Retiring from the UA

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Retirees in a band

Retirement marks a significant and exciting transition in life - from the daily grind of work to the freedom of making your own schedule. Although transitions can be challenging, this webpage will help you confidently manage this change and allow you to retire on your own terms and enjoy every moment.

Early preparation is key to ensuring that you meet your unique retirement goals and needs. The following information will guide you in taking the necessary steps to prepare for a fulfilling retirement.

Learning about Retirement: Decision-Making & Timelines

Webinar: Preparing for Retirement

Human Resources presents versions of these live workshops for ASRS and ORP participants. The sessions cover the steps to retire, initiating distributions, retiree health insurance options, Retiree Accumulated Sick Leave Program, Official University Retirement Status, and more.

Invitations will be sent to your official University email address each year after you turn 50.

Webinar: Know Your Insurance (ASRS)

In this session, you will learn about the ASRS medical and dental insurance options and meet the network representatives. ORP participants are eligible for retiree health insurance with ASRS or ADOA.  You'll need myASRS Login to register.

1:1 Consult with Retirement Advisor

For questions about retiring from the University or to schedule a one-on-one retirement advising session, contact the retirement advisor based on your unit location and the first letter of your last name.

 

Phased Retirement

Employees in the ORP can negotiate a three-year phased retirement agreement with their dean or vice president. Phased retirement allows you to take distributions from your ORP account while gradually reducing your workload and hours.

 

"There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age."

—Sophia Loren

Steps to Retirement

 

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Three to Six Months Before Retirement

 

As a retiree, you can keep your health insurance with the Arizona Department of Administration (ADOA) (paying the full cost of ADOA insurance premiums) or enroll in retiree health insurance through the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS), whether or not you have ASRS retirement (ORP Participants). Premiums will vary depending on whether you are Medicare-eligible or not. Compare these plans.

We encourage UA retirees who are Medicare eligible to carefully evaluate all their healthcare choices, including both UA retiree options, Medicare or other federal health plans, your spouse’s/partner’s group health plan, or a retiree group health plan with a previous employer. 

IMPORTANTWhereas the University offers health insurance to domestic partners of active employees, the State of Arizona does not recognize domestic partners as eligible dependents.  

Your tax liability during retirement all comes down to a few important factors, notably your:

  • Filing status
  • Retirement income sources
  • Total annual income

Your yearly tax bill will affect how much you have to pay for your daily expenses, so it’s important to understand how your retirement income will be taxed. Understanding how taxes will affect your retirement income can help you consider ways to minimize your tax bill and maximize your retirement income.

Please get in touch with these organizations directly with questions or to apply.

Social Security and Medicare are US government programs subject to legislative change. This is a general overview.

SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS 

The amount of your monthly Social Security benefit depends on your age when you begin receiving the benefit. Generally, the older you are, the greater your monthly benefit. There is a pension calculator on this site, and you can also set up a "My Social Security" account to manage your benefits more easily. 

For more information, the SSA can be reached at:

  • 800-772-1213 (TTY 800-325-0778)
  • 3808 N. First Ave., Tucson, AZ 85719 (local office)

 

MEDICARE BENEFITS 

Medicare is a four-part medical insurance program for individuals aged 65 or older or disabled. You can also download a “Request for Employment Information” form to prove prior creditable coverage. The Division of Human Resources must complete portions of this form. 

For personalized information and an explanation of your options for Medicare benefits, call or visit:

  • Pima Council on Aging (PCOA) Medicare Services: PCOA is the local Arizona SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program) and a partner of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). PCOA’s helpline offers unbiased information about Medicare and how it works with other plans. PCOA also offers monthly "New to Medicare" workshops.
  • PCOA: 520-790-7262
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One Month Before Retirement

These are important practical 10 steps you need to take to successfully retire from the University of Arizona. They DO NOT have to be completed in order or even at the same time. If you get stuck or have questions, reach out to your retirement advisor.

Get Started

A retirement letter is a letter of intent to retire. It's a resignation letter informing your employer of your intentions to leave the company. The only difference is that you're also requesting your retirement benefits with retirement. Remember that a retirement letter is a formal one, which may also go in your employee file. So, be sure to make it as straightforward and formal as possible.

Your separation date with the University of Arizona (the last day you are at work) and your ASRS/ORP retirement date cannot occur on the same day. Your retirement date may be as soon as the next calendar day after your University separation date.

