Which employees are eligible to receive Employer Contributions?

All employees (age 18+) who have satisfied the Plan's Year of Eligibility Service must receive their employer's base percentage contribution. In addition, if the employer has committed to providing a match, employees who make voluntary contributions must receive their matching contributions. Employees cannot opt out of contributions due them.


Participating employers should confirm their base and matching contribution commitments by checking their Employer Participation Agreement.

The Plan's Year of Eligibility Service provision is met when an employee (age 18 or older) fits any one of these criteria:

  1. Ministerial Formation: Has successfully completed a UU ministerial internship and/or has been granted fellowship by the UUA.
  2. Already Eligible: Previously met the Year of Eligibility Service provision while employed by an employer that offered the UU Retirement Plan.
  3. Hours of Service: Has completed 12 consecutive months of employment, AND completed 1,000 Hours of Service during the completed 12-month period reviewed:
    1. On the first anniversary of date of hire OR
    2. At the end of the calendar year in which the first anniversary falls OR
    3. At the end of any calendar year thereafter.
Four Things to Check
  1. Are key leaders and eligible staff aware of the base and matching contribution commitments your congregation has made through their Employer Participation Agreement? Contact RetirementPlan@uua.org with any questions about your congregation's contribution commitments.
  2. When a new staff member is hired, are you finding out if they are already eligible for employer contributions, either through completion of a ministerial internship or by virtue of previous employment at a participating congregation?
  3. Are any of your staff also employed at another participating UU congregation or organization? Hours at participating employers are aggregated for the purpose of determining eligibility for employer contributions. (But each employer remits their contributions separately.)
  4. Are your personnel polices and all employment agreements consistent with the terms of our Plan and your Employer Participation Agreement?