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UC Retirement Plan (UCRP) Modified 2013 Tier

For employees who are hired or become UCRP-eligible on or after July 1, 2013, and who are also members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), California Nurses Association (CNA), and University Professional and Technical Employees (UPTE). Represented employees who became members of UCRP prior to July 1, 2013, are members of the 1976 Tier until they incur a break in service.  

As a member of the UC Retirement Plan (UCRP) Modified 2013 Tier, you can elect to retire and receive benefits at any time after you become eligible — that is, when you reach age 50 and leave UC employment with at least five years of service credit. When you retire, you may choose a lifetime monthly benefit or a lump sum cashout. You may also be eligible for retiree health and home benefits.

For details about your UCRP Modified 2013 Tier benefits, please see UC Retirement Plan 2013 Tier Summary Plan Description (PDF) and note the information in “Special provisions for AFSCME, CNA and UPTE” on page 21.

On this page:

How do I accrue pension benefits?

While a member of UCRP, you earn service credit toward a pension benefit and make pretax contributions (9% of your covered compensation subject to collective bargaining). Your pension is based on a formula that factors in your UCRP service credit, your age at retirement and your highest salary (averaged over three years), not the contributions made into UCRP.

At retirement, you may elect monthly lifetime income or opt for a lump sum cashout. Electing a lump sum cashout means forfeiting your eligibility for retiree insurance coverage, survivor/contingent annuitant benefits and conversion to service credit of any unused sick leave.

When am I eligible for (or vested in) my retirement benefits?

You must earn five or more years of UCRP service credit to be “vested” — that means that you have a non-forfeitable right to receive UCRP retirement benefits upon leaving UC and reaching retirement age. Service credit accrued as a Savings Choice participant also counts toward vesting in UCRP.

If you leave UC before you are “vested,” you are entitled to a refund of your UCRP contributions, plus accumulated interest, though you will forfeit your UCRP service credit. If you plan to return to a UCRP-eligible position in the future, you can leave your contributions with UCRP (and they will continue to accrue interest), or you can elect a UCRP service credit purchase upon rehire to restore any refunded UCRP contribution balances.

Other UCRP benefits

See the UC Retirement Plan 2013 Tier Summary Plan Description (PDF) and the additional resources below for complete information on your UCRP benefits, including:

Employee benefits

Manage your benefits

New to UC?

Welcome! Check out our benefits roadmap for new employees and attend a UCPath benefits orientation webinar.

Represented by a union?

Your benefits are negotiated between UC and your union. See your bargaining unit’s contract for details.