Benefits & Orientation: Postdoctoral Scholars

Benefits Eligibility

The benefits offerings detailed on this page are for eligible full-time postdoctoral scholars. For the most current information, please select "Postdoctoral Scholars" from the role/status dropdown menu on the Health & Welfare page.

Review of Available Benefits

There are a variety of benefits available to University faculty and staff, including comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage, education benefits, retirement savings, and more. Review the orientation slide deck (PDF) to learn more about the benefits available to you at Pitt, as well as key details and enrollment information.

Enrolling In Your Benefits

As a new hire, you must enroll in benefits coverage within 31 days of your start date. Enrollment takes place in Pitt Worx, the University's human resources and payroll system. The steps that follow can also be found on the Enrolling in Benefits page.

As a reminder, you can make changes to your elections as often as needed throughout the first 30 days from your start date. Outside of this period, you can only make changes to your benefits elections during the annual Open Enrollment period, held in the spring of each year, or if you experience a life event (qualified status change). The University's plan year runs from July 1 through June 30.

  1. Login to Pitt Worx by visiting my.pitt.edu, searching for "Pitt Worx", and logging in with your University account credentials via Pitt Passport.
  2. On the Me page (the Pitt Worx homepage), select Benefits.
  3. If you need to add new dependents, navigate to Before You Enroll and follow the steps on this page in section "2. Add Information for Your Dependents/Beneficiaries."
    1. Note: If you are adding new dependents, you will also need to upload the appropriate documentation in Document Records prior to making your benefits elections.
  4. If you do not need to add new dependents, select the "Enroll Now" button and follow the steps on this page in section "Enroll in Your Benefits Elections".

The Panther HMO plan meets the J1 Visa status requirements.

Note: If you are adding dependents, you must add them in Before You Enroll and upload the appropriate documentation in Document Records prior to making your benefits elections. You will not be able to submit changes to your benefits elections (if you wish to enroll them in coverage) if dependents are not added and documentation has not been uploaded.

Need assistance logging in to Pitt Worx? If you have forgotten your University username or password, or if you need to reset your password, learn how on Pitt Digital's website.

If you have added your new dependents and their required documentation, or if you did not need to add new dependents, you are now ready to enroll in your benefits elections!

Please note: Enrollment in the University's retirement savings plan, the MetLife Legal Services benefit, or other PittPerks (voluntary) benefits takes place outside of Pitt Worx. The University's retirement savings plan is managed through TIAA. Learn more about the retirement savings plan. If you wish to enroll in the MetLife Legal Services benefit or in other voluntary services or benefits, you must make these elections directly through PittPerks. Visit universityofpittsburgh.corestream.com to get started.

If you DO want to make changes to your benefits elections:

  1. If you are on the homepage of Pitt Worx, select Benefits from the Me page and then select the "Before You Enroll" button.
  2. Review your dependents listed under Before You Enroll.
    1. If you just added new dependents and their required documentation, they will be listed in the People section.
    2. If you do not have any dependents, this section will be blank.
    3. If you need to add new dependents, they must be added in People to Cover and their required documentation must be uploaded in Document Records prior to enrolling.
  3. After reviewing your dependents, select the Continue button.
  4. Select the Enroll Now/Update Enrollment button.
  5. Follow the on-screen directions/prompts to proceed through the enrollment process. For detailed instructions about each election type, please refer to the Benefits Enrollment Process guide on the Pitt Worx Hub (via Pitt Passport).
  6. When you are finished making elections, select the Continue button.
  7. Review your elections and then select the Submit button.
  8. You can then review, print, and/or save the confirmation page with your elections.

If you have added your new dependents and their required documentation, or if you did not need to add new dependents, you are now ready to enroll in your benefits elections!

Please note: Enrollment in the University's retirement savings plan, the MetLife Legal Services benefit, or other PittPerks (voluntary) benefits takes place outside of Pitt Worx. The University's retirement savings plan is managed through TIAA. Learn more about the retirement savings plan. If you wish to enroll in the MetLife Legal Services benefit or in other voluntary services or benefits, you must make these elections directly through PittPerks. Visit universityofpittsburgh.corestream.com to get started.

If you DO want to make changes to your benefits elections:

  1. If you are on the homepage of Pitt Worx, select Benefits from the Me page and then select the "Before You Enroll" button.
  2. Review your dependents listed under Before You Enroll.
    1. If you just added new dependents and their required documentation, they will be listed in the People section.
    2. If you do not have any dependents, this section will be blank.
    3. If you need to add new dependents, they must be added in People to Cover and their required documentation must be uploaded in Document Records prior to enrolling.
  3. After reviewing your dependents, select the Continue button.
  4. Select the Enroll Now/Update Enrollment button.
  5. Follow the on-screen directions/prompts to proceed through the enrollment process. For detailed instructions about each election type, please refer to the Benefits Enrollment Process guide on the Pitt Worx Hub (via Pitt Passport).
  6. When you are finished making elections, select the Continue button.
  7. Review your elections and then select the Submit button.
  8. You can then review, print, and/or save the confirmation page with your elections.