Who's eligible for what? (continued)

Documentation of Dependent Relationships

The following are the documents acceptable to verify the relationship necessary for dependent eligibility for health, dental, life and personal accident insurance. Please note that eligibility for tuition assistance carries additional restrictions. A copy of documentation acceptable to the university must be submitted to your benefits office.

• Biological Child—certified copy of the child's birth certificate,* verifying that the sponsoring benefits-eligible faculty or staff is the mother or father of the child
• Adopted Child—certified copy of the child's birth certificate,* modified as part of the adoption proceedings to show that the sponsoring benefits-eligible faculty or staff is the adoptive parent
• Stepchild—certified copy of the child's birth certificate,* verifying that the sponsoring benefits-eligible faculty or staff employee's spouse or registered domestic partner is the parent of the child AND a certified copy of a marriage certificate, verifying the marriage of the sponsoring benefits-eligible faculty or staff to the child's parent OR a state (or other government entity) certificate of registered domestic partnership, verifying the domestic partnership of the benefits-eligible faculty or staff with the child's parent.
• Certification of Dependent Child Eligibility for Medical and Dental Benefits—is required for a dependent child age 19 or over. At the time of enrollment in medical and dental benefits, you must complete a Certification of Dependent Child Eligibility. This form requires that you certify that your child meets IRS requirements for dependency for health coverage. Under the USC Network Medical Plan, you will be asked to update the certification at the time of submission of the first medical claim in a calendar year for any dependent child over the age of 19.
• Legal Guardianships With Financial Dependency—certified copy of court orders** stating that a sponsoring benefits-eligible faculty or staff employee is a legal guardian of the child and a copy of the most recent federal tax forms filed with the IRS in which the child is claimed as a dependent.
• Spouses—certified copy of a marriage certificate*
• Registered Domestic Partners—certified copy of a state (or other government entity) certificate of domestic partnership*

Documents requiring translation must be provided to your benefits office along with translations of each document and a written, signed, and notarized statement from the translator stating that he or she is familiar with both the foreign language and English, and that the translation is accurate. Self-translations are not acceptable.

If you fail to provide documentation acceptable to the university, USC may take such action as it deems appropriate including refusing to enroll the individual in question or terminating the enrollment of that individual. Questions regarding required documentation should be directed to your benefits office.

* Note: certified copies of birth, marriage, and domestic partnership certificates contain official seals of the issuing government agencies and are exact copies of originals on file at the issuing agencies.
    Provisional Documentation—A hospital verification letter is acceptable provisional documentation for a birth; for marriage, a marriage certificate or a copy of the application for a marriage license is acceptable provisional documentation. See the discussion about marriage in the "Making Changes to Your Benefit Programs" section for more information.

** Execution of Power of Attorney papers granting said powers to a non-parent or an award of temporary custody to a non-parent are not the equivalent of legal guardianship.

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