Retirement Programs

Enrollment into CalPERS or SavingsPlus is automatic.

CalPERS

CALIFORNIA PUBLIC EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM (CalPERS) is the retirement system in which eligible employees of Cal Poly Humboldt participate. Full-time appointments that exceed six months and half-time appointments averaging 20 hours per week for one year or longer require membership in CalPERS. Part-time lecturers and coaches may become eligible to the PERS retirement system at the beginning of a third consecutive semester at a .5 or more time base.

Humboldt employees who are members of the CalPERS system are in the "State Miscellaneous, First Tier" plan, or one of the Public Safety plans, depending on classification.  For a general overview of CalPERS membership and benefits, please review the following guide:  Welcome to CalPERS: A Benefits Guide for State Members (PUB 4)

Employees excluded from CalPERS membership are covered by the Part-Time Retirement Program (see below).

We encourage employees enrolled in CalPERS to create an account with my|CalPERS. This will allow employees to view service credit, account balance, view annual statements and keep track of other important account information.

Part-Time Retirement Program

Part-Time, Seasonal, Temporary (PST) RETIREMENT PLAN is a mandatory retirement plan for non-CalPERS eligible employees. The plan is Administered by the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR), under the Savings Plus Program (457). The employee's contribution is 7.5% of the gross monthly salary. Employees may request a detailed brochure from Human Resources.

Voluntary Retirement Programs

California State University 403(b) 

Supplemental Retirement Plan

The California State University 403(b) Supplemental Retirement Plan (SRP) is a voluntary program that allows eligible CSU employees to save toward retirement by contributing to tax-deferred investments. SRP contributions are made solely by the employee through payroll deductions, prior to federal and state taxes being calculated. In order for eligible employees to take advantage of the tax savings via payroll deduction, a 403(b) account must be established with Fidelity, the SRP record-keeper.

All employees are eligible to participate in the 403(b) program, including rehired annuitants (regardless of age).

Program Details

• Eligible employee​s may have their contributions automatically deducted from their paycheck.
• You can contribute a portion of your compensation as pre-tax elective deferrals or after-tax Roth contributions.
• See table below for contribution limits.
• Complementary Fidelity Retirement Planner Consultations, a Brokerage Link, and a Portfolio Advisory Services are some of the Program features. 

CSU employees can now enroll in the 403(b) plan the following ways:

1. Online at netbenefits.com/calstate 
2. Over the phone 800-642-7131 (mention plan #50537)
3. CSU 403(b) SRP Enrollment Form (fax the form to the number on the bottom of the enrollment form or return to HR once complete – this form is for new enrollments only)

Contribution ​Elections Change -  On-line at Fidelity NetBenefits or call 800-343-0860. Changes must be complete before 9PM on the 5th of each month to be reflected on the next pay cycle. 

Savings Plus Program: 401(k), 457(b)

Savings Plus  is a voluntary program offered by The State of California through CalHR (not CSU) and administered by Nationwide Retirement Solutions. This program allows eligible state and CSU employees to save toward retirement by investing pre-tax contributions in tax-deferred investments, via two deferred compensation plans: a 401(k) and a 457. These contributions are made through payroll deductions, prior to federal and state taxes being calculated. There is also a Roth (after-tax) 401(k) plan available.

With the exception of the following, all employees (including rehired annuitants and FERP participants) are eligible to participate in the Savings Plus program:

• Part-time, seasonal or temporary employees who are contributing mandatorily to the PST (Part-time, Seasonal, Temporary) Retirement Plan.

In order for eligible employees to take advantage of the tax savings via payroll deduction, an account must be established with Savings Plus.

For additional information regarding this program, including maximum contribution amounts, catch-up allowances, and administration of the Savings Plus program, please contact their office at (855) 616-4776, or refer to the Savings Plus website.

Fidelity 403(b), Savings Plus 457 & 401(k) Contribution Limits

 Elective Deferral Limits

The Internal Revenue Code (IRC) establishes specific limits that govern the amounts an individual can contribute to salary reduction retirement plans, such as 403(b), 401(k) and 457(b) plans. There are two limits that determine the amount that an employee may contribute on an annual basis. The employee may contribute the lesser of:

1. The IRC Section 402(g) Elective Deferral Limit for 403(b) and 401(k) plans, which is $22,500; or
2. The IRC Section 415(c)(1)(A) Defined Contribution Plan 415 Limit, which is defined as 100% of adjusted gross salary up to a maximum of $66,000; or
3. The IRC section 457(e) (15) Deferred Compensation Deferral Limit for 457 plans, which is $22,500.

For the 2023 tax year, a participant can elect to contribute up to $22,500 to a 403(b) or 401(k) plan, subject to the 415(c) limit, AND $22,500 to a governmental 457(b) plan, for a total contribution of up to $45,000.

Please note: Participants may contribute to both a 403(b) and 401(k) plan in the same tax year, however, combined contributions across both plans cannot exceed $22,500. For example, a participant may contribute $11,250 in each plan, or any numeric combination that is equal to or less than $22,500. Excess contributions will be returned to employees no later than April 1st following the end of the year in which the excess contribution occurred.

Coordination of Additional Catch-Up Contributions

The following "catch-up" allowances are available as an addition to the IRC Section 402(g) "elective deferral limit," and apply to all or specific retirement savings plans as follows: