[UCRDBR] UCPath Center Open Enrollment Election Options

[Departmental Benefits Representatives]

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October 28, 2026
To:
Department Benefits Representatives (DBRs)
From:
Central HR Benefits Office on behalf of the UCPath Center
Re:
UCPath Center Open Enrollment Election Options



DBRs, please share this information via your internal listserv.  Please do not reply to this email.  Please send a separate email with questions to benefits at ucr.edu<mailto:benefits at ucr.edu>.


In preparation for Open Enrollment, the UCPath Center shares the following information to  ensure department HR representatives understand the enrollment methods available to employees and to appropriately guide employees requesting assistance.

Open Enrollment elections are effective January 1, 2027, the UCPath Benefits Administration evaluates an employee's eligibility and expected pay status as of that date when determining the Open Enrollment method. As a result, the enrollment method available to an employee may be different from what the current pay status during the Open Enrollment period may  suggest.

Based on the January 1, 2027, evaluation:

  *   Employees who are expected to receive pay through UCPath will use UCPath Self-Service
  *   Employees who are expected to be on Leave Without Pay (LWOP) or Short Work Break (SWB) and direct billed, will use the applicable PDF Open Enrollment form

The enrollment methods outlined above are the primary options for submitting Open Enrollment elections. eForms are the secondary option and should only be used when an employee has a circumstance that prevents use of the applicable primary enrollment methods.

UCPath Self-Service - Primary Method for Employees Receiving Pay

UCPath Self-Service is the primary enrollment method for employees expected to receive pay through UCPath as of January 1, 2027.

Employees may use self-service to review their available benefit options, make or update elections, review eligible dependents, and submit Open Enrollment elections directly in UCPath.

If an employee is expected to enroll through self-service but unable to do so, HR representatives should first determine why the employee cannot enroll on UCPath rather than immediately directing the employee to submit an eForm. An inability to enroll may indicate an eligibility, job data, or other issue that needs to be reviewed and/or corrected within the department.

Leave Without Pay (LWOP) & Short Work Break (SWB) Enrollment Forms

Employees who are expected to be on LWOP or SWB as of January 1, 2027, and are direct billed for premiums, must complete an Enrollment PDF form. Employees may access and download the form by scanning the provided QR code or visiting UCnet<https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/oe/> to download and print a paper copy.

Please use the applicable links below to access the forms:

  *   FR.135: Unpaid Leave and Short Work Break Open Enrollment Form<https://www.ucop.edu/ucpath-center/_files/mypath/oe/oe-lwop-form.pdf>
  *   FR.141: Postdoctoral Scholar Unpaid Leave and Short Work Break Open Enrollment Form<https://www.ucop.edu/ucpath-center/_files/mypath/oe/oe-postdoc-lwop-form.pdf>

Note: DocuSign is not yet available for use in signing and submitting Open Enrollment election forms for employees on LWOP and SWB.

eForm - Secondary Enrollment Method

The Open Enrollment eForm should only be provided to the employee when UCPath Self-Service or the applicable PDF Form process cannot be used.

Employees who are eligible and able to enroll through UCPath Self-Service should not be directed to submit an eForm for convenience or as an alternative to troubleshooting an enrollment issue.

When an employee reports the inability to enroll through self-service, HR representatives should first review the Open Enrollment eligibility and January 1, 2027 pay status. If the employee enrollment method does not appear appropriate, review the underlying eligibility or data issue before directing the employee to another enrollment method.








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