Status and Privileges of Retired Faculty and Staff, Surviving Spouses and Surviving Children (VI.A.1)

Volume VI: Human Resources
Chapter A: Benefits
Responsible Executive: Vice President for Human Resources
Responsible Office: Office of the Vice President for Human Resources
Date Issued: May 1, 2002
Date Last Revised: December 1, 2024

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contacts
Statement of Policy
Reason for This Policy
Individuals and Entities Affected by This Policy
Exclusions
Responsibilities
Definitions (defined terms are capitalized throughout the document)
Related Documents, Forms and Tools
Website Address for This Policy
History and Updates
Appendix

CONTACTS

STATEMENT OF POLICY

Purdue University provides benefits for faculty and staff who are Official Retirees. The University also provides benefits to Qualifying Surviving Spouses and Qualifying Surviving Children of deceased Purdue faculty and staff.

1. Purdue University will grant the following benefits and privileges to all Official Retirees.
   1. University Benefits
      1. University contributions to the employee's Defined Contribution or Public Employees' Retirement Fund (PERF) accounts on any terminal vacation pay the Official Retiree receives.
      2. Retirees eligible for Medicare may participate in Medicare supplemental plans sponsored by Purdue with the Official Retiree paying the full premium cost. Official Retirees hired prior to January 1, 2021, who are not eligible for Medicare may continue participation in the University-supported medical program with the Official Retiree paying the full cost.  
      3. Continued participation in basic employee term life and additional term life, without proof of insurability, with the Official Retiree paying the full cost.
   2. Identification Card
      A Purdue University identification card (PUID) from the Card Services Office for Official Retirees of the West Lafayette campus or from Human Resources for Official Retirees of the Fort Wayne and Northwest campuses.
   3. Campus Parking
      A complimentary “A” parking permit at the West Lafayette campus or its equivalent at the Fort Wayne or Northwest campuses.
   4. Special-Rate Tickets
      Upon presentation of an appropriate Purdue identification card, purchase of tickets to athletic, cultural, educational and entertainment events at staff or retiree rates for the Official Retiree and his or her spouse and dependent children.
   5. Fee Remission
      Partial remission of fees for Official Retirees, spouses, and dependent children in accordance with the policy on Tuition for Employees and Dependents Registered as Students (II.D.3), as amended or superseded. This is contingent upon the faculty or staff member residing in the state of Indiana or being subject to income taxes in the state of Indiana at the time of retirement.
   6. Use of University Libraries
      Use of University library facilities.
   7. Recreational Facilities
      Use of recreational facilities for the Official Retiree and eligible dependents in accordance with membership eligibility and rate schedules in effect at each campus.
   8. University Email Services
      An Official Retiree may request an email account through their campus information technology department. Policies governing the use of University email services by Official Retirees are identical to those that govern their use by University faculty and staff. These policies include, but are not limited to, the following:
      
      Purdue grants access and use of computer facilities to each individual for University purposes only. Use of these facilities must be consistent with this purpose. All use is subject to external contracts, which impose strict requirements.
2. Purdue University will grant the following benefits and privileges to Qualifying Surviving Spouses and Qualifying Surviving Children.
   1. University Benefits
      Qualifying Surviving Spouses and Qualifying Surviving Children who are eligible for Medicare may participate in Medicare supplemental plans sponsored by Purdue with the spouse and/or child paying the full premium cost. Qualifying Surviving Spouses and Qualifying Surviving Children of Official Retirees hired prior to January 1, 2021, who are not eligible for Medicare may continue participation in the University-supported medical program with the spouse and/or child paying the full cost.
      
      The insurance will end at the earliest of the following dates: 
      
