If you have already retired from the University of Delaware visit our Current Retiree's page to obtain benefit information, access retirement webviews and our special benefits offered after retirement.
Retirement Information
The University of Delaware is committed to assisting employees with saving for retirement and providing retirement benefits through two retirement plans.
Benefits eligible Faculty and Exempt Staff participate in the TIAA 403(b) retirement plan and Nonexempt staff and hourly employees participate in the Delaware State Employee Pension Plan.
Wherever you are on your employment journey – new employee, existing employee or current retiree – please refer to the resources provided below.
NEW! Effective January 1, 2024
Retirement Eligibility Criteria Enhancement for Staff
403b Retirement Savings Plan Eligible Employees *
The University is pleased to share an enhancement to staff retirement eligibility criteria. Effective January 1, 2024, the staff retirement criteria will shift to Rule of 75. This change will not negatively impact UD staff’s retirement eligibility, in fact the change will reduce the time a staff member needs to retire.
Staff who are primary in the 403(b) Retirement Plan will be subject to the following age/service eligibility criteria:
any age and 30 benefits-eligible years of service
age and service when combined equal 75 (staff must be at least age 55 when combined with service; must have at least 10 benefits-eligible years of service when combined with age)
* Participants in the State Employees’ Pension Plan (SEPP) are subject to the age and service criteria requirements of the SEPP, through which they receive their monthly pension and health insurance coverage in retirement. Employees who also meet the University’s retirement eligibility have access to additional university benefits, including retiree-paid University group life insurance, educational benefits, University ID card, Wellness Dollars and parking privileges for University retirees. The Rule of 75 retirement criteria change may affect eligibility for these benefits.
* The Rule of 80 criteria continues to apply to bargaining unit faculty.
If you have additional questions, contact hrhelp@udel.edu.
To provide income in retirement, the University contributes to the 403(b) Retirement Savings Plan for faculty and exempt staff, and the State Employees’ Pension Plan for most non-exempt staff.
- Delaware State Employee Pension Plan (SEPP)
- 403(b) Retirement Savings Plan
- 457(b) Voluntary Retirement Program
TIAA: Sign Up for a One-on-One Session
On campus workshops or virtual sessions are available at the following locations, download the PDF and sign-up:
Perkins Student Center
Morris Library
The Tower at STAR Campus
Schedule a virtual session
Attention UD retirees, the Talent Encore Program, designed exclusively for you, lets you return to work part-time to meet short-term needs of all UD departments. You’re invited to put your skills and rich UD knowledge back to work with part-time, temporary assignments. If you’re interested, please complete this survey and a member of the Talent Acquisition Team or a specific department will contact you if an assignment becomes available in your area of interest. If you have questions about the program, email Lori Koval, Director of Talent Acquisition and Employment.
PLEASE NOTE: Retirees of pension plans administered by the Delaware Public Employees’ Retirement System (DPERS) are limited in their ability to return to work for an organization while continuing to receive a monthly pension. To determine if working for the Talent Encore Program will impact you, please review the information.
Share your thoughts about your working experience at UD by completing the exit interview online survey or for an in-person interview, please call 302-831-2171 or email, employee-relations@udel.edu.
The Roth contribution option: Another way to save for retirement
In the University of Delaware 403(b) Retirement Savings Plan, your pretax contributions accumulate tax deferred, and withdrawals are taxable.1 With the “designated Roth” option, your after-tax, Roth contributions also accumulate tax deferred, but may be taken tax free in a qualified distribution.