Timeline & Steps to Retirement

Throughout Your Career

• Consider making pre-tax voluntary contributions to retirement accounts, e.g. 403 (b) and 457 (b) Fidelity Retirement Services offers classes, individual consultations, and online resources.
• Check accounts annually.
• If you have a spouse or domestic partner, involve them in all retirement decisions.
• As you think ahead to retirement consider options for lifestyle, volunteer, and leisure time activities.

5 Years Prior to Retirement

• Visit UCRAYS website to estimate your pension income using the Retirement Estimator.
• Visit the Social Security website annually to review your benefits estimate statement and eligibility.
• Determine if past employers maintain reciprocal retirement agreements with UC, in very specific instances, UC maintains agreements with some public retirement systems.
• Attend the pre-retirement planning workshops offered by UCSC Staff Human Resources Benefits Office, and classes offered on myucretirement.com. In-person classes, webinars, and recordings are available.
• If you are considering relocating after retirement:
  • Consider the implications on taxes
  • Health care benefits out-of-state retirees have different health care options and expense
  • Cost-of-living
  • Proximity to family and friends

2 - 3 Years Prior to Retirement

•  Start making connections now if you think you might want to join a club, organization, volunteer or work after retirement.
• Gather the documents you will need when you sign your retirement election agreement:
  • Social Security card
  • Birth certificate
  • Marriage certificate, divorce decree -or- proof of domestic partnership

Additional Step for Faculty

Senate faculty can contact the Faculty Retirement Liaison to discuss the transition to Emeritus status.

1 Year Prior to Retirement

• Consider if you want to change health care plans:
  • Since you cannot change plans just because you retire, consider your options during Open Enrollment prior to your planned retirement date.
  • The only exception is that you can change plans outside of the Open Enrollment period if you move outside of a plan’s service area.
• Meet with your tax advisor, financial planner, and/or Fidelity consultant to review retirement account options and make necessary changes.
• Attend a Social Security workshop offered by Fidelity to learn more about options and timing for drawing benefits. If eligible to receive Social Security benefits (minimum age 62), apply three months before you want benefits to begin.

4 - 6 Months Prior to Retirement

• When you are ready to announce your retirement, write a letter of intent to your supervisor or chair.
• After retirement some retirees may be asked by the university to return to a part-time recalled appointment, opportunities are limited, and strict policies apply- if interested in such opportunities, the UC Net website has detailed information.
• Thoroughly review the UC Retirement Handbook or consult with a retirement planner to review your retirement income options, the timeline for receiving payments and options for continuing health care benefits.

3 Months Prior to Retirement

• Submit your letter of resignation, which must include your last date of UC employment, to your supervisor or Dean, explicitly stating that you are retiring.
• Complete your retirement election form. When the process is finalized RASC will send a Retirement Confirmation letter.
• Prepare for any transfer of responsibilities at work.
• Inform the Retiree & Emeriti Center of your pending retirement and preferred email address if you wish to receive updates on healthcare and benefits information, as well as an invitation to attend the annual campus “Welcome to Retirement” event as a guest of honor.

After You Retire

• The Benefits Office will mail you your retiree ID card to the address on record at UCRAYS/RASC. This process can take some time as the official report of new retirees is released from UCOP only a few times each year.
• Contact TAPS to arrange for retiree parking privileges.
  Retiree parking passes cannot be used during recall.
• Inform the Retiree & Emeriti Center of your post-retirement email address to receive regular updates that include news, updates on benefits, and events of interest to retirees.
• Whenever you move, keep your contact information up to date with UCRAYS and the Retiree & Emeriti Center.
• Consider joining the Emeriti Association or the Retirees Association.

After You Retire make sure to visit:

Perks and Services for the Newly Retired

Retiree Life How will you write your next chapter?