Education Benefits for Retirees

Post-65 Retiree Open Enrollment for Calendar Year 2025: Nov. 4 - Dec. 4, 2024

The open enrollment period is your opportunity to review your benefit options and change your current elections. No action is required unless you are making changes, opting in for the first time, or opting out of coverage.

You are encouraged to review the 2025 Post-65 Retiree Health Care Plans Summary Guide, for detailed information about the available medical, dental, and vision plans; information about the Defined Dollar Benefit (DDB) program; enrollment information, contact information; and more.

Interested in learning more about your post-65 retiree benefits? We recently held a webinar to review what's new in calendar year 2025.

Questions about your benefits as a post-65 retiree or about the enrollment period should be directed to Benefit Management Services (BMS) by emailing PITT-BMSdocs@upmc.edu or by calling 1-888-499-6885. BMS hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The University of Pittsburgh offers education benefits to retired faculty, librarians, research associates, staff, their spouses, domestic partners, and dependent children. This benefit is available at the Pittsburgh campus and all of the regional campuses. You may be eligible to retain the same education benefits available to active employees after retirement.

Review the provisions for the education benefit for your position type on the Education Benefits page.

Requirements for Continuation of Benefits

You, your spouse/domestic partner, and your dependents may be eligible for the continuation of education benefits if you are currently utilizing the benefit (prior to retiring), or were employed full-time at the University for at least five years immediately prior to retirement.

Required Documentation

For Self

Paperwork must be submitted once per academic year.

The education benefit will only be applied for the terms listed on the Education Benefit Request form for the University of Pittsburgh. If the student will be studying abroad or participating in a co-op program, please notify the Benefits Department to ensure the benefit processes on these tuition charges.

Submission of Required Documentation

To submit your request form and related documentation:

  1. Access the Education Benefit Request Form for Eligible Retired Employees (via DocuSign).
    • This form and related documentation must be submitted once per academic year.
  2. Enter your name and valid email on the form.
  3. After selecting "Begin Signing," you will be sent an access code to the email you entered. You must enter the access code you received to complete signing the form.
  4. Enter all required information on the form, including attaching any related documentation.
  5. Review your information. Once all information is entered and the form is signed, please select "Complete" from the DocuSign toolbar (at the top of the page).

Forms are processed by the Benefits Department within 1-2 business days. Please do not contact the Benefits Department about the status of your form unless it has been more than 3 (three) business days since you have submitted it for processing. After your form is processed, you will receive an email from DocuSign:

  • If your form has been "Completed" and you have received an email from DocuSign saying "Completed" in the subject line: The benefit has been approved and will be processed. No further action from you is required.
  • If your form has been "Declined" and you have received an email from DocuSign saying "Declined" in the subject line: You will be contacted by OHR to discuss the reason(s) as to why the form has been denied, along with details about what you may need to provide to complete your education benefit submission successfully.

For Spouse/Domestic Partner

Paperwork must be submitted once per academic year.

For Spouse

For Domestic Partner

The education benefit will only be applied for the terms listed on the Education Benefit Request form for the University of Pittsburgh. If the student will be studying abroad or participating in a co-op program, please notify the Benefits Department to ensure the benefit processes on these tuition charges.

Submission of Required Documentation

To submit your request form and related documentation:

  1. Access the Education Benefit Request Form for Spouse/Domestic Partner (via DocuSign).
    • Note: This form should be submitted only by the eligible retiree of the University of Pittsburgh (not the spouse/domestic partner).
    • This form and related documentation must be submitted once per academic year.
  2. Enter your name and valid email on the form.
    • Note: Retirees do not need to use a Pitt email to submit the form.
  3. After selecting "Begin Signing," you will be sent an access code to the email you entered. You must enter the access code you received to complete signing the form.
  4. Enter all required information on the form, including attaching any related documentation.
    • For spouses: Attach a copy of the marriage certificate.
    • For domestic partners: Attach a copy of the University-approved Affidavit of Domestic Partnership.
  5. Review your information. Once all information is entered and the form is signed, please select "Complete" from the DocuSign toolbar (at the top of the page).