Human Resources cannot calculate your pension benefits. You will need to contact your retirement plan representative to discuss retirement income estimates. Please get in touch with these organizations directly with questions.

  • ASRS Application for Retirement Benefit
  • Federal W4-P Tax Withholding Certificate for Pension OR Annuity Payments
    • Form W‐4P is for U.S. citizens, resident aliens, or their estates who are recipients of pensions, annuities (including commercial annuities), and certain other deferred compensation. Use Form W‐4P to tell payers the correct amount of federal income tax to withhold from your payment(s).
  • Arizona A4-P Annuitant’s Tax Withholding Form
    • Residents who receive regularly scheduled payments from payments or annuities complete this form to elect to have Arizona income taxes withheld from their payments.  

Complete an online retirement application that walks you through the options and provides a running tally of your benefit estimate on every election you make. You may submit your ASRS retirement application electronically to ASRS as early as six months before your University of Arizona separation date. Your retirement will not be effective until ASRS receives all the required forms.

The ASRS website has a generic pension calculator where you can estimate your benefits. To access your personalized information, register for an online myASRS account. ASRS also conducts a series of group seminars, either online or at the Tucson or Phoenix offices. You can also schedule an individual appointment with an ASRS representative.

DEADLINES:

Apply for your ASRS pension approximately 4 to 6 weeks prior to your expected retirement date to allow processing time.

Human Resources cannot calculate your distributions. You will need to contact your retirement plan representative to discuss retirement income estimates.

Meet with the investment provider for your ORP (Fidelity or TIAA) to discuss distributions and rollover options. Your representative will complete your retirement distribution request with you.

Fidelity Investments

C. J. Olsen
208-400-0583
cj.olsen@fmr.com
Schedule an appointment online 

TIAA

Cherie Knight, ChFC®
505-600-4303
Cherie.Knight@tiaa.org
Schedule an appointment online

DEADLINES:

Apply for your ORP distribution approximately 4 to 6 weeks prior to your expected retirement date to allow processing time.

Please get in touch with these organizations directly with questions.

If you have a Voluntary 403(b) Plan and/or 457 Deferred Compensation Plan account, contact your investment provider directly for information regarding distributions and rollovers.

457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan

 

403(b) Plan

 

Human Resources cannot answer questions about Social Security or Medicare. Please get in touch with these organizations directly with questions.

  • If applicable, ensure that your Social Security and Medicare applications were processed.
  • You received your Medicare Card or a letter verifying the effective start date of insurance coverage.
  • You received a letter from Social Security verifying the effective start date of your Social Security payments.

Human Resources cannot answer questions about health care plans. Please contact these organizations directly with questions.

As a retiree, you can keep your health insurance with the Arizona Department of Administration (ADOA). However, you will be responsible for paying the full cost of ADOA insurance premiums with no UA employer contribution.

Alternatively, you can enroll in retiree health insurance through the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS), whether or not you have ASRS retirement (ORP participants). Premiums will vary depending on whether you are Medicare-eligible or not. Compare these plans.

We encourage UA retirees who are Medicare eligible to carefully evaluate all their healthcare choices, including both UA retiree options, Medicare or other federal health plans, your spouse’s/partner’s group health plan, or a retiree group health plan with a previous employer. 

IMPORTANTWhereas the University offers health insurance to domestic partners of active employees, the State of Arizona does not recognize domestic partners as eligible dependents.  

DEADLINES:

 

  • ADOA Medical, Dental & Vision: If you do not make an election of at least dental coverage within 30 days following retirement, you permanently and irrevocably forfeit the option to enroll
  • ASRS Medical, Dental & Vision: If you do not make an election within 30 days following retirement, you cannot enroll until the next Open Enrollment unless you experience a Qualified Life Event. 

Human Resources cannot answer questions about life insurance plans. Please contact these organizations directly with questions.

Supplemental Life Insurance ADOA Benefit Options: 

  • Securian,  866-365-2374

University of Arizona sponsored plans: 

 

DEADLINES:

  • 30 days after the separation date

Human Resources cannot answer questions about COBRA and Healthcare Flexible Spending Accounts. Please contact these organizations directly with questions.

You may elect COBRA to continue contributing on an after-tax basis through the end of the current plan year. 

If you do not elect COBRA, you may submit claims for expenses incurred prior to your retirement date, up to the amount you contributed before your retirement date.  

Learn more about COBRA (Department of Labor)

DEADLINES:

  • 60 days from date of COBRA notification letter. 

