If you earn a minimum of $160,000 per year in salary from the University, and you contribute the maximum to the University’s voluntary 403(b) plan, you may also save and invest your own money on a pre-tax basis to build additional assets for the future through the 457(b) Plan. Click here to view the current IRS retirement plan limits. 

There are certain job titles that are eligible to participate even if earnings are below the threshold listed above. For more information, please call HR-Benefits at 305-284-3004. 

If you meet the eligibility requirements above, you may enroll in the 457(b) Plan at any time. When you enroll, you sign a salary reduction agreement authorizing the University to reduce a portion of your salary and remit it to the investment company you choose. You also complete an investment company application indicating your fund elections. Contact HR-Benefits Administration to obtain enrollment applications.

You should also name a beneficiary as soon as you enroll in the 457(b) Plan. Your beneficiary is the person who will receive your benefit if you die before receiving payment from the plan. You may change
your beneficiary at any time, subject to spousal consent rules, by completing and returning the appropriate designation of beneficiary form to your investment company.

If you are married, you must name your spouse as the beneficiary of your 457(b) Plan benefit. If you wish to name someone other than your spouse as your beneficiary, you must obtain your spouse’s written, notarized consent.

Please note that if you are unmarried, name a beneficiary and subsequently marry, your prior designation is invalid and your spouse will be your beneficiary, unless you obtain proper spousal consent to a different beneficiary. Similarly, if you become divorced, any prior beneficiary designation becomes invalid and you will need to complete a new designation of beneficiary form and return the completed form to your investment company.

If there is no valid beneficiary form on file when you die, your spouse (if you are married) or your estate (if you are single) will automatically become your beneficiary. For purposes of this plan, your spouse is your opposite-sex spouse as defined by the federal Defense of Marriage Act.

Under Section 457(b) of the Internal Revenue Code, your contributions to the Plan are not subject to current federal income tax. You declare and pay tax only on the balance of your salary after your contributions to the Plan. Other benefits, however, such as your group life insurance, pension and Social Security, are figured on your full base salary before your contributions to the Plan are deducted from your pay.

The funds in your account, including any earnings on your investment, will not be taxed until you receive them.

Your voluntary contributions to the 457(b) Plan may not exceed the annual dollar limit for pre-tax contributions as specified under the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) and adjusted by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) each calendar year. For 2012, the dollar limit for pre-tax contributions is $17,000.  You may be eligible for catch-up contributions if you are within 3 years of Normal Retirement Age 65 and have not contributed the maximum to the 457(b).  Please contact HR-Benefits at 305-284-3004 to determine whether you may be eligible for catch-up contributions.

Investment options are offered through TIAA-CREF and Fidelity.  It is important to thoroughly review and carefully consider the investments available on a regular basis and to make changes as needed.

Although this program was established to encourage you to save for your retirement, you may be eligible to receive a distribution due to an unforeseeable emergency while you are still working.  Please contact HR-Benefits for more information at 305-284-3004.

Distributions may be payable upon 60 days after severance of employment unless a deferral to a future date is requested.  Distributions must not begin later than the April 1st following the year in which the participant turns age 70½, or if later, the April 1st of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the participant incurs a severance from employment.

Please contact the investment company in which your contributions are invested for information about your payment options.