Changing your benefits due to a qualifying mid-year event (QME)

Mid-year qualifying events (QME) can be stressful.  When a big change happens in your life, you may feel overwhelmed by all the things that need to be completed.  We understand, and have listed all the appropriate helpful information below regarding:

1. What qualifies as a QME?
2. What documentation is needed?
3. How is this change initiated?​​​​​​

1) A full listing of qualifying mid-year events (QME) and appropriate supplemental documentation is available on DHRM's website via this link.

Some examples of a QME (include but are not limited to):

• Adding family members to coverage due to: marriage, birth or adoption, judgement or decree, or a spouse loses eligibility under their employer's plan.
• Removing family members to coverage due to: divorce, death of a covered family member, judgement or decree.

2) When making a change to your coverage due to a QME, you must provide documentation to your HR consultant that affirms the QME.  Some examples of documentation include but are not limited to:

• certified marriage certificate
• birth certificate or adoption agreement
• divorce decree
• court order
• employer documentation (if a spouse loses eligibility under their employer's plan)

For a full listing of QME documentation, please refer to DHRM's QME information.

3) To initiate a change to your plan due to QME, you must submit this in Cardinal self-service.

• The link to Cardinal is found here and also within your "MyLaurelRidge" tiles
• Please refer to the employee self-service job aid titled, "How to Create a Life Event" (you may need to refer to the job aid titled, "How to Update Dependent Information")
• Once you have submitted your QME event in Cardinal, please provide your HR consultant with your QME documentation
• If you prefer to complete the change using the paper form, you may find the form at this link.  Once you complete the form, please provide it to your HR consultant along with your documentation

4) Other helpful Cardinal Resources:

• Cardinal New User Support Guide
• Cardinal Registration Quick Start Guide job aid (please see below FAQ)
• How to view Benefits Statements in Cardinal
• How to view Benefits Summary in Cardinal
• Understanding your Paycheck in Cardinal
• How to view and print a Paycheck/W2 in Cardinal

FAQ- Cardinal log-in information

Please remember you will need the following to register and log into the Cardinal system: 

• Your myVCCS email
• The last 4 digits of your SSN
• Your 11-digit Cardinal Employee ID

Where do I find my VCCS email and Cardinal ID?

Log into HR HCM and find the box called Personal Details:

Your VCCS email is your myVCCS ID followed by @email.vccs.edu.  (For example jee2901@email.vccs.edu).

Your 11-digit Cardinal Employee ID is your State ID followed by two “0’s”.  For example, if your State ID is 005787999, then your Cardinal Employee ID will be 00578799900.