Benefits
Employee Benefit Projections – Actual Fringe Benefit Rates
In accordance with the guidance issued by the UC Office of the President, Research Administration Office, it is UCR’s practice to use actual fringe benefit rates when estimating fringe benefit costs in extramural proposal budgets. Please refer to “How to Calculate Fringe Benefit Rates” for instructions regarding how to determine an employee’s actual fringe benefit rate. It is also important to remember that with the resumption of the employer contribution to the UC Retirement Plan, the cost of fringe benefits will increase. Please refer to the Employer Contribution to UC Retirement Plan section below for additional information.
Employee Benefit Projections – Composite Fringe Benefit Rates for “To be named positions”
The composite fringe benefit rates listed below are used for estimating fringe benefit costs in extramural proposal budgets when it is not known who will fill a particular position on the proposed project (“to be named” position). These composite rates may also be used for newly hired employees who have not established a sufficient payroll history for the purpose of determining their actual fringe benefit rate. Also, please refer to the Employer Contribution to UC Retirement Plan below for additional information regarding projecting fringe benefit costs.
Sometimes it is necessary to provide a sponsor with detailed background information for the composite rates. In such cases, please contact the Contract and Grant Officer assigned to your unit to request this information.
Employee Classification |
Applicable Rate |
Comments |
Ladder Rank Academics – Additional compensation |
12.7% |
Additional compensation for period of UCR employment beyond the position’s regular appointment period (e.g., summer salary). |
Non-Ladder Rank Academics & Career Staff
- Up to $46,000 per year
- $46,001 - $92,000 per year
- $92,001 or more per year
|
38%
35%
28% |
Use estimated base pay to determine the appropriate salary band and corresponding rate. |
Visiting Academic Titles
- Appointments less than 43.75%
- Appointments of 43.75 – 49.99%
- For appointments of 50 – 100%
|
1.33%
1.33% + Core Medical and Core Life from UCR Benefit Rates Table
7.3% |
Core medical and life are not percentage based benefits and should be added to the estimated benefit cost derived by using the composite rate. |
Post Doctoral Researchers (includes post graduate researcher appointments) |
19% |
Use for post graduate researcher appointments as well. |
Staff – Limited Without Core Benefits (including Undergraduate Students in Student Assistant Titles – Title Codes 4921 and 4922) |
3.56% |
Workers Compensation, Employee Support Program, Unemployment Insurance, Medicare and Incentive Award Program from UCR Benefit Rates Table. |
Staff – Limited With Core Benefits |
3.56% + Core Medical and Core Life from UCR Benefit Rates Table |
Core medical and life are not percentage based benefits and should be added to the estimated benefit cost derived by using the composite rate. |
Graduate Student Researchers – Academic Year |
3.06% + GSHIP and Fee Remission + Tuition Remission, if applicable |
GSHIP, Fee and Tuition Remission costs are budgeted as part of the total fringe benefit cost. See the Tuition, Fee Remission, GSHIP tab in the Quick References section of this web site for more information. |
Graduate Student Researchers – Summer Months |
3.06% |
Workers Compensation, Employee Support Program, Unemployment Insurance and Medicare |
Employer Contribution to UC Retirement Plan (UCRP)
Effective April 1, 2010, the University of California will resume employer contributions to the UCRP. As a result, fringe benefit costs associated with employees who are eligible to contribute to UCRP (whether or not they are vested in the system) should be increased by the rates noted below:
Applicable Period |
Rate |
April 1, 2010 – June 30, 2011 |
4% |
July 1, 2011 – June 30, 2012 |
6% |
July 1, 2012 – June 30, 2013 |
8% |
July 1, 2013 and beyond |
10% |
The applicable above rate(s) should be added to an employee’s actual fringe benefit rate or the composite fringe benefit rate if budgeting for a “to be named” position. Because these are escalating rates, if a proposed project covers more than one fiscal year, a combination of the rates should be used to project the UCRP employer contribution component of the fringe benefit costs.
Example:
If an employee’s actual fringe benefit rate is 25% and the project being proposed will start January 1, 2010 and end December 31, 2011 the following fringe benefit rates would be used to calculate the fringe benefit costs over the entire project period:
Applicable Rate Period Within Project Period |
Rate |
January 1 – March 31, 2010 |
25% |
April 1, 2010 – June 30, 2011 |
29% |
July 1 – December 31, 2011 |
31% |