Overview
Navigating benefits eligibility as a Per Diem employee can be complex. While Per Diem roles generally do not carry benefits eligibility at the time of hire, there are specific pathways to gaining eligibility based on your appointment percentage or the hours you work over set periods of time.
Eligibility at time of hire for Per Diems
You are eligible for the Core Benefits Package immediately upon hire only if your appointment at UCSF meets both of the following criteria:
- You are appointed to work at least 75% time.
- Your appointment duration is for a minimum of three months.
Note: Per Diem employees appointed to less than 75% time at the time of hire are not eligible for UC benefits.
Becoming eligible after employment begins
If you do not qualify at the time of hire, you may become eligible later through two primary methods: the "Look-Back" measurement periods or an official change in your appointment status.
Method A: The Hours Threshold (Look-Back Measurement)
You qualify for benefits if you meet the hours threshold during specific measurement periods.
- Initial Measurement Period (First 12 Months): If you work 1,560 hours within your first 12 months of employment at UC, you become eligible for Core benefits. This is automatically calculated by UCPath and does not require a request.
- Standard Measurement Period (Annual Review): Hours are reviewed every November to determine eligibility for the upcoming plan year.
- Example for 2026 Plan Year: Hours worked between Nov 10, 2024 – Nov 8, 2025.
- Example for 2027 Plan Year: Hours worked between Nov 9, 2025 – Nov 7, 2026.
- Note:If deemed eligible for the upcoming plan year via this process, you’ll receive an email notification from UCPath informing you of the gain of eligibility.
Method B: Appointment Changes & Department Coordination
If you are within 12 months of being hired at UCSF and are consistently working hours that exceed your current appointment percentage, you should discuss your appointment with your manager or department leadership.
- Consult Your Department: Appointment adjustments must be driven by your department’s business need. Discuss your current schedule and department needs with your manager.
- Department Submission: If your department approves an appointment increase, they will submit a request in Oracle Cloud to update your appointment record.
- System Update: Once the appointment update is processed in Oracle, UCPath will automatically trigger Core benefits eligibility, assuming the new appointment terms meet the eligibility requirements (75% time or greater, for 3 months or longer). UCPath will send you an email notice informing you of the eligibility change and steps to enroll. You’ll then have a 31-day Period of eligibility, starting from the date of the effective appointment change, to enroll in benefits.
Maintaining your eligibility
Once you have gained benefits eligibility, maintaining it requires consistency. To keep your benefits for the following year, you must work full-time hours (average of 30 hours per week), totaling 1,560 hours over 26 pay periods.
Eligibility is re-determined annually based on the Standard Measurement Period described above.
Frequently asked questions
No. The UCPath system automatically calculates your hours during the Initial and Standard Measurement Periods. If you meet the 1,560-hour threshold, you will receive a notification regarding your eligibility from UCPath.
Yes. All hours on UC pay status count toward the calculation of the 1,560-hour threshold during the measurement period.
Eligibility is reviewed annually. If you do not meet the 1,560-hour requirement during the Standard Measurement Period (November to November) and your appointment remains classified as Per Diem, you will lose eligibility for the Core Benefits Package for the following plan year.