Dependent Eligibility Verification Audit
Dependent Eligibility Verification Audit
The LAwell Program is conducting a comprehensive audit of all dependents enrolled in City-sponsored benefits in early 2026. Open Enrollment was your final opportunity to remove any ineligible dependents without penalty.
- No penalties will apply if removed during Open Enrollment.
- Ineligible dependents identified later will require repayment of premiums paid by the City during the period of ineligibility.
For eligibility and next steps, see the Dependent Eligibility Verification Audit FAQ.
Dependent Audit Overview & Details
What is the Dependent Eligibility Verification Audit?
The LAwell Program provides benefits to eligible employees and their eligible dependents. The City will now periodically audit all dependent records to ensure they meet LAwell Program eligibility rules. A dependent may lose eligibility due to events such as divorce, termination of a domestic partnership, reaching the age limit of 26 for child dependents, or other changes.
The City has contracted with Secova,Inc. (Secova) to conduct the audit. Once the Dependent Eligibility Verification audit begins, you may be required to provide documents proving that each dependent covered under your benefits meets the LAwell eligibility rules. Common examples include: Marriage certificate for a spouse OR Birth certificate for children.
Details and instructions will be provided in early June by Secova. If any of your dependents are found to be ineligible, their coverage will be terminated, and you may be required to repay the cost of their premiums for the time they were deemed to be ineligible.
Why is the City conducting the Dependent Eligibility Verification Audit?
Keeping ineligible dependents in your coverage is a violation of LAwell Program rules and abuse of public funds. Removing ineligible individuals helps the City control costs and maintain compliance with LAwell Program rules.
What happens if I have a dependent covered on my LAwell benefits who the City says should not be covered?
When you add a dependent to your LAwell coverage, you are attesting that the dependent meets the Program’s eligibility criteria. You must also provide supporting documentation at the time of enrollment. If a dependent subsequently becomes ineligible (e.g., divorce) and you fail to remove them from LAwell coverage, you may be required to repay the cost of the premiums for the period the dependent was ineligible.
During the 2026 Open Enrollment period (October 1–31, 2025), employees had the opportunity to remove any ineligible dependents from your coverage. If done so at that time, no penalties will apply. If the audit identifies that an ineligible dependent still exists in your covered benefits, you may be responsible for repaying all premiums associated with that dependent for the period in which the dependent was ineligible and still enrolled into benefits.
Who is an “eligible dependent” and who is not?
Generally, your legal spouse or registered domestic partner, and your children under age 26 (including biological, step, adopted, or foster children) are eligible. Some other dependents may qualify in specific situations. For full rules and required documentation, visit https://www.keepinglawell.com/dependents.
Go to Verification Portal
This process is managed by our audit vendor (Secova). All document submissions and status updates will be handled through the secure vendor portal.
How to access your Employee Verification Portal Instructional GuideImportant Dates
- 🗓️ Audit Begins: June 2026
- ⏳ Submission Deadline: July 2026
Important: Failure to submit required documentation by the deadline will result in your dependent(s) being removed from coverage.
How the Process Works
- You will have received an announcement notice if you have been selected for the audit.
- Subsequently, you will receive a Verification packet advising you of which dependents will be under review. This packet will have all contact information for Secova.
- Log in to Secova’s secure verification portal.
- Review your listed dependents.
- Upload required supporting documents.
- The vendor will review your submission.
- You will be notified of your verification status.
