Returning to work at UC after retirement

PPSM 2.325 — Reemployment of UC Retired Employees Into Senior Management Group and Staff Positions

APM 205 — Recall of Academic Appointees PDF

You may remain enrolled in all retiree health benefits if you do not become eligible for employee health and welfare benefits upon rehire or during your re-employment. 

There are important changes taking effect July 1, 2025, to UC’s benefits eligibility policy for some people who return to UC employment within 26 weeks (6 months) of retirement.

If you become eligible for employee benefits upon rehire, your enrollment in a UC retiree medical plan (if any) will be suspended whether you accept or decline UC employee medical coverage.  Suspension of your UC retiree medical coverage means that you and your dependents will be ineligible to participate in a UC retiree medical plan during the period you are eligible for active employee medical coverage. If you are offered faculty/staff benefits, you’ll have a 31-day Period of Initial Eligibility to choose and enroll in UC employee coverage. Most rehired retirees who are eligible for faculty/staff benefits will be offered the Mid-level benefits package.  

Note that if you’ve been rehired into a career position, you’ll have to suspend any medical, dental, vision and/or legal coverage you have as a retiree. You may enroll as an employee in any health and welfare benefits for which your reemployment qualifies you. 

It is crucial for you to carefully assess your situation so you can make an informed decision that best aligns with your health care needs and financial situation. Please review the Returning to UC Employment After Retirement fact sheet PDF for details and Rehired retiree support resources for additional help.

Rehired employees (including retired faculty rehired into staff positions) must submit a completed UCRP Reemployed Retiree Notification form (UBEN 1039), available on UCnet or from your Benefits Office. The form documents your employment status and whether you are required to suspend your monthly retirement benefit. Retired faculty rehired into recall appointments do need to complete the form.

Retirees returning in a career academic appointment must send written notification to the UC Retirement Administration Service Center to suspend their retirement income.

Those who took a lump sum cashout are not required to sign the Notification Form.

For more information, see the Returning to UC Employment after Retirement Fact Sheet PDF.

Retirees who return to UC service may begin or resume making voluntary pretax salary deferrals to the 403(b) or 457(b) Plans, up to the IRS maximums. Visit myUCretirement.com or call Fidelity at 866-682-7787 to enroll. 

Retirees who were rehired prior to January 1, 2009, are subject to the Rehired Retiree guidelines in place prior to implementation of the current policy until their appointment end date or a there is a change to their current appointment, whichever occurs first.

Individuals with indefinite end dates to their current appointments are subject to the Rehired Retiree guidelines in place prior to implementation of the current policy until their current appointment ends or there is a change to their current appointment, whichever occurs first.