and Coverage Termination
Coverage Verification
Benefits coverage can be verified by logging into Pitt Worx (how-to guide), where you can confirm the benefits you are currently enrolled in, as well as review past benefits. In order to request benefits, you must send a verification letter to the Benefits department.
Coverage Termination
Benefits through the University of Pittsburgh continue until the last day of the month in which the individual works. If the individual’s final paycheck does not have sufficient funds to collect benefit premiums, a missed deductions invoice will be issued. COBRA coverage will be available to faculty and staff whose current coverage has been terminated.
Please visit the Benefits Coverage Verification and Coverage Termination page for more information.
Employee Death and Survivorship
We understand that the loss of a loved one can be difficult. In the event of the death of a family member that is employed at the University of Pittsburgh, the Benefits Department has developed resources to assist the surviving family member. Learn more about survivorship benefits.