What Documents Are Required - Secova Audit
Spouse
- Marriage certificate
- Additional documentation may be required (if applicable)
Child(ren)
- Birth certificate (showing parent/child relationship)
- Additional documentation may be required (if applicable)
Step Child(ren)
- Birth certificate (showing parent/child relationship)
- Marriage certificate (showing spousal relationship)
- Additional documentation may be required (if applicable)
What Documents Are Required - Employee Benefits Division Audit
Child of Domestic Partner
- Domestic Partnership Affidavit*: Updated Domestic Partnership Affidavit coming soon
- Birth certificate (showing domestic partnership/child relationship)
Domestic Partner
- Domestic Partnership Affidavit*: Updated Domestic Partnership Affidavit coming soon
Adopted Child/ Child Under Legal Guardianship
- Court documentation for adoption of child OR
- Court documentation for child under legal guardianship
- Birth certificate of Adopted Child/ Child Under Legal Guardianship
Grandchild
- Birth certificate (showing child/grandchild relationship)
- Birth certificate of unmarried child (parent of grandchild)
- If unmarried child is age 19: Last year’s tax return (proof of financial dependence of employee)
- If unmarried child is age 19-26:
- Last year’s tax return (proof of financial dependence of employee) AND
- School transcript showing unmarried child is currently a full-time student enrolled in classes and the number of units enrolled in
Adult Disabled Dependent (over Age 26)
- Birth Certificate of Adult Disabled Dependent
- Must be reliant for financial support
- Must remain unmarried
- Disabled as determined by a health plan
Before You Begin
To avoid delays, please prepare the following (COPIES ONLY, ORIGINALS SHOULD NOT BE SUBMITTED):
- Ensure documents are clear, legible, and complete.
- Confirm names and dates are visible and match enrollment records.
- Save files in accepted formats (PDF, JPG, or PNG).
- Have all required documents ready before logging into the portal.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
These common errors will result in rejected documents or delayed verification:
- Uploading blurry or unreadable documents.
- Submitting documents with missing pages or cut-off information.
- Providing documents that do not show required details (e.g., names, dates).
- Waiting until the deadline to begin the process.
Submission Guidelines
General Document Submission Rules
- Copies of documents are completely acceptable.
- Originals are NOT required and should not be submitted.
- Social Security Numbers (SSNs) are not required to add a dependent (including a spouse). A dependent without an SSN is acceptable.
Birth Certificates (Adding Children)
- Issuer Requirements: The document submitted must have a stamp/seal of the governmental agency AND/OR a signature of a governmental representative (such as the County Clerk).
- Age Limit: All children added as dependents must be under age 26.
- Name Matching: Verify that the last and first name of both the employee and the child match.
- Stepchildren: For a stepchild, the first and last name of the parent on the birth certificate must match the name of the employee's spouse.
- Resolving Discrepancies: If a name is only a close match, the document can be approved if an additional piece of information (like the employee's date of birth) can be verified. If the name does not closely resemble the record, additional outreach will be required to obtain supporting identification (e.g., a driver's license).
Marriage Certificates (Adding Spouses)
- Issuer Requirements: The document must be a marriage certificate issued by a governmental agency (City, County, or State). Marriage licenses or certificates issued by a church/chapel are NOT acceptable.
- Verification Marks: The certificate must have a stamp/seal of the governmental agency AND/OR a signature of a governmental representative.
- Name Matching & Maiden Names: The first and last name of the employee and spouse must match. If a spouse kept their maiden name, this is acceptable provided the employee's date of birth on the certificate can be verified against their file.
- Resolving Discrepancies: Similar to birth certificates, close name matches can be approved if another data point (like a date of birth) is verifiable. Otherwise, supporting documentation will be required.
Exceptions Requiring City Handling
The following items cannot be processed standardly and must be returned to the City for handling:
- Foreign documents (non-United States).
- Documents submitted after the final deadline.
- Qualified Medical Child Support Order (QMSCO) documents.
- Power of Attorney (POA) documents (the City will verify and notify Secova if approved).
- Any documents that do not conform to these guidelines or appear falsified/fraudulent.
Acceptable vs. Unacceptable Documents
| Document Type | Acceptable Submissions | Unacceptable Submissions | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birth Verification |
|
|
View Example |
| Marriage Verification |
|
|
View Example |
| Foreign Marriage |
|
|
View Example |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the City of LA conducting a Dependent Eligibility Verification?
