Eligibility Requirements & How to Enroll
Who, When & How to Enroll in CoverageEligibility Requirements
Benefits eligibility for field hourly team members is determined by the number of service hours the team member earns over a specified time frame.
Enrolling Dependents
Benefits-eligible team members also have the option to cover eligible dependents.
Who Else You Can Cover
- Your legally married spouse
- Your children under age 26
- Eligible children incapable of self-sustaining employment by reason of mental or physical handicap
Dependent Verification
Please closely monitor your email, including your spam or junk folder, for communication from BBI Connect and BBI Benefits regarding your dependent verification. You will receive email communication if additional information is needed.
You will be required to provide documentation if you enroll any dependent(s) in your medical, dental, and/or vision coverage. You will also be required to enter the Social Security number (SSN) in BBI Connect for each dependent you enroll.
If you fail to provide the requested documentation by the deadline (generally 30 days), or the documentation you provide is insufficient, your dependent(s) will not be enrolled in coverage and you will not be able to enroll them until the next Open Enrollment period, unless you experience qualifying life event, at which time you will again be required to provide documentation to prove eligibility.
Make sure your home address, phone number, and email address are current in BBI Connect so that you don’t miss this important communication. If eligibility cannot be confirmed, dependent enrollment will be denied.
Required Documentation
| Dependent | Documentation Needed |
|---|---|
| Legally married spouse | A copy of your marriage certificate or a copy of page one through the claimed dependents section of your jointly filed federal tax return (form 1040), or both of your tax returns if you file separately, from the most recent tax season. Please black out the first five digits of any Social Security Numbers. |
| Natural child | A copy of the state or county issued birth certificate or hospital records showing associate’s name. If the birth certificate lists the mother’s maiden name, please provide a copy of your marriage certificate or a copy of page one through the claimed dependents section of your jointly filed federal tax return (form 1040), or both of your tax returns if you file separately, from the most recent tax season. Please black out the first five digits of any Social Security Numbers. |
| Stepchild | A copy of the state or county issued birth certificate showing parents’ names and a copy of your marriage certificate or a copy of page one through the claimed dependents section of your jointly filed federal tax return (form 1040), or both of your tax returns if you file separately, from the most recent tax season. Please black out the first five digits of any Social Security Numbers. |
| Child for whom you have legal guardianship, or child who is the subject of a Qualified Medical Child Support Order | A copy of the signed court order. |
| Legally adopted child, or child in the process of being adopted | A copy of the adoption paperwork showing associate’s name. |
When to Enroll in Benefits
You can complete your benefits enrollment when you are first eligible and every year after during annual open enrollment.
If you have been promoted from an hourly to a salaried position, or to an hourly position with salaried benefits, your benefits eligibility date will be the first day of the month following or coinciding with your promotion effective date.
Initial Eligibility & Enrollment
Important dates to keep in mind during the benefits enrollment process are your initial measurement period, benefits eligibility date, enrollment deadline, and effective date.
Initial Measurement Period & Benefits Eligibility Date
Your benefits eligibility date is the first day that you are eligible to enroll in Bloomin’ Brands benefits.
Generally, you must have one (1) year of continuous service and earn 1,560 service hours (an average of 30 hours per week) within your initial measurement period to be eligible for benefits.
- Your initial measurement period begins on the first day of the pay period following the pay period in which you first have hours, and it ends 12 months later, provided you have not had a break in service.
- If you have earned 1,560 hours of service at the end of your initial measurement period, you will become eligible for benefits.
Enrollment Deadline
Your initial enrollment deadline is 45 days after your eligibility date. This is the last day that you can complete your initial benefits enrollment until the next annual enrollment period.
- You have 45 days from when you become eligible for benefits to enroll in coverage. For example, if you can join the benefits plan starting on June 1, you will have until July 15 to enroll.
- Enroll in benefits as soon as possible after your benefits eligibility date to avoid multiple premium deductions from your paycheck after you enroll.
- Premium deductions and coverage will be retroactive to your benefits eligibility date, not the date you complete enrollment.
Benefits Effective Date
Your benefits effective date is the date your benefits coverage begins, and it only applies if you complete your benefits enrollment by your enrollment deadline.
- Benefits will be effective on the first day of the month following the end of your initial measurement period.
- You are guaranteed benefits eligibility for 12 months from your effective date.
Example: Mary is hired on July 25, 2024 but doesn’t begin working until the pay period that begins Aug. 18, 2024.
- Mary’s initial measurement period will be from Aug. 18 through Aug. 17, 2025.
- If Mary earns 1,560 hours of service or more during her initial measurement period, her benefits will be effective Sept. 1, 2025, and will not end earlier than Aug. 31, 2026.
Breaks in Service
If you have no hours of service for 14 weeks or longer, you will be considered as having a break in service. When you return to work, you will be treated like a new Team Member for benefits and will be subject to the initial eligibility review as described above.
How to Enroll Online
Once you’ve reviewed your coverage options, follow the link below to complete your benefits enrollment online. This link can be accessed at any time from the navigation menu at the top of this website.
