Your Lowe’s health insurance ends on the last day of the month you leave, and your 10% employee discount ends the day you walk out
Those are the two dates that matter most. Everything else builds from there. Here is a full breakdown of every Lowe’s benefit and what happens to it after you quit, get laid off, or are terminated.
Heads up: If you came from Home Depot and are comparing notes, Lowe’s works very differently. Lowe’s actually offers a 10% employee discount on merchandise, which Home Depot does not. That means leaving Lowe’s involves losing a tangible daily perk that Home Depot employees never had.
Health insurance and COBRA
Lowe’s employer-sponsored health, dental, and vision coverage ends on the last day of the month of your separation. If your last day is April 5, coverage runs through April 30. If your last day is April 28, same ending.
After that, COBRA lets you keep the exact same plan for up to 18 months at full cost plus a 2% fee. Expect COBRA to run $400 to $700 per month for individual coverage. Family plans go higher.
You also qualify for a 60-day Special Enrollment Period on the Healthcare Marketplace (healthcare.gov). Depending on your income after leaving Lowe’s, subsidized plans may be much cheaper than COBRA. If your household income drops below your state’s Medicaid threshold, that’s another option worth exploring. Our guides on COBRA after job loss and Medicaid eligibility cover both paths.
Tip: Don’t elect COBRA immediately unless you need medical care right away. You have 60 days, and COBRA is retroactive. Some people wait and only elect it if they incur medical expenses during the gap. This saves money if nothing comes up, but it’s a calculated risk.
The 10% employee discount
The Lowe’s 10% employee discount works on in-store and online purchases, and your spouse can use it too. This is a real competitive advantage over Home Depot’s zero-discount policy and a perk many Lowe’s employees use heavily, especially on home improvement projects.
The discount ends on your last day of employment. There is no grace period and no retiree continuation unless you meet specific criteria (which Lowe’s does not widely publicize). If you have a big project you have been putting off, the time to buy materials is before your last day, not after.
BenefitHub (benefithub.com), the partner discount platform offering deals on hotels, movie tickets, car insurance, cell plans, and dining, also deactivates after separation. Some of those deals (up to 50% on hotels, 40% on movie tickets) are worth using while you still have access.
For more details on how the discount works while employed, see Lowe’s employee discounts.
401(k) through Wells Fargo
Lowe’s administers its 401(k) through Wells Fargo. After leaving, your account stays active and you can manage it through Wells Fargo’s website or by calling their retirement services line.
Your options are the standard four: leave it in the Lowe’s plan, roll it to an IRA, transfer to a new employer’s plan, or cash out. As always, cashing out before 59½ hits you with a 10% penalty plus income taxes.
Tip: If your balance is under $1,000, Lowe’s plan may automatically cash you out and send a check. If it’s between $1,000 and $5,000, it may be rolled into an IRA automatically. Over $5,000, it stays put until you make a move. Check your balance soon after leaving so you aren’t caught off guard.
Check your vesting status to make sure Lowe’s matching contributions are fully yours. For the full guide, read what happens to your 401(k) when you quit.
PTO payout
Lowe’s follows state law for PTO payout. In states that mandate payment of accrued, unused vacation on separation (California, Colorado, Illinois, etc.), your final paycheck should include it. In states without a mandate, Lowe’s internal policy applies.
If your final paycheck seems short, contact Lowe’s HR through corporate.lowes.com/my-hr or call the HR number listed on your separation paperwork. For state-by-state rules, see Lowe’s final paycheck laws.
Other benefits that end
Life insurance and disability coverage end on your last day. No continuation option through Lowe’s.
Tuition assistance stops at separation. If you are mid-semester, check with your school.
Lowe’s stock purchase plan (if applicable) stops payroll deductions. Shares already purchased are yours.
Accessing your info after leaving Lowe’s
MyLowesLife (myloweslife.com) is the main employee portal and has been since 2009. After separation, your access is limited, but Lowe’s does maintain a former employee section through LowesNet.
For W-2s: Former employees can use Equifax/MyTaxForm.com with employer code 11116. This is the most reliable way to get your W-2 after leaving. Paper copies are also mailed to your last address by January 31. For a full walkthrough, see Lowe’s W-2 guide for former employees.
Tip: If you were recently hired and went through Workday for onboarding before transitioning to MyLowesLife, your Workday credentials and MyLowesLife credentials may be different. The Equifax/MyTaxForm route bypasses both portals entirely, which is why it’s the best option for former employees.
For all Lowe’s resources in one place, visit our Lowe’s employee resource hub.
Lowe’s benefits after termination at a glance
| Benefit | Status after leaving | Where to go |
| Health/dental/vision | Ends last day of month | COBRA notice by mail; healthcare.gov |
| 10% employee discount | Ends on last day | No continuation |
| BenefitHub deals | Ends on last day | No continuation |
| 401(k) | Stays in plan (Wells Fargo) | wellsfargo.com/retirement |
| PTO payout | State law dependent | Check final paycheck; contact HR |
| Life/disability | Ends on last day | Purchase individual policy |
| W-2 access | Equifax/MyTaxForm, code 11116 | mytaxform.com |
If you’re still deciding whether to leave, check our Lowe’s quitting process guide.