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Understanding service credit

Your time worked at UC, often referred to as service credit, can count towards certain benefits depending on the type of service credit and how it is earned.

Here’s an overview of some terms you may hear and what they mean, and answers to some frequently asked questions about UCRP service credit.

On this page:

Employment service credit

How it’s earned and tracked: UCPath tracks employment service, crediting employees for each month they work 50% or more of full-time. Employment service can be earned through “Safe Harbor” appointments (such as floater, student or per diem) as well as through appointments that are eligible for full retirement benefits.

Employment with the California State University system or the State of California may be eligible for crediting as employment service months. Consult with UCPath or your location for more information.

Where to verify: You will find your employment services months by logging into UCPath and selecting “View Leave Balances.”

Counts toward: Vacation or paid time off (PTO) accrual rate, as defined by the policy or contract that applies to the employee, and for eligibility for service awards.

UC Retirement Plan (UCRP) vesting credit

How it’s earned and tracked:

  • Earned as an active member of UCRP or as a Savings Choice participant.
  • Earned as a member of CalPERS or CalSTRS. Refer to the fact sheets for eligibility on reciprocity with CalPERS or concurrent retirement with CalSTRS.
  • In limited circumstances, UCRP vesting service may have been credited for work prior to transferring to UC. Please review the UCRP Plan Document for more information.

You can view your UCRP, Savings Choice, or any prior service credit by logging into UC Retirement At Your Service (UCRAYS). CalPERS or CalSTRS vesting service, if eligible, is not credited until your retirement.

Where to verify: You will find your earned UCRP service credit on the main dashboard of UCRAYS. For additional information, click on “Membership Details.”

Counts toward: Eligibility for (known as “vesting in”) UCRP benefits

UC Retirement Plan (UCRP) service credit

How it’s earned and tracked: Earned as an active member of UCRP proportional to your eligible hours worked or on pay status (i.e., sick or vacation leave), and tracked in UCRAYS. See the FAQ for examples of how service is earned.

Where to verify: You will find your earned UCRP service credit on the main dashboard of UCRAYS. For additional information, click on “Membership Details.”

Counts toward:

  • Eligibility for (known as “vesting in”) UCRP benefits. Generally, you’re eligible for UCRP benefits with at least 5 years of UCRP vesting credit
  • Calculation of UCRP retirement, survivor, and disability benefits
  • Eligibility for retiree health benefits, and the amount of UC’s contribution toward their cost

Savings Choice service credit

How it’s earned and tracked: Earned as an active Savings Choice Participant proportional to your eligible hours worked or on pay status (i.e., sick or vacation leave), and tracked in UCRAYS. See the FAQ for examples of how service is earned.

Where to verify: You will find your earned Savings Choice service credit by selecting “Membership Details” on the main dashboard of UCRAYS.

Counts toward:

  • Eligibility for (known as “vesting in”) UCRP benefits for Savings Choice participants who become UCRP members
  • Eligibility for retiree health benefits, and the amount of UC’s contribution to their cost

Retiree health service credit

How it’s earned and tracked: UCRAYS tracks this as Health & Welfare service credit and includes UCRP and Savings Choice service credit.

Where to verify: You will find your earned UCRP and Savings Choice retiree health and welfare service credit by selecting “Membership Details” on the main dashboard of UCRAYS.

Counts toward: Eligibility for retiree health benefits, and the amount of UC’s contribution to their cost

Frequently asked questions about service credit

Q: How does my UCRP service credit affect my retirement income?

Your UCRP 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, up to any income limits that apply to you). The exact formula depends on when you became a member of UCRP.

Q: Is my UCRP service credit the same as my years of service with UC, shown on my UCPath account dashboard?

It depends. Your UCPath account reflects your employment service credit. This is not always the same as your UCRP service credit, which you can find in your UCRAYS account. Service credit is earned once you have become an active UCRP member, for the time you receive covered compensation (or UCRP-eligible pay) for an eligible appointment.

For example, if you work for UC in a position that isn’t eligible for UCRP benefits, your time in that position will not count toward your UCRP service credit. Part-time or variable-time work results in a proportionate amount of UCRP service credit. For example, if you work 50% time for one year, you receive one-half year of UCRP service credit but twelve months of employment service credit.

Q: Can I earn UCRP or Savings Choice service credit for overtime?

Overtime hours do not count towards service credit.

If you work full-time, the maximum service you can accrue in a year is one year. If your regular appointment is less than full-time, any additional hours beyond your regular appointment hours may count toward additional service credit up to the full-time maximum. For example, if your appointment is 75% but you work 90% for the year, you can earn 0.900 years of service.

Q: Can I purchase UCRP service credit for the time I was on leave?

If you took an eligible unpaid or partially paid leave of absence for a minimum of 4 consecutive weeks, you may be eligible to purchase UCRP service credit for that time. A service credit purchase must be completed while you are actively employed. You cannot purchase service credit after separating from UCRP employment or retiring. For more information, please see the UCRP Service Credit Purchase Guide.

Unpaid leaves, while a Savings Choice participant, may not be purchased. Savings Choice participants are also not eligible to purchase service credit to meet retiree health eligibility requirements.

Lastly, employment service months cannot be purchased while on unpaid leave.

Q: What if I think the UCRP service credit shown on UCRAYS or in my retirement profile is incorrect?

If you work for UC in a position that isn’t eligible for UCRP benefits, your time in that position will not count toward your UCRP service credit. Additionally, part-time or variable-time work results in a proportionate amount of UCRP service credit. For example, if you work 50% time for one year, you receive one-half year of UCRP service credit but twelve months of employment service credit.

If you think your service credit may not be accurate, it’s a good idea to consult with your local Benefits Office or contact the RASC for more information. This will help reduce the risks of delays in your retirement process later.

Q: How do I qualify and get credit for prior service working at the California State University system, the State of California, or other qualifying agencies?

Employment service with the California State University system or the State of California may be eligible for crediting as employment service months. In UCPath click on “Accrual & Leaves Forms Prior State Service eForm” for step-by-step instructions on how to submit, update, or view your prior service.

For information on how service credit earned in CalPERS or CalSTRS may count towards vesting in UCRP, refer to the fact sheets Reciprocity with CalPERS or Concurrent retirement with CalSTRS; for more information.

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