Retiring on July 1? Starting April 1, you can apply for retirement with “no lapse in pay”
If you’re planning to retire on July 1, 2025, congratulations! The UC Retirement Administration Service Center has services designed to make the retirement process easier than ever, including personalized counseling and representatives available from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
RASC’s Retirement Counseling and Advisory Services
RASC has a dedicated team of accredited financial professionals available for personalized retirement counseling by appointment. The Retirement Counselors help members of the UC Retirement Plan (UCRP) make informed decisions about their retirement. RASC’s new online portal, rasc.universityofcalifornia.edu, includes a convenient self-scheduling option and easy access to retirement resources.
Apply early for “no lapse in pay”
April 1, 2025, is the first day to apply for a July 1, 2025, retirement, and the “No Lapse in Pay” option guarantees a continuation of income as well as medical and dental benefits (if you’re eligible for benefits as a retiree) as you transition to retirement.
Applying for the “No Lapse in Pay” option is easy — simply click the opt-in box on the signature page when making your retirement election in UC Retirement At Your Service (UCRAYS). (You can also submit a form to apply.) If you are approved, you’ll receive your first retirement benefit payment on August 1.
To be approved, you must meet eligibility requirements (see “Before you apply” below for details) and submit your No Lapse in Pay electronic opt-in or form, your signed Monthly Retirement Income election and all required documentation by May 15, 2025.
How it works
If you are approved for “No Lapse in Pay,” we will either pay your calculated benefit amount or a provisional payment of your estimated benefit for most members these two amounts are identical. If there are differences between the provisional payment and the calculated amount, your benefit payment and premium deductions will be adjusted by the October 1, 2024, payment.
Before you apply
This option is only available for July 1, 2025, retirements which do not require special processing. Unfortunately, a few circumstances can make a prospective retiree ineligible for “No Lapse in Pay,” such as:
- You are choosing a Lump Sum Cashout
- You have reciprocity with CalPERS or concurrency with CalSTRS
- You have UCRP service credit in more than one retirement tier
- You have a legal obligation to divide your UCRP benefits (for example, in the event of a divorce, legal separation or termination of a domestic partnership) that has not been finalized
If you think you may qualify and would like to apply (beginning April 1, 2025), click the “No Lapse in Pay” opt-in box on the signature page when making your retirement election in UCRAYS (or submit Form 168). You have until May 15, 2025, to apply and submit your signed Monthly Retirement Income election and all required documentation.
If you don’t qualify for “no lapse in pay”
Our goal is to process your retirement and provide a statement confirming your retirement benefit within 45 business days of receiving your signed election. Please note that delays in receiving required documentation (along with other factors that may make your retirement more complex and can slow down the process.
Timeline and deadlines for July 1 retirees
For all prospective retirees, it’s important to prepare ahead of time and stay on top of the retirement process. Following the timeline below will keep you on track.
As soon as possible: Be prepared
- Review What to do when you’re preparing for retirement, a step-by-step guide with links to the resources you’ll need along the way.
- Gather required documentation — such as acceptable evidence of birth (for a spouse, domestic partner or a contingent annuitant), marriage and/or domestic partnership.
- If you may be eligible for Medicare, read the Medicare Fact Sheet to find out what you need to do to enroll and coordinate with your UC medical plan.
- If you have service credit with CalPERS or CalSTRS, read the fact sheet on UCRP/CalPERS Reciprocity or on UCRP/CalSTRS Concurrent Retirement to learn more about your eligibility and any additional steps you need to take.
- If you are required to divide property due to a divorce, legal separation, or termination of a domestic partnership, check with your legal advisor to make sure you have the documentation you need. See the Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) Fact Sheet for details.
- Register for a live retirement planning webinar:
- Preparing for Retirement — For UCRP members planning to retire within the next five years and for vested inactive members of UCRP.
- Retiree Health Benefits — Learn about the health plans available for UC retirees and their eligible family members.
- The UC Retirement Process from Start to Finish: For UCRP members planning to retire within the next 4-12 months.
- Schedule an appointment for retirement counseling – visit universityofcalifornia.edu/retirement-counseling.
April 1 – May 15, 2025: Apply for July 1 retirement with “No Lapse in Pay”
Questions?
To speak to a UC Retirement Administration Service Center representative, call 1-800-888-8267, Monday–Friday, 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (PT), or send a secure message through UCRAYS.
You can make an appointment with a retirement counselor at rasc.universityofcalifornia.edu.