Virginia Retirement System (VRS)

VRS is available to the following employee types:

• University Staff
• Faculty
• Classified Staff
• Professional Research Staff

Medical Center team members who were previously enrolled in VRS Plan 1 or Plan 2 may be eligible to enroll in VRS. To do so, please complete a VRS-65 form.

If you were hired on or after 1/1/14, you can enroll in the VRS Hybrid Plan. If hired earlier, you may be grandfathered into VRS Plan 1 or VRS Plan 2.

• VRS Hybrid Plan – hired on or after 1/1/14; or participate in VRS and have no previous VRS service credit
• VRS Plan 2 – hired on or after 7/1/10; or were a member but not vested (had <5 years of service credit) as of 1/1/13
• VRS Plan 1 – hired before 7/1/10

If you were enrolled in VRS Plan 1 or VRS Plan 2 and did not take a refund, you can remain in that plan.

For new hires only, navigate to Workday>Inbox and follow the instructions for your new hire enrollment action.

Defined benefit + defined contribution. Here’s how it works:

Defined Benefit Component

A defined benefit pays a monthly retirement benefit based on age, total service credit, and average final compensation.

• VRS manages investments - and related risk.
• Employees contribute a mandatory 4% of creditable compensation / month.
• UVA makes a separate contribution directly to VRS on behalf of all covered employees.
• Normal retirement age is the Social Security retirement age.

Contact VRS at 1.855.291.2285 or vrshybridsupport@varetire.org with questions.

Defined Contribution Component

A defined contribution pays a retirement benefit based on contributions by you and your employer, as well as the investment performance of those contributions. The more voluntary contributions you make, the more your benefit will increase.

• You manage investments - and related risk.
• You contribute a mandatory 1% of your creditable compensation each month to the Hybrid 457 Deferred Compensation Plan and receive a 1% cash match to the Hybrid 401(a) Cash Match Plan
• You may also voluntarily contribute up to 4% of your salary to the Hybrid 457 Deferred Compensation Plan and UVA will match up to 2.5% in the Hybrid Cash Match Plan
• Make the maximum contribution in the 457 program and you become eligible for the 403(b) savings program, where you receive a 50% match (up to $40/month)
• You may receive distributions upon leaving employment, subject to restrictions

The chart below shows the long-term advantage of saving up to 4% of your income in a deferred savings plan.

Contact MissionSquare at 1.877.327.5261 or InvestorServicesCommonwealthofVA@icmarc.org with questions.

Key Resources

• Hybrid Retirement Plan Handbook for Members
• Hybrid Retirement Plan Publications

If hired before 2014, you may be grandfathered into these plans.

• VRS Plan 2 Handbook
• VRS Plan 1 Handbook

You may not receive a retirement annuity while UVA is making contributions to your account. If you are receiving a retirement annuity from any Commonwealth of Virginia agency, please contact the HR Solution Center.