[August 19, 2002]

The Regents approved the University of California Retirement Plan (UCRP) Service Credit Allocation program to provide service credit to certain eligible UCRP members in recognition of past time worked in temporary positions. In March 2002, more than 3,000 academic appointees who met the program’s criteria were notified by mail that they received an automatic allocation of either one or two years of retirement plan service credit. The allocation program for staff employees ended on July 31, 2002.

To Request an Allocation
The automatic allocations were based on the best available records, and it is possible that they did not identify everyone who is eligible. If you are an academic appointee and did not receive notice that you received the automatic allocation, you may nonetheless be eligible to receive an allocation upon request.

To be eligible for a UCRP service credit allocation, you must have:

1. had an active University academic appointment on January 1, 2001 (or been on an approved leave with or without pay on that date); and
2. been an active UCRP member on January 1, 2001, or become a UCRP member by December 31, 2001; and
3. had a period of eligible temporary employment (academic or non-academic) at UC that:
   • occurred before January 1, 2001; and
   • lasted at least six consecutive months, based on your appointment start and end dates (regardless of the hours or percentage of time worked).

To receive an allocation, your past University employment must not be exempt from this program.

For academic appointees, the deadline for allocation requests is December 31, 2002. If you think you may be eligible, see the One-time UCRP Service Credit Allocation Program for Academic Appointees booklet for complete eligibility requirements, forms, and instructions on requesting an allocation. The booklet is available on UCbencom or by returning the postage paid request card in this newsletter. Your Benefits Office can also answer your questions about this program.

Staff program ended on July 31, 2002
The allocation program began in June 2001 for employees in staff appointments, and ended on July 31, 2002. The last group of staff eligible to receive an automatic allocation were notified in early March 2002. Like the academic program, automatic allocations for staff were based on the best available records.

To Appeal the Allocation
UCRP members who receive an allocation but believe they qualify for more service credit may forfeit their allocation and appeal for a correction of the service credit allocation under this program. (For staff, the deadline for appeals was July 31, 2002). For academics, the deadline for appeals is December 31, 2002. Eligibility requirements and information on appealing an allocation are included in the One-time UCRP Service Credit Allocation Program booklet(s). An appeal worksheet (for academic appointees) is also available to help you estimate the amount of service credit you might receive after submitting an appeal. Your Benefits Office can answer your questions about making an appeal.

I’ve worked in both staff and academic appointments during my UC career. Which phase of the program do I fall under?
Eligibility under the UCRP Service Credit Allocation Program is based on your appointment as of January 1, 2001. If you were in a staff appointment at that time, you were covered by the staff phase of the program. If you were in an academic appointment, you are covered by the academic phase of the program. If you plan to request or appeal an allocation, be sure to get the booklet and forms appropriate for your appointment category.

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