What are the specific hourly or tenure thresholds that make a Walmart part‑time associate eligible for benefits in 2026?
Executive summary
Walmart’s 2026 rules make part‑time hourly and temporary associates eligible for medical and other part‑time benefits based primarily on measured hours during defined measurement periods and on tenure milestones — notably an eligibility effective date tied to the 89th day of employment — but the publicly available materials reviewed do not publish a single fixed “hours per week” cutoff in the cited documents [1] [2] [3]. The company also publishes cost and enrollment timing details for eligible part‑time associates for 2026, while retaining some discretion and special‑case rules [4] [5].
1. How eligibility is determined: measurement periods, not a single hourly rule
Walmart determines part‑time hourly eligibility by measuring actual work hours over specified measurement periods rather than by stating one universal hourly‑per‑week floor in the publicly available benefits book snippets: part‑time and temporary associates’ work hours are “measured every 60 days during your first year of employment,” and associates are notified when they become eligible based on those measurements [2]. The company’s Associate Benefits Book repeatedly references measurement and eligibility checks for part‑time associates, indicating ongoing review rather than a single static hourly threshold disclosed in the cited pages [1] [3].
2. The key tenure milestone: effective date tied to the 89th day of employment
When measurement shows eligibility, the effective date for enrollment in part‑time benefits is anchored to the 89th day of employment: benefits “would be effective on the first day of the month that contains the 89th day of employment” after the relevant measurement period [1] [3]. Enrollment windows are tied to the end of the measurement period — once eligible, associates can enroll within a stated window (for example, within 60 days after the end of the measurement period in some guidance) [2].
3. What coverage looks like for eligible part‑time associates in 2026
Walmart public materials advertise the scope and pricing of benefits for eligible part‑time associates in 2026: eligible part‑time associates will have access to medical coverage with biweekly employee premiums starting at $38.30 in 2026, along with new and expanded benefits such as neurodiversity support and expanded parental leave structures [4]. The Associate Benefits Book and enrollment FAQs also document administrative changes to plan administrators and enrollment continuity rules for 2026 [5].
4. Duration of eligibility and annual checks
Once a part‑time associate meets eligibility requirements and enrolls, medical coverage eligibility is handled in multi‑year blocks: examples in the benefits book indicate that an associate’s medical coverage eligibility period may extend “through the end of the second calendar year following the date you met your eligibility check requirements,” provided the associate remains part‑time or temporary [6]. The benefits book further notes that medical eligibility “will not be checked again until the next annual eligibility check,” suggesting periodic rather than continuous re‑qualification [1].
5. What’s missing or ambiguous in public documents
Despite multiple corporate and internal documents, none of the cited public snippets explicitly states a single numeric hourly threshold (for example, “X hours per week”) that automatically triggers part‑time benefits eligibility; instead Walmart relies on measured hours across 60‑day measurement windows and administrative rules to determine eligibility [2] [1]. The available documents also include special‑case language for locations like Hawaii and for certain job classes [7], underscoring that precise eligibility can vary by role or jurisdiction [7].
6. Bottom line and guidance for verification
The operative facts for 2026 are clear in these materials: eligibility is based on measured hours during 60‑day measurement periods (especially in the first year), with benefits effective tied to the month containing the 89th day of employment and enrollment windows after measurement ends [2] [1]. The specific numeric hourly cutoff that would make every part‑time associate eligible is not published in the cited pages; associates seeking a definitive hourly number or role‑specific rules should consult One.Walmart or People Services for personalized confirmation because the Associate Benefits Book and enrollment FAQ direct associates to those resources for plan‑specific and local exceptions [1] [5].