Human Resources

University of Massachusetts > Human Resources > Retirement Plans

Massachusetts State Retirement System

The Massachusetts State Retirement Plan is a defined benefit program in lieu of Social Security. Membership in (SERS) is mandatory for all full time employees with benefits or those working at least half-time with benefits. New employees contribute 9% of gross salary, and 11% on salary over $30,000. These employee contributions are Federal tax-deferred. 1.45% is deducted for the Medicare portion of Social Security. State employees are eligible for a pension upon retirement at age 55 with 10 years of full-time service, or at any age with 20 years of full-time service.

Click here for more information about the State Retirement Plan.

Retirement Chart (PDF)

To estimate retirement benefits, click on the State Board of Retirement calculator: http://www.mass.gov/treasury/retcalbene.htm

To determine your classification group, please click on M.G.L. c.32: http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/mgl/32-3.htm

For further information regarding pension estimates, please call the Retirement Board at (617) 367-7770; 1-800-392-6014 (In MA Only)

Optional Retirement Program (ORP)

Some benefited employees (i.e., full-time faculty and certain senior administrators) have the option to contribute to an Optional Retirement Program which is administered by the Board of Higher Education. The ORP program is a defined contribution plan.
The Optional Retirement Program (ORP) is an alternative to the State Employees' Retirement System that provides flexible and portable pension benefits for Faculty and Senior Administrators at the Commonwealth's public institutions of higher education.

Who is eligible for ORP coverage?
The ORP covers faculty and senior administrators at all public institutions of higher education. Three criteria must be met:

1. Participants must be employed in one of the following positions:
   
   Faculty
   Chancellors and Vice Chancellors
   Presidents and Vice Presidents
   Deans
   Senior Administrators I, II, III, or IV at the University of Massachusetts
   
   
2. Participants must meet the minimum workload requirement:
   
   The workload for eligibility is the standard "Chapter 32" definition: generally, 50% FTE. This is the same as the workload requirement for the State Employees' Retirement System (SERS).
   
   
3. Participants must not be vested in SERS (fewer than ten Years of Creditable Service).
   

Click here for more information about the Optional Retirement Program.

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