Benefits

Changes Resulting from Supreme Court's Defense of Marriage Act and Prop 8 Rulings

Update: Faculty, staff and retirees who are legally married with a same gender spouse are now able to reclaim income taxes for open taxable years—usually up to three years. Note: the ruling and benefits changes do not apply to same gender domestic partners. The IRS has issued guidance regarding the Supreme Court’s ruling on the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and individuals’ ability to recoup taxes paid in previous years. With guidance in place, UC has now set a process for...

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Departmental Human Resources: Benefits Enrollment Process

UC offers three benefits packages – Full, Mid-Level, and Core – to eligible faculty and staff employees. These benefits packages determine eligibility for Health and Welfare and Retirement plans. Please see Benefits Packages for details.

For more information on benefits actions and how to take them, review the Taking Action chart.

When your employees come to you with inquiries about the...

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Benefits at UC Berkeley

The University of California offers a wide array of high-quality benefit plans from which to choose. These include comprehensive health and welfare insurance plans, a generous pension plan, and optional retirement savings opportunities.

Benefits packages for faculty and staff are based on job classification, the nature of employment and the number of hours worked.

UC offers a valuable Total Rewards package. To see the approximate value of your total compensation, use the...

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Retirement & Savings

UC offers comprehensive retirement benefits, including a traditional defined benefit plan (pension) and mandatory and voluntary defined contribution plans.

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COBRA Information

COBRA Information The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA) provides for continued coverage for a certain period of time at applicable monthly COBRA rates if you, your spouse or domestic partner, or your dependents lose group medical, dental, vision or Health FSA coverage because you: Terminate employment (for reasons other than gross misconduct); Your work hours are reduced below the eligible status for these benefits; You die, divorce, or are legally separated; or A child ceases to be an eligible dependent. UC's third-party administrator, WEX, administers all aspects of the COBRA program.

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Benefits Checklist Supplement: How Benefits are Affected by Indefinite Layoff

collapse all expand all Retirement Plan Options and Decisions

If you are NOT "vested": If you have less than five years of University of California Retirement Plan (UCRP) service credit, you are not eligible now or in the future for monthly retirement income or a lump-sum cashout. However, if you have a Capital Accumulation Provision (CAP) balance and terminate University employment, you must take a...

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Employment Events that Create a Period of Initial Eligibility

Certain employment events create a PIE – a period of initial eligibility – when eligible employees and eligible family members can enroll in or change plan(s) without meeting special requirements.

For the medical, dental, vision, legal, and TIP plans, once you have selected a plan, you may not change it until there is either 1) a new PIE or 2) an Open Enrollment period where the plan is offered. However, you may opt out or cancel your coverage at anytime.

For the Supplemental Disability, Supplemental Life or Dependent Life plans, once you have selected a plan...

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Health Care Facilitator Program

UC's Health Care Facilitator Program helps faculty and staff and their eligible family members understand and obtain the full benefits and services available from their UC-sponsored health plans, and provides confidential one-on-one assistance in resolving health plan issues.

If you are a UCB employee and need HR assistance please contact your region. If you are not a UCB employee...