Job Loss
When your spouse or domestic partner loses their job, it can create sudden changes in your family’s coverage and financial planning. Knowing what steps to take — and when — helps you stay protected as you adjust.
Review the 2027 Benefits eGuide for complete plan details.
At a Glance
Your coverage doesn’t just switch off — what happens next depends on why it’s changing. If it’s your own job ending, your benefits end on the last day of the pay period in which you terminate/separate, with options to continue or convert some coverage. If it’s your spouse or domestic partner’s job, their coverage loss is what allows you to add them (and your family) to Office Depot benefits. Follow the journey below.
Job Loss in Your Household
Lean on free counseling during a sudden job loss. When a spouse loses their job, the shock and stress can hit your whole household — and the EAP gives each family member up to five free counseling sessions per issue per year. You and your family don’t need to be enrolled in any Office Depot benefits to use it, and support is available 24/7.
Your spouse losing job-based coverage is a qualifying life event. If that happens, you can update your benefit elections outside of Annual Enrollment. To update your benefits, you must provide documentation verifying the loss of coverage, such as a COBRA notice or a letter on company letterhead stating the coverage lost, who lost coverage, and the coverage end date. You have 31 days from their coverage end date to update your benefits. Log in to the Office Depot Benefits Hub to make your elections.
If you update your coverage and the appropriate documentation by the deadline, your new coverage starts on the 1st of the month after the date of the life event.
Add Your Dependents
Eligible dependents include your legal spouse, common-law spouse, or domestic partner, plus children and stepchildren up to age 26.
Submit dependent verification documentation. All eligible dependents enrolled in Office Depot benefit plans must go through a dependent eligibility verification audit to confirm their eligibility. You’ll receive instructions and a list of required documents by email or U.S. mail, based on your communication preferences. If documentation isn’t received on time, your dependent will not be added to your coverage.
Review Your Coverage
Now’s a good time to review your other benefits, too — from your Health Savings Account (HSA) or Health Care Flexible Spending Account (HCFSA) (to make sure your contribution level still fits your household) to your Life & AD&D and 401(k) contributions.
Talk to the EAP to evaluate financial habits. Free, confidential support — including legal and financial services for a confidential conversation with a financial expert — is available 24/7 for you and your household, and enrollment in other Office Depot benefits is not required.
Keep this handy through every step
Report the life event and make changes to your benefits within 31 days
Submit dependent verification documents within deadline
Review your HSA or HCFSA, 401(k), and Life & AD&D coverage
The EAP is free and available 24/7 to all household members
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