New Employees

Welcome to Pierce County and congratulations on your new position! Eligible employees receive a comprehensive benefits package that takes good care of you and promotes your continued health, financial security, and peace of mind.

Family benefit changes

You will learn more about your benefit options when you attend New Employee Orientation. At orientation, you’ll have an opportunity to ask questions and learn how to enroll in health insurance and retirement benefits. 

Don't wait! You have important benefit decisions to make. Get a head start by exploring the Benefits website before you attend your New Hire Orientation.

Waiting Periods

Eligibility requirements and benefit coverage effective dates are defined by each employee's benefit group:  

PEBB Plans 

Non-represented &
Represented: 120J, 120W, 612S, U612

When newly eligible, your medical, dental, basic life, basic AD&D, and basic LTD insurance begins on the first day of the month following your hire date. If you become eligible on the first working day of the month, PEBB benefits begin on that day.

WTWT Plans

Represented employees

Most employees covered by a Collective Bargaining Agreement are eligible for medical benefits in accordance with the WA Teamsters Trust "lag month" system. To become eligible for WA Teamsters Welfare Trust medical coverage, you must first be an active employee for a minimum of 80 hours in one month. The following month (or "lag month"), the County and the employee will make their share of the premium payment, for coverage effective the 1st day of the following month.

Employees are eligible for dental, life and disability coverage beginning the 1st day of the month following 30 days of employment. When the first day of employment is the first working day of the month, employees are eligible for coverage beginning the 1st day of following month.      

Dependent Eligibility

Employees may enroll eligible family members on their benefit coverage upon hire, within 30 days of a "qualifying life event," or during the County’s annual Open Enrollment period. Employees are required to provide documentation supporting dependent eligibility upon enrollment.  

Dependents you can enroll in PEBB Benefits:

  • Spouse
  • State-registered domestic partner
  • Children (including children of your spouse, children whose support is your legal obligation in anticipation of adoption, children of your state-registered domestic partner, and children specified in a court order or divorce decree for whom you have a legal obligation to provide support or health care coverage.


Dependent Documentation Required


For more information on dependent eligibility: https://www.hca.wa.gov/employee-retiree-benefits/public-employees/how-determine-eligibility 

Dependents you can enroll in WTWT Benefits:

  • Spouse
  • Domestic partner (additional documentation required)
  • Children (including adopted children, step children, children placed with you for adoption, children for whom you are the court-appointed guardian).


Dependent Documentation Required

Contact

Email: pcbenefits@piercecountywa.gov 

Phone: (253) 798-7479
Phone: (253) 798-7462

Monday–Friday
8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Mailing Address:
955 Tacoma Ave S # 303, Tacoma, WA 98402