NEW EMPLOYEES

Employee Benefits Division welcomes you to the City of Los Angeles team! This website is your one-stop location for resources and information about your LAwell Benefits.

ENROLL INTO BENEFITS!

Benefits are Effective the Day You Enroll

As a new hire, your benefits are effective the day you enroll IF:

When to Enroll

The benefits eligibility assessment process generally takes about 4 to 6 weeks to complete before a benefits offer can be made. Not meeting eligibility requirements or incomplete onboarding may delay the process. Questions about benefits eligibility status should be directed to per.empbenefits@lacity.org or call 213-978-1655.

How to Enroll

Log into your Benefits Central Portal account. View step by step instructions on how to log into your account, and make your New Employee elections.

Call 833-4LA-WELL (833-452-9355), Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Deadline to Enroll

You must make your benefit elections (or enroll into Cash-in-Lieu, if you have eligible health coverage), within ​60 days of the date on your personalized benefit offer. If you do not enroll by the enrollment deadline, you will be enrolled into default coverage: basic, employee-only level of Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, and Disability benefits.

Complete the Enrollment Process

After enrolling, an enrollment confirmation statement will be mailed to your home address. The confirmation statement will detail the benefits you elected when you enrolled. Review your confirmation statement closely.

  • Within 15 days from the date on your confirmation statement, make any corrections to your confirmation statement by contacting the LAwell Benefits Service Center. After this deadline you will only be able to make benefits changes during Open Enrollment (October 1-31 of every year) or if you experience a qualifying life event.

LEARN ABOUT YOUR LAWELL BENEFITS

As a new employee enrolling in LAwell benefits, you can:

New Employee Benefits Package

Approximately two to four weeks after your first paycheck, a New Employee benefits package will be mailed to your home address on your personnel record. You do not need to wait until you receive your benefits package to enroll.

During the week you receive your first paycheck, log into your Benefits Central Portal account to view your Personalized Benefit Statement that details your benefits options and costs.

Learn about the process of when and how to enroll into benefits.

Learn about the options and
costs of each LAwell benefit.

If you previously worked for the City, learn how you are enrolled into benefits.

Review our New Employee Overview handout “here”

Find additional resources to help you navigate your benefits.

  • You may seek services after enrollment, but it is recommended that you wait until you receive your insurance card before seeking services.

  • Some Employee Life, Spouse/DP Life, or Disability Insurance coverages require a Medical History Statement (MHS). You must submit the MHS before your submission deadline, and it must be approved by Standard Insurance Company before your coverage can take effect.

  • Your LAwell coverage costs and/or account contributions through payroll deductions will begin one to three pay periods from the date you enroll.

  • If you would like to make changes, you may do so during the annual Open Enrollment period. Open Enrollment occurs every year during the month of October. Any changes to your benefits apply to the next plan year (January 1-December 31). Changes outside of Open Enrollment are only permitted if they are through a qualifying life event*.

*A life event change can include marriage, beginning or ending a domestic partnership, birth, adoption, divorce, death, addition or loss of an eligible dependent, or a loss or gain of spouse/domestic partner health coverage. You must report a life event change within 30 days of its occurrence and submit documentation within 60 days in order for the change to take effect.

ONLINE RESOURCES:

  • Life events are explained in these short, yet informative Mini-Guides.

CONTACT US:

LAwell Program Benefits Services Center 
**Enroll, Make Changes, Confirm Eligibility**
833-4LA-WELL (833-452-9355) Mon-Fri 8am to 5pm
Email: per.empbenefits@lacity.org 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION:

Your eligibility for LAwell benefits is evaluated on a biweekly basis, each and every pay period as follows:

  • Minimum Compensated Hours – You must have a minimum number of compensated hours (such as HW, SK, VC, etc.) based on your employment status as follows:

    - Full-time employees – at least 40 hours

    - Half-time employees – at least 20 hours

  • Retirement Contribution – You must continue to be a contributing member to the Los Angeles City Employee’s Retirement System (LACERS) or, if authorized by your Memorandum of Understanding, Los Angeles Fire and Police Pensions (LAFPP).

  • Eligible Employment Status – You must remain in a job classification and employment type that is authorized to receive LAwell benefits.

For more information on eligibility, visit our Eligibility page.