Annual Eligibility Checks
Once a year, we take a look at who gains, maintains, or loses benefits eligibility for the next calendar year. If you were determined to be eligible for benefits enrollment under initial eligibility, but not annual eligibility, you will be able to continue on your benefits for 12 months from your initial effective date.
To remain eligible for benefits, team members must:
- have at least one (1) year of continuous service to be reviewed for annual eligibility, and
- earn 1,560 hours of service (an average of 30 hours per week) over a specified period of time, generally for 52 weeks beginning and ending in early October.
Eligibility Requirements
You are eligible to enroll in Bloomin’ Brands benefits if you’re a salaried team member, or if you’re an hourly team member eligible for salaried benefits (i.e. Sous Chef, MIT, PDD, GEDM, or Flex Manager).
Enrolling Dependents
Benefits-eligible team members also have the option to cover eligible dependents.
Who Else You Can Cover
- Your legally married spouse
- Your children under age 26
- Eligible children incapable of self-sustaining employment by reason of mental or physical handicap
Dependent Verification
Please closely monitor your email, including your spam or junk folder, for communication from BBI Connect and BBI Benefits regarding your dependent verification. You will receive email communication if additional information is needed.
You will be required to provide documentation if you enroll any dependent(s) in your medical, dental, and/or vision coverage. You will also be required to enter the Social Security number (SSN) in BBI Connect for each dependent you enroll.
If you fail to provide the requested documentation by the deadline (generally 30 days), or the documentation you provide is insufficient, your dependent(s) will not be enrolled in coverage and you will not be able to enroll them until the next Open Enrollment period, unless you experience qualifying life event, at which time you will again be required to provide documentation to prove eligibility.
Make sure your home address, phone number, and email address are current in BBI Connect so that you don’t miss this important communication. If eligibility cannot be confirmed, dependent enrollment will be denied.
Required Documentation
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| Dependent | Documentation Needed |
|---|---|
| Legally married spouse | A copy of your marriage certificate or a copy of page one through the claimed dependents section of your jointly filed federal tax return (form 1040), or both of your tax returns if you file separately, from the most recent tax season. Please black out the first five digits of any Social Security Numbers. |
| Natural child | A copy of the state or county issued birth certificate or hospital records showing associate’s name. If the birth certificate lists the mother’s maiden name, please provide a copy of your marriage certificate or a copy of page one through the claimed dependents section of your jointly filed federal tax return (form 1040), or both of your tax returns if you file separately, from the most recent tax season. Please black out the first five digits of any Social Security Numbers. |
| Stepchild | A copy of the state or county issued birth certificate showing parents’ names and a copy of your marriage certificate or a copy of page one through the claimed dependents section of your jointly filed federal tax return (form 1040), or both of your tax returns if you file separately, from the most recent tax season. Please black out the first five digits of any Social Security Numbers. |
| Child for whom you have legal guardianship, or child who is the subject of a Qualified Medical Child Support Order | A copy of the signed court order. |
| Legally adopted child, or child in the process of being adopted | A copy of the adoption paperwork showing associate’s name. |
When to Enroll in Benefits
You can complete your benefits enrollment when you are first eligible and every year after during annual open enrollment.
If you have been promoted from an hourly to a salaried position, or to an hourly position with salaried benefits, your benefits eligibility date will be the first day of the month following or coinciding with your promotion effective date.
Initial Eligibility & Enrollment
You first become eligible for benefits following your hire date or date of promotion. Important dates to keep in mind during the initial enrollment process are your benefits eligibility date, enrollment deadline, and effective date.
Benefits Eligibility Date
Your benefits eligibility date is the first day of the month following or coinciding with your hire date. This is the first day that you are eligible to enroll in Bloomin’ Brands benefits.
- If you have been promoted from an hourly to salaried position, your benefits eligibility date will be the first day of the month following or coinciding with your promotion effective date.
- Should you experience a step-down from a salaried to an hourly position, you will remain benefits-eligible for the remainder of the plan year, and at that time, you will be measured for the following plan year eligibility.
Enrollment Deadline
Your initial enrollment deadline is 45 days after your eligibility date. This is the last day that you can complete your benefits enrollment until the next open enrollment period.
Enroll in benefits as soon as possible after your benefits eligibility date to avoid multiple premium deductions from your paycheck after you enroll. Premium deductions and coverage will be retroactive to your benefits eligibility date, not the date you complete enrollment.
Effective Date
Your effective date is the first day of the month following your official date of hire. This is the date your benefits coverage begins.
- Your effective date only applies if you complete your enrollment benefits by your enrollment deadline.
- If you are hired on the first day of a month, your coverage will begin that day.
How to Enroll Online
Once you’ve reviewed your coverage options, follow the link below to complete your benefits enrollment online. This link can be accessed at any time from the navigation menu at the top of this website.
Annual Eligibility Checks
Once a year, we take a look at who gains, maintains, or loses benefits eligibility for the next calendar year. If you were determined to be eligible for benefits enrollment under initial eligibility, but not annual eligibility, you will be able to continue on your benefits for 12 months from your initial effective date.
To remain eligible for benefits, team members must:
- have at least one (1) year of continuous service to be reviewed for annual eligibility, and
- earn 1,560 hours of service (an average of 30 hours per week) over a specified period of time, generally for 52 weeks beginning and ending in early October.