Human Resources cannot answer questions about your RASL compensation. Use the calculator or contact these organization directly with questions.

The Retiree Accumulated Sick Leave (RASL) program is maintained and administered by the Arizona Department of Administration (ADOA) and the General Accounting Office (GAO).

RASL is a benefit offered to state employees who have amassed 500 or more unused sick leave hours. You can receive a payout for part of the value of that time upon retirement. Regular RASL payments are paid in three annual installments and are considered taxable income. View the Deferred Compensation Calculator.

To apply, complete and submit the following forms and submit to UA Human Resources; they will complete the employer sections and forward your forms to the GAO. Please allow sufficient time for processing.

  • RASL Application
  • A-4 State Tax Withholding form
  • W-4 Federal Tax Withholding form
  • You can direct your first year’s RASL payment into a 457 Deferred Compensation Plan account.  You must indicate this election on the application form.

Submit the completed forms to HR either by upload or mail:

  • Upload your forms to HRSecure Document Upload
    • Label your file as Employee Last Name, First Name (e.g., Smith-John-RASL-application)
    • Notify HR Solutions by email when you upload/mail your RASL Forms
  • Mail your forms to HR
    • 888 North Euclid Avenue #217, Tucson, AZ 85721

Have more questions about RASL? Review RASL Frequently Asked Questions.

DEADLINES:

  1. Complete the Nationwide RASL Deferral Notification form before the last day of employment.  
  2. Apply for retirement within 31 days of separation. 
  3. Submit RASL paperwork within 180 days. 

Official Retirement Eligibility

Official UA retirement status (“Official R”) is granted to retiring employees who meet the following qualifications:

  • You are considered in retirement status by receiving a distribution from a State of Arizona retirement program (for UA employees ASRS or ORP);
  • You are at least 50 years of age (University peace officers may be under age 50);
  • You have completed five years of continuous, benefits-eligible employment in the Arizona University System (including approved leave of absence or long-term disability) immediately preceding retirement and
  • You have not been terminated for cause by the University.

Benefits of "Official Retirement"

If you meet these eligibility requirements, you have access to the following benefits designed to facilitate your continued affiliation with the University of Arizona:

Your University email address will be deactivated 60 days after you retire unless you take action to retain or terminate it before then. If you're eligible for Official Retirement and wish to retain your University email address, you must opt-in to have your account converted to a CatMail account. You can do this before or within the 60-day grace period after retirement.

Go to UITS Account Management, login, then click "Retiree Email Opt-In" (left-hand side) to opt in (or out).

Learning about Retirement: Mindsets & Plans

There’s more to retirement than numbers. Ensuring that you're financially and physically prepared can take a lot of mental energy. Retirement is a major change in how you've lived your life for the past 40+ years. That kind of change deserves consideration, reflection and soul-searching to get the most out of your golden years.

Many retirees experience three stages of retirement, not unlike the stages of grief*:

  • Liberation - taking ownership over your life
  • Disenchantment - getting bored, feeling disconnected or depressed
  • Reorientation - discovering a renewed sense of purpose and activities that bring meaning. 

The University of Arizona provides several resources to help you prepare and know where to look in the Tucson community.

*From Why preparing emotionally for retirement is just as important as having a financial plan

Illustration of an elderly couple with an umbrella and a dog with a leash

CredibleMind: Retirement

What a person makes of retirement is more about their individual desires and decisions than ever before. Retirement can be a time to take it easy or for new endeavors and challenges. If you or someone close to you is nearing retirement, there are many approaches to making the most of this time of your life.

Hand holding a magnifying glass to show the mountains

Employee Assistance Counseling

Free, confidential short-term counseling is available to all benefits-eligible employees, their dependents, and members of their households.

1:1 Consultation: Retirement Advisors

For questions about retiring from the University or to schedule a one-on-one retirement advising session, contact the retirement advisor based on your unit location and the first letter of your last name:

 

Tucson Main Campus & Satellite Offices
Last Names  A-G Last Names H-O Last Name P-Z
Renee Aragon Verdugo Ryan Tuthill Michelle Robinson
Email: hrsolutions@arizona.edu Email: hrsolutions@arizona.edu Email: hrsolutions@arizona.edu
UA Health Sciences - Phoenix
Michelle Wilson Email: hr-phx@arizona.edu

Do you need more assistance? 

Connect with HR Solutions
Phone: 520-621-3660
Email: hrsolutions@arizona.edu

Connect with retirement contacts and other providers
View Retirement Contacts Page