We would like to offer our deepest condolences to you and your family for your loss. We realize this is a difficult time and are here to assist you with employee benefit-related items that need your attention.
Upon notification of the death, an AU HR Analyst will obtain an electronic copy of the employee's Summary of Benefits and Life Insurance Beneficiary Designation from the OneUSG Connect - Benefits Center portal for our records. T
AU Benefits Department can also assist employees by confirming life insurance for funeral arrangements or assignment purposes. Calls from funeral homes that need to verify life insurance information should be directed to the HR Analyst at 706-721-7894.
A Life Specialist from the OneUSG Connect- Benefits Center will call the beneficiary on file with the Benefits Center within 3 days of receiving (electronic) notification of the employee’s death to review the benefits and life insurance that the employee was enrolled in prior to their death.
IMPORTANT: The One USG Connect-Benefits Center cannot discuss life insurance or other benefits with family members or beneficiaries until the employee’s termination has been sent to the Benefits Center by electronic file (after being entered by AU Human Resources). A delay in entering the termination in PeopleSoft will cause a delay in the family receiving information about survivor benefits.
A Life Specialist can assist family members by providing information on how to continue medical, dental, and other benefits for family members covered on the deceased employee’s insurance and get instructions for filing life insurance claims with MetLife.
Beneficiaries can speak with a Life Specialist at the One USG Connect Benefits Center by phoning 844-587-4236, press 7 to speak. Representatives are available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Eastern time.
Retirement Plan or Record keeper for that plan should be contacted by a family member as soon as possible when an employee passes away. A retirement plan representative will provide directions for submitting proof of death and discuss the available distribution options with the employee’s beneficiary for each retirement plan that the employee is enrolled in.
If you are unsure of the retirement plans that the employee was enrolled in, please contact the AU HR Service Center at 706-721-9365 to speak with an HR representative for assistance.
To report the death of an employee enrolled in the Optional Retirement Plan (ORP), 457(b) or 403(b) plans the record keeper(s) that manages the employee’s account should be contacted. The three vendors that manage these accounts for the USG are:
TIAA: 844-230-7527
Fidelity: 800-343-0860
Corebridge/AIG/VALIC: 800-448-2542
Augusta University Human Resources: 706-721-9365
AU Employee-Faculty Assistance Program: 706-721-2599
Acentra Health Employee Assistance Program (EAP): 844-243-4440 or usg.mylifeexpert.com (company code: USGCares)
OneUSG Connect Benefits Call Center: 844-587-4236
Preamble and AU Faculty/Employee/Student Death Response Guidelines
AU Faculty/Staff Death Postvention Response Checklist
