Preparing for a successful retirement is one of the biggest financial responsibilities you will face. UC offers a comprehensive array of retirement benefits, retirement savings programs and educational and counseling resources to help you plan for retirement.

UC’s primary retirement benefits provide a strong foundation, with costs shared by you and UC. Voluntary retirement savings programs and retirement planning resources give you the tools to save even more toward a financially secure future.

Use the following index to navigate this page:

UC Retirement Benefits   /  UC Retirement Plan   /   Retirement Savings Programs   /   Preparing for Retirement   /   Retirement Planning Webinars   /   Leaving UC Employment   / Retiree Health Benefits

UCRAYS
(At Your
Service)

Fidelity

My UC
Retirement

Medicare

 

RASC

Social Security

UC Retirement Plan (UCRP)

The University of California Retirement Plan (UCRP) provides retirement income for eligible employees and their eligible survivors and beneficiaries. UCRP is a defined benefit plan in which benefits are calculated based on factors such as a member’s salary, age, and years of service credit.

More about UCRP on UCnet

  • Membership
  • Retirement Benefits
  • Beneficiaries
  • Capital Accumulation Payment (CAP)
  • Service Credit
  • Service Credit Buyback
  • Other UCRP Benefits

myUCretirement
myUCretirement offers a range of retirement planning and financial education classes and resources to help you make the most of the UC Retirement System and Savings Program.

Retirement Estimator Tools

Returning to work after retirement
UC's policy on returning to work after retirement applies to those who are receiving UC Retirement Plan (UCRP) monthly income and those who elected a lump sum cashout at retirement.

Retirement Savings Programs

The UC Retirement Savings Program offers a convenient, tax-advantaged way to save for retirement. The Program consists of:

  • Tax-Deferred 403(b) Plan
  • 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan
  • Defined Contribution Plan - which consists of the Pretax Account for mandatory Safe Harbor employee contributions and the After-Tax Account for voluntary contributions and the taxable portion of rollovers from other employer plans
  • **NEW** Roth contribution option to the UC 403(b) and 457(b) Plans. The Roth option allows you to pay taxes on contributions now so that you have the potential to take the money out tax-free in retirement.

Fidelity Retirement Services
Fidelity Retirement Services provides the record keeping and account services for the UC Retirement Savings Program. See the My UC Retirement website or call Fidelity Retirement Services for questions about:

  • Account Information
  • Beneficiaries
  • Changing or canceling contributions
  • Distributions
  • Enrolling
  • 403(b) loans
  • Performance Information
  • Rollovers
  • Transferring Funds

Financial Education Classes
My UC Retirement offers a range of retirement planning and financial education classes to help you make the most of the UC Retirement System and Savings Program.

One-on-One Guidance from a Fidelity Consultant
Schedule an appointment with a Fidelity Workplace Planning and Guidance Consultant who is ready to help you with:

  • Understanding your individual situation and priorities
  • Rollovers into UC Retirement Savings Program
  • Pre-retirement planning & CAP elections
  • Comprehensive retirement income planning

Are You Ready to Retire?  Pre-Retirement counseling is available.

If you are retiring soon and would like assistance with understanding the retirement process, please reach out to one of these options:

  • The Retirement Administration Service Center (RASC) via your UCRAYS account to schedule a one-on-one retirement counseling appointment or call 1-800-888-8267. 
  • Fidelity Services - Andrew Fung and Sandy Soliman are experienced and knowledgeable in all UC retirement and savings matters.
  • UCSB HR Retirement Counselor, Lisa Romero - Submit a ticket via HR ServiceNow to request an appointment. (Please Note that Lisa will be on leave until the week of 4/20).

If you need help creating, logging into or making the most of your UCRAYS account please visit Getting help with UC Retirement At Your Service (UCRAYS).

Preparing for Retirement Resources

UC provides many resources and tools to help with your retirement planning efforts. About three months before you plan to retire, you will want to begin the retirement process.

Retiring July 1? Here's what you need to know (UCOP website)

Checklists:


Roadmaps:


UCSB Webinars (live):

  • Transitioning into UC Retiree Health Insurance Webinar
    • April 29th (Wednesday), 9-10:30am, Zoom - by Janelle Mirzaei, UCSB Health Care Facilitator
    • May 14th (Thursday), 1:30-3:00pm, Zoom - by Janelle Mirzaei, UCSB Health Care Facilitator
    • These webinars will cover the following topics:
      • Who is eligible for UC retiree health insurance? What insurance plans are available to non-Medicare retirees? How do you enroll in Medicare? How does Medicare coordinate with UC retiree insurance? What are the costs for Medicare?

RASC Webinars (live and recorded):

  • Retirement Planning Webinars and recordings
    • UC offers retirement planning webinars on the second and fourth Tuesdays of every month from 10:00am - 12:30pm. 
  • Preparing for Retirement
    • This is for UCRP members planning to retire within the next 5 years. Covers UCRP pension benefits, retirement savings and retiree health coverage.
  • The UC Retirement Process from Start to Finish
    • For UCRP members planning to retire within the next 4-12 months, this webinar explains everything you need to know about the retirement process, including required forms, important deadlines and helpful resources.
  • Retiree Health Benefits
    • UC offers retiree health benefits webinars the 3rd Wednesday of each month from 10:00am - 12:00pm. Learn about the health plans available for UC retirees and their eligible family members.

Retirement Estimator:

  • Retirement Estimator (Sign-in required):
    • This tool is located in your UC Retirement At Your Service (UCRAYS) account. 
    • Go to "Benefits Payments & Taxes" and then to the "Net Payment Estimator".  This tool provides estimates of your UC Retirement Plan (UCRP) benefit amounts at various ages or a retirement date that you select. The tool estimates monthly retirement income and the lump sum cashout. The estimates are not a guarantee of eligibility or benefit amounts.


Leaving UC Employment:

Returning to Work after UC Retirement:

UC's policy on returning to work after retirement applies to those who are receiving UC Retirement Plan (UCRP) monthly income and those who elected a lump sum cashout at retirement.


Other:

Retiree Health Benefits

You may be eligible to continue your UC-sponsored medical, dental, vision, legal and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance if you elect UCRP monthly retirement income. Your RASC retirement counselor will assist you with the transition to the retiree insurance program.

Retiree Health Eligibility Rules

Policy-covered UC faculty and staff fall into one of three categories for retiree health benefits eligibility, each based on the date of membership in UCRP or their rehire date after a break in service of 120 days or more. 

These rules can vary by bargaining unit for employees who are currently in or have worked in union jobs while at UC.

Cost of Retiree Health Insurance

The amount that UC contributes to your medical and dental plans depends on: