University Of Michigan Benefits Office

Eligibility to Enroll a Same-Sex Domestic Partner in Your Benefits

Note: U-M benefits for same-sex domestic partners (SSDP) concluded at the end of 2007 to comply with the current Michigan Court of Appeals ruling on same-sex partner benefits. Accordingly, references to U-M recognized Same-Sex Domestic Partnerships in all University policies and documents (other than existing collective bargaining agreements) have been rendered invalid.

If you are a member of AFSCME, GEO, HOA, IUOE, MAP or MNA and you are eligible for benefits at the University of Michigan, you can cover your same-sex domestic partner through the end of the calendar year your collective bargaining agreement ends. To be eligible, you and your partner must:

Be of the same sex; and
Not be legally married to another individual; and
Not be related to each other by blood in a manner that would bar marriage; and
Have registered or declared the Domestic Partnership in the manner authorized by a municipality or other government entity; and
Have allowed at least six months to pass since the dissolution of a previous same-sex domestic partnership in the manner authorized by a municipality or other government entity.

For Graduate Student Instructors (GSIs) and Graduate Student Staff Assistants (GSSAs) members of the Graduate Employee’s Organization (GEO) to be eligible, you and your partner must:

Be unable to enter a legally binding marriage in Michigan because you are considered to be of the same sex; and
Not be legally married to another individual; and
Not be related to each other by blood in a manner that would bar marriage; and
Have registered or declared the Domestic Partnership in the manner authorized by a municipality or other government entity; and
Have allowed at least 90 days to pass since the dissolution of a previous same-sex domestic partnership in the manner authorized by a municipality or other government entity.

If you and your partner meet these criteria, you may add your partner to your eligible benefit plans which, depending on your appointment status, may include:

Medical insurance
Dental coverage
Vision plan
Legal plan
Optional group life insurance coverage
Flexible Spending Accounts*

* Due to IRS regulations, expenses of your domestic partner and/or your partner’s children can be submitted for reimbursement under a FSA only if they qualify as eligible dependents that you can claim on your federal income tax return.