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If we are laid off by UCOP, would the Right to Recall or Preference for Reemployment apply only to jobs we might want to apply for at UCOP (and not at other campuses)?
Depending on your job category and whether you are an employee in a represented title covered by a union contract or non-represented PSS level covered by policy, your layoff notice will provide applicable details regarding your choice of either severance pay or recall and preference for reemployment. If you choose recall and preference for reemployment, your recall rights apply only to UCOP and your preferential reemployment would apply to both UCOP and UC Berkeley. (6/08)
I am not yet vested. I only have about 3 years of service credit. If I am laid off, and return later, say to Berkeley or UCSF, would my 3 years of service credit remain, and could I keep building on that at a later date or would I have to start from scratch?
If you are laid off and later return to work at another UC location, your retirement service credit would be reinstated and, assuming you are in a UCRP eligible position, you would earn additional service credit thereafter. (6/08)
With which government entities do we currently have reciprocity (State, City, Cal State Colleges, Jr. Colleges, etc.)? Does reciprocity mean that our service credit would transfer over to CalPERS, even if we are not yet vested in the UC retirement system?
The UC Retirement Plan (UCRP) and the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) have a reciprocal agreement that provides continuity of benefits for employees who change employers and transfer between the two retirement systems. The reciprocal agreement applies to those who join CalPERS within 180 days after leaving UC employment. Reciprocity does not mean that service credit is transferred to CalPERS. It means CalPERS service credit will count toward the total service credit required to satisfy UCRP vesting requirements and eligibility for retirement benefits and UCRP service credit counts toward CalPERS vesting requirements and eligibility for retirement benefits; CalPERS service does not apply toward eligibility for UC health coverage as a retiree. In addition, the higher of your UCRP or CalPERS average plan compensation is used to calculate your retirement benefit for both plans.
See the UCRP/CalPERS Reciprocity Factsheet for more information.UCRP also has concurrent retirement provisions for members who are also members of the California State Teachers Retirement System (CalSTRS). Under these provisions, your compensation earned while a member of CalSTRS, if higher than your UCRP compensation, can be used to determine your Highest Average Plan Compensation (HAPC). In addition, you can elect to receive retirement income or a lump sum cashout from UCRP any time after reach¬ing age 50 with less than five years of UCRP service credit if you are eligible for service retirement from CalSTRS.
See the UCRP/CalSTRS Concurrent Retirement Factsheet for more information. (6/08)
How long after electing the VSP can employees return to work at OP if they're hired for a new position?
From the Voluntary Separation Program website: “Any Electing Participant who returns to employment in the Office of the President within six (6) months after his or her separation date under the Voluntary Separation Program shall be required to repay the amount for any Unexpired Severance Period, except severance pay up to $1,000 which is not subject to repayment. For example, if an employee receives four months' pay as severance and is rehired into another UCOP position after three months, the employee will be required to repay one month of severance, provided the retained three months of severance pay is at least $1,000." (6/08)
With what agencies do we have retirement reciprocity?
The only system with which UCRP has a true reciprocal agreement is The California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) covering most state employees and employees of the participating public agencies that have contracts with CalPERS ( the link below). These participating public agencies include 36 counties, 446 cities and towns, 57 County Superintendent of Schools, 4 school district offices and 1,001 other districts and public agencies. For a complete list of the agencies and counties that UCRP has retirement reciprocity under CalPERS, please see the CalPERS website.The UCRP/CalPERS Reciprocity Factsheet provides additional information.
UCRP also provides for Concurrent Retirement for UCRP members who are also members of CalSTRS. Concurrent retirement benefits are similar to reciprocity benefits and are described in the
UCRP/CalSTRS Concurrent Factsheet.(2/08)
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