The City of Los Angeles expends a large amount of money to subsidize the benefits which employees receive. It’s important that all dependents covered under LAwell benefit programs meet the eligibility requirements. Keeping ineligible dependents in coverage is a violation of LAwell Program rules and abuse of public funds.
Removing ineligible individuals helps the City control costs and maintain compliance with LAwell Program rules. A dependent audit is a typical exercise performed by employer benefit plans to ensure all dependents enrolled into City coverage meet eligibility. The LAwell Program has performed dependent audits previously, with the last one performed in 2014.
Who is performing this audit?
The City has contracted with a third-party vendor, Secova, Inc. (Secova) to manage the majority of the audit. Any City employee with one or more enrolled dependents will need to re-attest coverage eligibility by submitting eligibility documentation even if documentation was previously submitted.
In addition, a smaller number of employees who have dependents with certain special dependent types (such as Grandchild, Legal custody, City Affidavit Domestic Partnerships, etc.) will have additional steps for re-attesting their dependent’s eligibility for which they will receive a separate and additional direct notice.
What happens if I do not submit/return my Verification Form and Required Documentation by the deadline?
Secova will attempt to reach you via phone, email and/or mail to make sure you meet the deadline. If you do not submit the Verification Form and Required Documents by 07/03/2026, your coverage for your dependent(s) will be terminated.
Will my personal information be safe with Secova? What will Secova do with my documents?
Yes, your personal information will be safe with Secova. Secova enforces a strict company privacy policy to ensure that the information you submit by any method including paper, electronic, telephonic, and email remains secure. Do not send original documents to Secova, only photocopies. When Secova receives your paper documents, they are scanned to an electronic image. This image is stored on a secure system with password-protected access. After the verification process is complete and data has been provided back to the City of LA, Secova will destroy all copies and images.
All employee data is kept confidential and private throughout each step in Secova's work processes. Incoming data is transferred via a secure FTP site, encrypted e-mails, or password-protected web uploads, then stored in Secova’s password-protected databases. Secova’s Information and Data Security is fully compliant with all current federal regulations and international standards.
Will I receive confirmation once my verification is complete?
Yes. Secova will send you a confirmation notice after your verification is complete. If your Verification Form or Required Documents are incomplete, Secova will send you a notice that lists the additional information needed to complete the process. You also can go online to the secure Verification Station website at https://member.secova.com/LosAngeles to check the status of your dependent eligibility verification at any time.
What do I need to do if one or more of my enrolled dependents no longer meets one of the eligibility requirements?
You must check the appropriate box on the Verification Form for each dependent who does not meet the eligibility requirements; providing the date of ineligibility, and the reason the dependent is no longer eligible for coverage and send to Secova. Secova will notify the City of LA, and your dependent(s) will be removed from coverage.
Who do I contact if I have questions about the Dependent Eligibility Verification Process?
You can visit the Verification Station secure website at https://member.secova.com/LosAngeles or call Secova at 800-794-7413 (toll-free). Representatives are available Monday through Friday 8:00am through 5:00pm PST. Your call is always confidential. For additional support or questions, you can email: CityofLA.Support@secova.com.
Which dependents are not eligible?
Not every family member who lives with you is an eligible dependent. Examples of individuals who are ineligible dependents are: Your spouse following a divorce; someone else’s child (such as your nieces or nephews) unless you have been awarded legal custody or guardianship; or your parents, parents-in-law, or grandparents, regardless of their IRS dependent status.
What happens to the coverage of a dependent(s) enrolled in benefits who does not meet the eligibility requirements?
A dependent(s) who does not meet the eligibility requirements will be removed from coverage.
What does it mean if one of my dependents is not listed in the Verification Letter?
The Employee Benefits Division will be conducting a separate audit on the following Dependent Groups below. Members will have additional steps for re-attesting their dependent’s eligibility for which they will receive a separate and additional direct notice. If you currently cover or provide benefits for a dependent in one of the following groups, the Employee Benefits Division will be contacting you directly to confirm eligibility for this dependent. Eligibility documentation may be required for verification.