Forms are processed by the Benefits Department within 1-2 business days. Please do not contact the Benefits Department about the status of your form unless it has been more than 3 (three) business days since you have submitted it for processing. After your form is processed, you will receive an email from DocuSign:

  • If your form has been "Completed" and you have received an email from DocuSign saying "Completed" in the subject line: The benefit has been approved and will be processed. No further action from you is required.
  • If your form has been "Declined" and you have received an email from DocuSign saying "Declined" in the subject line: You will be contacted by OHR to discuss the reason(s) as to why the form has been denied, along with details about what you may need to provide to complete your education benefit submission successfully.

For Dependent Child(ren)

Paperwork must be submitted once per academic year.

Note: Individuals who request the dependent child(ren) education benefit for the 2022-23 academic year with their 2020 Form 1040 and 2021 Tax Extension will only have the fall term benefit applied at the time of the request. Once the 2021 Form 1040 is received, the remaining requested terms will be processed. If the 2021 Form 1040 is not submitted by the last business day of the fall term (December, 16, 2022) the benefit will be rescinded. A new benefit request form can be submitted for the spring and/or summer terms as long as they are received by the last business day of their respective term with the 2021 Form 1040.

The education benefit will only be applied for the terms listed on the Education Benefit Request form for the University of Pittsburgh. If the student will be studying abroad or participating in a co-op program, please notify the Benefits Department to ensure the benefit processes on these tuition charges.

Submission of Required Documentation

To submit your request form and related documentation:

  1. Access the Education Benefit Request Form for Dependent Children (via DocuSign).
    • Note: This form should be submitted only by the eligible retiree of the University of Pittsburgh (not the dependent child).
    • This form and related documentation must be submitted once per academic year.
  2. Enter your name and valid Pitt email on the form.
    • Note: Retirees do not need to use a Pitt email to submit the form.
  3. After selecting "Begin Signing," you will be sent an access code to the email you entered. You must enter the access code you received to complete signing the form.
  4. Enter all required information on the form, including attaching any related documentation.
    • Copy of the retiree's most recent Form 1040 U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, listing the student as a dependent.
  5. Review your information. Once all information is entered and the form is signed, please select "Complete" from the DocuSign toolbar (at the top of the page).

Forms are processed by the Benefits Department within 1-2 business days. Please do not contact the Benefits Department about the status of your form unless it has been more than 3 (three) business days since you have submitted it for processing. After your form is processed, you will receive an email from DocuSign:

  • If your form has been "Completed" and you have received an email from DocuSign saying "Completed" in the subject line: The benefit has been approved and will be processed. No further action from you is required.
  • If your form has been "Declined" and you have received an email from DocuSign saying "Declined" in the subject line: You will be contacted by OHR to discuss the reason(s) as to why the form has been denied, along with details about what you may need to provide to complete your education benefit submission successfully.

For Dependent Child(ren) Attending Other Institutions

Dependent children of retirees may be eligible to use this benefit at other institutions if you are currently utilizing the benefit (prior to retiring), or if the parent or guardian was employed full-time at the University for at least ten years immediately prior to retirement. Learn more about the education benefit for dependent children attending other institutions.


Additional Education Programs and Resources

Osher: The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at the University of Pittsburgh is a thriving and vibrant membership-based community of adults, age 50 and older, who are passionate about learning. For a nominal annual fee, you can take unlimited courses geared towards the retiree population. This includes classes such as art, literature, languages, physical activity, and more. This program also allows you to audit two actual credited University courses per term.

Tuition Exchange (TE) Scholarship: The Tuition Exchange Scholarship organization is a non-profit organization that serves as the coordinating body for a partnership of more than 550 schools nationally who offer "exchange" scholarships to dependent children of faculty and staff at member institutions.