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Benefits & Retirement

This is a comprehensive guide to understanding the retirement plans and benefits available to new faculty and academics. Here, you'll find detailed information on the various University of California retirement tiers, including eligibility criteria, vesting requirements, and plan options such as Pension Choice and Savings Choice. Additionally, the page offers valuable resources like access to Fidelity workplace financial consultants and online courses to assist in your retirement planning. Whether you're a new hire or planning for the future, this resource is designed to help you navigate and maximize your UC benefits.

 

Benfits Information

Benefits Orientation

Benefits orientation sessions are provided for new faculty,  academics, and staff, including eligible MSP Staff Physicians, who are curious about the different types of benefits offered at UC San Diego. It is recommended that you attend an orientation session shortly after your hire. 

  • For orientation dates and times, please contact the UC Benefits office at (619) 543-3200 (option 2 for Benefits). 

You may also ask questions and RSVP through the Health Human Resources Benefits webpage by following the steps below:  

  1. Navigate to the HR Benefits Webpage 
  1. Log in with your UCSD email address (including "@ucsd.edu") and Active Directory (AD) password 
  1. On the homepage, scroll down to the icons and click on "Benefits" then click on the "Benefits Inquiry" option that appears below 
  1. Verify that your name is listed in the "Requester" field. If not listed by default, set it to your name 
  1. Set the "What would you like to do today?" field to "Ask a question about my benefits" 
  1. In the "How can we help?" box, write in "I would like to attend the benefits orientation" 
  1. Click "Submit" 

If you cannot attend, view the online video orientation which allows you to skip to the specific benefits areas. 

Enrolling in Benefits 

Important: Your period of initial eligibility (PIE) starts on the day your eligible employment begins and it ends 31 days later at midnight. It is your responsibility to enroll or opt out of benefits during this period. Failure to enroll in benefits within your PIE will result in forfeiting your rights to benefits. 

  1. Please Note: You will need to login with your UCSD email address and Business Systems password.  If you do not yet have a Social Security Number, please select the “Active Directory” log in option. 
  1. Once you are logged in:  
  • Menu Navigation: Scroll down until you see the “Health and Welfare” toggle (underneath “View Retirement Info” 
  • Click “Enroll in Benefits” 
    or 
  • Dashboard Navigation: Look to the left of your homepage and look for your “Dashboard”  
  • Click “Health and Welfare” and then “Enroll in Benefits” 
  1. Scroll down to view “Open Benefits Events” and click “Open” 
  1. Go through each benefit choice and click the “Pencil” icon to edit and select your choice 
  1. You will also have the option to add dependents as your go through your enrollment process. 
  1. Click the “Submit” button to complete the enrollment process. 
  1. You will be sent an email confirmation of your enrollment. 

To see a simulation with step by step instructions, click here. 

  • For more information regarding your benefits, you may visit UC Net  
  • Please Note: There is no monthly premium for dental and vision coverage options for you and your dependents as they are covered by the UC system, so you will not find a cost chart for these option 
  • Family Member Eligibility Verification: You will receive a packet of information from Secova to verify all family members enrolled in your healthcare plans. You must respond by the deadline date to avoid loss of coverage. 

Supplemental Disability Insurance Plan 

  • This benefit replaces up to 60% of your eligible earnings (in combination with other benefits such as Short-Term Disability and Workers’ Compensation) for the first 12 months of disability and up to 50% of your eligible earnings until age 65. 
  • You may enroll in this plan during your “Period of Initial Eligibility” (PIE). If you do not enroll during your PIE and want to do so later or if you want to shorten your waiting period, you must submit a complete statement of health. 

For specific questions regarding benefits please contact Health HR directly: 

  • (619) 543-3200, option 2 for Benefits 
  • Note: You will need to login with your UCSD email address and Active Directory password 
  • Scroll down to the icons and click on "Benefits" 
  • Select "Benefits Inquiry" 
  • “Requester”: Your name should be listed 
  • “What would you like to do today?”: “Ask a question about my benefits” 

Retirement Information

Retirement Plan Comparison

Depending on your appointment type (career level, appointment percentage [50 – 100% for example], years of service and title), University of California has several retirement tiers based on your hire date.   

NOTE: Postdocs do not participate in UC Retirement Plan (UCRP). 

Vesting: To vest means to acquire certain rights. Once vested, you generally have a right to receive UCRP retirement benefits upon leaving the University and reaching retirement age. If you elect the Pension Choice, you must earn five or more years of service credit to be vested (by working at 100% time, vesting is pro-rated based on the % of your appointment). 
 
Past service as Postdoc, student employee, or Resident do not count towards UCRP Service Credit. 
 

UC Retirement Plan 1976 Tier is for employees hired at 50% or more prior to July 1, 2013.  

  • This plan includes the possibility of continued health insurance depending on age and years of service  
  • There is also an option for Lump Sum Cash Out (not available in the other tiered plans)  
  • Lump Sum Cash Out exempts you from continued retiree medical benefits and stricter return to work options  
  • Forfeits UCRP Basic Death Benefit ($7,500), UCRP Survivor AND contingent Annuitant benefits  

2013 Tier includes employees hired between July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2016.  

  • 55 is minimum age to retire. 
  • Some 2013 tier members with 10 years of service credit and meeting other eligibility requirements at retirement may have Retiree Health Insurance.  
  • Most active 2013 Tier members make contributions to UCRP equal to 7% of covered compensation.   

2016 Tier gives employees a choice of two options – Pension Choice or Savings Choice.  

  • Pension Choice is closer to the UCRP pension benefit with a 401K style component. 
  • Savings Choice is similar to a stand-alone 401k. 

***The sooner you decide which option is best for you the sooner you start receiving UC contributions. You have 90 days from your retirement option eligibility date to choose a primary retirement benefit.  If you don’t choose a primary retirement option, you will automatically be enrolled in the Pension Choice at the end of 90-days***  

  • One-time irreversible opportunity to switch from Savings to Pension Choice on the fifth anniversary of the calendar year in which you made your initial election. 

Voluntary Retirement Options

In addition to the mandatory retirement plans that you and the University contribute to, you have the option to save additional money through several voluntary retirement programs.  

Postdocs are not eligible for the official UC Retirement Plan (UCRP) or pension options.  However, depending on a postdoc’s visa status, may instead contribute to the Defined Contribution Plan or choose to participate in a voluntary retirement plan.  

Preparing for Retirement

An employee should initiate retirement 3 months prior to their retirement date. Failure to do this may result in a delay to a retiree’s first paycheck and continued retiree health insurance.  

Prior to retiring, employees should be communicating their plans to retire with their department/department chair and the Academic Resource Center via the ARC Service Portal.  

An employee’s separation date needs to be distinct from their retirement date.  For example, an employee may separate/resign on June 27th and retire on July 1st.   

Important Resources

UC has dedicated workplace financial consultants free of charge through Fidelity Investments.  

There are many online courses, both live and recorded to help you learn about your UC retirement benefits.  

  • If you are retiring in the next few years or months you can begin to prepare by watching recorded retirement planning webinars.     
  • Health Sciences Academic Administration is also hosting faculty specific retirement workshops twice monthly with the slides found  here. 

Health HR provides local presentations through UC Learning and recorded sessions   

VCHS Academic Administration has routine workshops specifically curated for faculty in the form of live zoom sessions and recordings on Pulse (login required).