Planning for Retirement

Retirement starts with a CalPERS retirement application. Submit your application online via your my|CalPERS account or by mail (keep in mind that physical applications will need to be notarized before you send them to CalPERS).

CalPERS will accept applications up to 120 days prior to retirement.

Contact CalPERS to obtain a cost estimate to purchase service credits you may be eligible for and begin the purchasing process. CalPERS must receive your election form to purchase service credit, and full payment, in advance of your retirement date. View more information and steps to apply on the CalPERS Service Credit Page. 

If you are vested for health benefits and retire from campus in a benefit eligible position, you are eligible to continue your Health, Dental, and Vision benefits into retirement. To qualify for health, dental, and vision in retirement, you must retire within 120 days of separation from campus. Contact the Retirement Coordinator for more information: benefits@humboldt.edu

CalPERS health benefits work alongside Medicare. If you, and/or your spouse, are 65 or older when you retire then you, and/or your spouse,  will need to enroll in Medicare Part A and B. 

If you retire within 120 days of separation from campus, then any unused Sick Time will be converted into additional Service Credit. Eight hours of sick leave equals one day (.004 of a year of service) and it takes 2000 hours of sick leave to receive one year of service credit.

There are three options to choose from when you have unused Vacation Time. 

• You can use the unused vacation time with approval from your department.
• You can receive your unused Vacation Time as a lump sum.
• If you have a 401(k), 403(b), or 457 account though the campus you can have your unused Vacation time deferred to that account. You are eligible to transfer up to the maximum contribution limit to each account; minus the amount you have already contributed for the plan. Employees interested in this option should contact Payroll 60 days prior to separation.

Retired faculty and staff are eligible for emeritus status if they have completed ten full years, or more, of meritorious service at the campus. 

If you are participating in the Faculty Early Retirement Program(FERP) then you will need to complete the CalPERS Service Retirement Application and submit it no more than 120 days before your retirement date.  Your health benefits will roll over into CalPERS retirement health benefits, but dental and vision will be paid for and managed by the campus until your FERP contract ends.