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University of California Retirement System

Retirement Benefits and Saving Program

UC offers a comprehensive array of retirement benefits, saving programs, educational and counseling resources to help plan for retirement.

Primary Retirement Voluntary Retirement Saving Program
UC Retirement Plan (UCRP) Defined Contributions Plan (DCP) 457(b) and 403(b) Plan
Summary UCRP provides retirement income for eligible survivors of beneficiaries.  Benefits are determined not by contributions to the Plan, but by defined formulas that vary according to the type of benefit payable. Visit UCRP, for more information. Defined Contribution Plan (DCP) on a pre-tax basis. Contributions to the DCP Pre-tax account are mandatory for those faculty and staff not earning service credit in UCRP. No vesting required. DCP Pre-tax contributions belong to the employee but may not be withdrawn until an employee separates from the University of California. The employer does not contribute to this plan. The 457(b) and 403(b) Plan is a tax-deferred voluntary retirement savings plan to which the employee may choose to contribute.  Participation in the plan can begin at any time. Contributions may be invested in a variety of ways that you choose. 
Plan Options

Pension Choice: UCRP Pension Benefits Supplemental 401(k) style component

Saving Choice: A stand-alone 401(k) style account

Compare the two plans

Defined Contribution Plan (DCP) Pre-tax or After-tax

A saving and investment plan for mandatory pretax contributions for certain members, voluntary after-tax contributions and rollovers 

Defined Contributions Plan Summary Descriptions

Tax-Deferred 403(b) Plan 

457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan

A saving and investment plan for voluntary pretax contributions and rollovers

403(b) Summary Plan Descriptions

457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan -Summary Descriptions

Who's Eligible

Hired on or after July 1, 2016

Faculty or career staff appointment with 50% time or more in a rolling, continuous 12-month period.

ineligible position and then become eligible after completing 1000 hour or 750 hours requirement or obtain an eligible faculty or career staff appointment.

Rehired on or after July 1, 2016

eligible career and faculty appointment after a break in service between one and two months

Saving Choice Participants

Pension Choice Participants (who are eligible for supplemental DC Plan account)

Safe Harbor Participants

Summer Salary (paid prior to Nov 1, 2016)

 

 

 

 

 

All UC employees

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Who to contact

Retirement Service Center (RASC)

(800) 888-8267

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fidelity Retirement Services

(866) 682-7787

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

Education and Counseling 

  • View a retirement planning webinar
  • Schedule a one-on-one with a personal Fidelity retirement planner online or call (800) 558-9182.
  • Contact RASC by phone at (800) 888-8267 to discuss retirement questions.
  • RASC has retirement counselors available to implement one on one counseling sessions. Please schedule an appointment here.
    • Instructions on how to schedule an appointment with the retirement counselors can be found on this video.

Resources