life events

Birth & Adoption

The birth or adoption of a child is a joyful event! Although you will be busy with day-by-day adjustments to your life, you should start considering long- range plans, including additional savings and maybe even a college fund. Parents with more than one child must find ways to balance family resources with their growing family. At this time, your fringe benefits become increasingly important to your family's well being.

Checklist

  1. Enroll your child in the health and security plan. Complete a new Dependent Enrollment Form and return it to Northwest Carpenters Trusts with a copy of the birth certificate within 60 days of the birth. For an adopted child, provide a copy of the legal adoption, foster or guardianship papers.
  2. Review the rules for coordination of benefits. This determines who will have the primary coverage for your child if both you and your spouse have group health coverage. Learn more.
  3. Review plan provisions for family and medical leave. Health coverage may be continued for you and your dependents for up to 12 weeks while you are on leave from employment under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). If you are not vested, maternity or paternity leave is an approved absence with both retirement plans, and therefore can prevent a break in service.

Other Considerations

  1. Plans and Documents – Financial planners often recommend creating and/or updating personal plans and documents when you have a child. Here is a checklist of items to consider: