When You Leave the Research Foundation 

If You Leave Before You Satisfy the Waiting Period

If you have not met the waiting period and leave RF employment, you will incur a break in service if you are credited with less than 500 hours of service in an anniversary year. 

After five consecutive one-year breaks in service, you will lose all past service credit toward the waiting period. You will begin a new waiting period if you return to eligible employment.

If you return to employment before incurring five consecutive one-year breaks in service, you will retain all past service credit.

Note: The hours of service referenced above assume that your appointment is based on a 40-hour week. If your appointment is based on a 37.5-hour week, 500 hours changes to 487.5 hours, and 1,000 hours changes to 975 hours. 

If You Leave After You Are Vested

Once you are vested, your benefits cannot be taken away. The funds in your contracts continue to share TIAA earnings/losses, even if no further contributions are made.

If you return to eligible RF employment at some future date, you will immediately return to plan participation without a waiting period or new vesting period.

Contributions will be invested according to your most recent fund allocation. If your contracts were settled (cashed out or annuitized), the default investment will be a target retirement date fund appropriate for your age, but you can change the investment at any time. 

Sick Leave Contribution

If you terminate employment or die at or after age 55 and are eligible for retiree health insurance, you (or your beneficiary) will be provided with an additional retirement plan contribution on your unused sick leave accrual.

This contribution is calculated by multiplying the value of your accrued sick leave, up to a maximum of 200 days, by your contribution rate at the time you retire. This benefit is subject to the contribution limits.