Dependent Groups that will be audited by the EBD: Adopted Child/Legal Guardianship, Grandchild(ren), Disabled Child(ren) (over the age of 26), Domestic Partner and/ OR Child(ren) of Domestic Partner
I have already provided eligibility documentation to the City of LA at the time I enrolled my dependent(s) in benefits coverage. Do I still need to send eligibility documentation to Secova?
Yes. We realize that some of you may have already provided eligibility documentation to the City of LA when enrolling your dependent(s); however, you will need to resubmit the documentation to Secova to complete the Dependent Eligibility Verification Audit. Please refer to the Required Documents listing on the back side of the Verification Form enclosed in this packet, and take the action required to verify dependent eligibility for each of your dependents enrolled in coverage.
What are my options for completing the Dependent Eligibility Verification and submitting my documents to Secova?
You can use one of the following options in transmitting information to Secova:
- Secure Online Verification and Uploads at: (Visit the Verification Station secure website at: https://member.secova.com/LosAngeles) Follow the instructions on the screen to enter your Employee ID# (listed in upper right hand corner of the enclosed Letter/Verification Form), and password. The first time you log into the system your password will be your first name (all lower case) and the last 4 digits of your SSN. You will be prompted to change your password once you have confirmed your email address.
- Secure Fax: (800-584-2819 toll-free): Make sure documents are placed in the proper position on the fax machine, either face up or face down (depending on the fax machine) to prevent sending blank documents. Blank documents cannot be processed and will result in the dependent(s) being placed in a “no response” status. You are responsible for making sure that your fax is properly transmitted to Secova’s secure fax line. Please remember to keep a copy of your fax confirmation page for future reference.
- Mail: City of LA, C/O Secova Service Center, PO Box 630, Budd Lake, NJ 07828. You may need to use more than one envelope if you are submitting multiple documents. For speedy processing, do not use color paper, color ink, staple, tape or clip your documents.
- Email: CityofLA.Documents@secova.com. The subject line must read: City of LA Eligibility Verification [Employee ID]. Employees must include their Employee ID for SECOVA to properly document the submission. Emails containing any other subject line will be blocked by Secova’s firewall security. Emails with attachments must be less than 10mb. You will not receive an immediate acknowledgement of submission by email. A notification email will be sent once your document submission is confirmed. Secova does not guarantee the security.
***Allow ten (10) business days for processing once Secova receives your Verification Form and documentation.
How to submit required documentation:
- Verification Documents - Birth Certificates, Marriage Certificates, etc. are to be copied and submitted on a single sheet, one sided. The back side is to remain blank.
- Confidentiality - Each employee should submit documentation for his or her own dependent(s). Do not submit dependent documentation on behalf of others.
- Sending multiple verification documentation - Whether you are uploading, faxing, mailing or emailing the required documents, make sure each document is copied on its own separate page. (For example, if you are submitting a Marriage Certificate for your spouse and a Birth Certificate for your child, the Marriage Certificate should be copied onto one page and the Birth Certificate onto a second page). All copies should be single-sided only. Do not copy on the back side of any document.
Need Help?
For questions about the audit process or eligibility requirements: CityofLA.Support@secova.com
For document submission or status: CityofLA.Documents@secova.com
For customer support and all other inquiries: CityofLA.Support@secova.com
Hours of Operation:
Phone: 800-794-7413 toll-free
Representatives are available Monday through Friday 8:00am to 5:00pm PST. All calls are confidential.
Important Reminder
If you have already submitted your required eligibility documents, no further action is needed at this time. Your documentation is currently under review.
Secova may contact you if any additional information or supplemental supporting documentation is needed.
Privacy & Security
All information submitted through the verification process is handled securely and in accordance with applicable privacy and data protection standards.