      1. The date the Qualifying Surviving Spouse or Qualifying Surviving Child fails to make any contributions when due, or
      2. The date the Qualifying Surviving Spouse or Qualifying Surviving Child is covered by another group medical plan.
      The insurance for Qualifying Surviving Children will end when the Qualifying Surviving Spouse's insurance ends. Remarriage will not end eligibility for the Qualifying Surviving Spouse or Qualifying Surviving Children; however, new spouses will not be eligible for participation.
   2. Fee Remission
      Partial remission of fees in accordance with the policy on Tuition for Employees and Dependents Registered as Students (II.D.3), as amended or superseded.
   3. Use of University Libraries
      Use of University library facilities.
   4. Recreational Facilities
      Use of recreational facilities in accordance with membership eligibility and rate schedules in effect at each campus.
3. Purdue University will grant the following additional benefits to Qualifying Surviving Spouses.
   1. Campus Parking
      Complimentary “A” parking permit at the West Lafayette campus or its equivalent at the Fort Wayne or Northwest campuses if 1) the deceased faculty or staff member was eligible for such a permit and 2) the Qualifying Surviving Spouse is not employed by the University.
   2. Identification Card
      A Purdue University identification (PUID) card from the Card Services Office for the West Lafayette campus and from Human Resources for the Fort Wayne and Northwest campuses.
   3. Special-Rate Tickets
      Upon presentation of an appropriate Purdue identification card, purchase of tickets to athletic, cultural, educational and entertainment events at staff or retiree rates.

REASON FOR THIS POLICY

This policy explains the benefits provided to Official Retirees, Qualifying Surviving Spouses and Qualifying Surviving Children of deceased faculty and staff.

INDIVIDUALS AND ENTITIES AFFECTED BY THIS POLICY

• Benefits-eligible faculty and staff members.
• Surviving spouse and dependent children of a faculty or staff member who was continuously employed in a benefits-eligible position for five or more years immediately prior to death.

EXCLUSIONS

This policy does not apply to faculty and staff who do not meet the criteria to be benefits-eligible as defined in the Faculty and Staff Handbook and University policies.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Departments/Units

• Within their areas of responsibility, departments/units will grant the benefits outlined in this policy.

DEFINITIONS

All defined terms are capitalized throughout the document. Additional defined terms may be found in the central Policy Glossary.

Official Retiree
A faculty or staff member who meets the following qualifications:

1. Age 55 or older and
2. Employed by Purdue University in a benefits-eligible position for a total of 10 or more years over the course of the individual's employment history. Approved leaves, including sabbatical and faculty exchange leaves, are counted as years of service. The required year of service following sabbatical must be completed.

Or

1. Employed by Purdue University in a benefits-eligible position, and
2. Received income replacement benefits under the University's long-term disability program (LTD) until the age limit at which LTD benefits ended and
3. Was continuously employed with the University for five years or more prior to qualifying for LTD.

Qualifying Surviving Spouse, Qualifying Surviving Children
The surviving spouse and surviving children of a person who:

1. Was an Official Retiree of the University.

Or

2. Was a Purdue employee at the time of their death and was continuously employed by the University in a benefits-eligible position for five or more years immediately prior to death.

Additionally, to be considered qualifying under this policy, surviving spouses, and children must meet the eligibility requirements for benefits under University policy.Refer to the Related Documents, Forms and Tools section of this policy for links to these eligibility requirements.

RELATED DOCUMENTS, FORMS AND TOOLS

Eligibility requirements for dependents

Tuition for Employees and Dependents Registered as Students (II.D.3)

WEBSITE ADDRESS FOR THIS POLICY

www.purdue.edu/policies/human-resources/via1.html

HISTORY AND UPDATES

December 1, 2024: Aligned the insurance coverage benefit with action taken by the Board of Trustees in August 2020.

March 1, 2018: Requirements for payment of Indiana income tax for tuition remission eligibility removed. Definition of Official Retiree updated to clarify what equals 10 years of employment.

January 1, 2017: Definition and references to Domestic Partner removed in accordance with the Board of Trustees resolution of December 19, 2015. Contacts section updated.

January 1, 2015: The retiree transition benefit for medical coverage formerly included in section I.A.2 was eliminated.

July 1, 2014: Definition of Official Retiree no longer requires age plus years of service to equal or exceed 70 at the time of retirement. Domestic Partners were added as eligible dependents. The policy was converted to the current policy template.

November 18, 2011: Policy number changed to VI.A.1 (formerly IV.3.1).

May 1, 2002: This policy supersedes Executive Memorandum No. B-35, which was originally issued May 17, 1975, and amended on October 15, 1985; October 23, 1986; November 10, 1995; and January 24, 2000. Executive Memorandum No. B-35 superseded Executive Memorandum No. B-23, issued October 31, 1973. Executive Memorandum No. B-23 superseded Executive Memorandum A-303, issued May 10, 1971.

APPENDIX

There are no appendices to this policy.