Effective July 1, 2021, the University of Delaware retirement eligibility criteria will change.

The new criteria, known as the Rule of 80, require that age and service years combined must equal 80 for employees to be eligible for the University’s retirement benefits. Minimum age and service criteria apply: Employees must be at least age 55 when combined with service and must have at least 15 benefits-eligible years of service when combined with age. Those with 30 benefits-eligible years of service are eligible at any age.

Faculty and staff nearing retirement eligibility when the change to the new criteria happens in 2021 have received communication from Human Resources.

Information sessions open to all UD employees will take place March 19-21. Sessions will be held in the Center for Composite Materials, Room 106, on the following dates and times:

• Monday, March 19, 1-2 p.m.
• Tuesday, March 20, 11 a.m.-noon
• Wednesday, March 21, 2-3 p.m.

Current criteria

• Any age and 30 years of benefits-eligible service
• Age 55 and 20 years
• Age 60 and 15 years
• Age 65 and 10 years

Criteria effective July 1, 2021*

• Any age and 30 years of benefits-eligible service
• Age and service when combined equal 80 (Minimum age and service criteria apply: Employees must be at least age 55 when combined with service and must have at least 15 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. UD Pensioners who also meet the University of Delaware age and service criteria for eligibility have access to additional benefits, including retiree-paid University group life insurance, educational benefits, a UD ID card, Wellness Dollars and parking privileges.

To learn more, visit the Retirement page on the Human Resources website or contact Human Resources at hrhelp@udel.edu.