News

Scroll through upcoming events and news for campus affiliated families.

Bright Horizons Back to School Resources. Read more information in the caption.

Back-to-School: Set Your Child Up for Success

The first day of school is just around the corner — and we’ve got your back to make the shift from summer break to the school-year routine as smooth as possible. Check out these resources for parents of all-aged children and get the support you and your family need.

A Roth option is now available in the UC Retirement Savings Program

The University of California is enhancing the UC Retirement Savings Program with a new Roth contribution option for the UC 403(b) and UC 457(b) Plans, giving you more flexibility to save and plan for your future through regular pretax contributions, new Roth contributions, or both.

How does Roth work?

A Roth contribution is an after-tax contribution to the UC 403(b) Plan or UC 457(b) Plan that gives you the opportunity for tax-free income in retirement. This is because your Roth distributions (including earnings) can be withdrawn free of federal income tax if certain requirements are met. (In general, Roth distributions are federally tax-free when withdrawn after the aging requirement has been satisfied and one of the following conditions is met: age 59½; disability; or death. For details, see the resources below.)

You can elect any combination of pretax and/or Roth contributions, subject to IRS limits. You can contribute up to $22,500 in pretax and Roth contributions combined ($30,000 if you’re 50 or older) to each of the UC 403(b) and 457(b) Plans in 2023, for a total of $45,000 ($60,000 if you’re 50 or older) to both plans. To enroll, sign in to your NetBenefits account.

Who might benefit from Roth contributions?

While Roth contributions are designed for anyone who likes the idea of potentially tax-free retirement income, here are some scenarios to consider Roth:

You’re a younger investor with more time for earnings growth on retirement savings.
You’re concerned that your tax rate will be higher in retirement than now.
You want tax flexibility when you draw your retirement income.
You’re interested in leaving tax-free money to your beneficiaries.
You’re not eligible to contribute to a Roth IRA because of income limits.

Find out if Roth is for you

UC is offering a wide range of resources to help you learn more about the Roth option and decide whether it's right for you:

Visit myUCretirement.com to review the UC Roth GuidePDF, video and more.
Register for the Ways to Save with Roth webinar, offered on Wednesday, Sept. 13 at 1 p.m. and Tuesday, Sept. 19 at 10 a.m.
Call (866) 682-7787 and talk with a Fidelity representative about your options.

Pay for Family Care & Bonding, Adoption Assistance

Pay For Family Care and Bonding

UC’s Family and Medical Leave (FML) provides job protection when employees need time off for a number of reasons, consistent with federal and state law. The 2023 expansion of UC’s Pay for Family Care and Bonding program has been published on UCnet: More support for families through UC’s Pay for Family Care and Bonding program in 2023.

PFCB income replacement will increase from 70% to 100% beginning with the pay period that starts on Jan. 1, 2023, for employees paid monthly and with the pay period that starts on Dec. 25, 2022, for employees paid biweekly. The increase will be available for qualifying leaves starting in 2022 and bridging to 2023, as well as for qualifying leaves beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2023.

Leaves that are eligible for PFCB

Rules for eligibility for PFCB aren’t changing. PFCB continues to be available for Family and Medical Leaves taken in a block of one workweek or more for the following qualifying reasons:

Caring for a family member with a serious health condition
Bonding with a new child
Military Caregiver Leave
Qualifying Exigency Leave

While an employee is receiving PFCB, UC will continue to cover its share of premium costs for health and welfare benefits. Employees cannot use any paid leave accruals (such as sick leave, vacation or PTO) while they are being paid through PFCB.

Questions?

See the Pay for Family Care and Bonding page and Frequently Asked Questions to learn more.

UC’s Adoption Assistance Plan

UC’s Adoption Assistance Plan reimburses those who are eligible (faculty and staff with Full, Mid-Level or Core benefits) for up to $5,000 of expenses related to adoption. There’s no need to enroll, and all expenses for the Plan are paid by the University.

As employees go through the adoption process, they keep receipts for eligible expenses such as attorney fees and court costs, travel expenses, counseling fees and home suitability study fees. After the adoption is final, employees work with WEX, the plan administrator, to verify the adoption and submit claims for reimbursement.

You can learn more by visiting UCnet’s Pay for Family Care and Bonding page and Adoption Assistance Program page.

Questions related to staff leaves and the PFCB option be submitted to HR ServiceNow: Human Resources ServiceNow => Login => Leave Administration.

Questions related to academic leaves and the PFCB option for pay may be directed to ap-leave@ucsb.edu.

LOCAL BACKUP-CARE PROGRAM FOR UCSB Staff, Faculty & Academic Employees

With broad support from campus leadership, UC Santa Barbara is excited to announce a locally provided program administered by Bright Horizons^® to assist with the many Work-Life challenges that can arise when childcare falls through, school is closed, or an elderly family member needs assistance. If you are a UCSB staff member, faculty, or academic employee, eligible for Core benefits or above, you are eligible to participate in this program.

Starting October 1, 2021, Bright Horizons^® is offering backup child, adult, and elder care at the click of a button, as well as additional family and education benefits to help support you and your family when you need it most. Whether you need help finding child, adult, or elder care, this new offering can help you manage unpredictable days with less stress.

Back-Up Child, Adult, and Elder Care: Stress less about school breaks, bad weather, or when your elder loved one is recovering from surgery. Reserve high-quality, child care in a center at $15/day, or in-home care at $6/hour for your child, adult, or elder relatives.*
Enhanced Family Supports: Take advantage of priority enrollment, daycare and afterschool tuition discounts at our partner centers, and explore additional supports and services for you and your family.

To learn more about this new program, attend an upcoming Bright Horizons Overview Webinar:

Recorded Version

Register Now, so you can use the program when you really need it: https://clients.brighthorizons.com/UCSB

*For the most up-to-date information on back-up care and COVID-19, please visit www.brighthorizons.com/covid19

Picture of Mamava Lactation Pod located on the main floor of the UCEN next to the information desk.

The Lactation Support Program added three new lactation rooms across campus over the summer and fall. New rooms can be found on the second floor of the UCEN, next to the information desk; in the new Henley Hall; and a third will open by the end of Fall Quarter in the Recreation Center, outside of the new all-gender changing rooms. Please go to https://www.hr.ucsb.edu/hr-units/employee-services/lactation-support-program to learn more about the program.

News

A Roth option is now available in the UC Retirement Savings Program

How does Roth work?

Who might benefit from Roth contributions?

Find out if Roth is for you