Cash Withdrawals and Loans

Basic Retirement Savings Plan
	Cash Withdrawals	Loans
Current Employee	Not Available	Not Available
Former Employee	Employee contributions and earnings at any age, university contributions and earnings at age 55 or older	Not Available
U-M Retiree	At any age	Not Available

403(b) Supplemental Retirement Account (SRA)
	Cash Withdrawals	Loans
Current Employee	At age 59½ or older; hardship; disability	At any age
Former Employee	At any age	At any age
U-M Retiree	At any age	At any age

457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan
	Cash Withdrawals	Loans
Current Employee	At age 59½ or older; one-time withdrawal if account is less than $5,000 when specific conditions are met. See below for details.	At any age
Former Employee	At any age	At any age
U-M Retiree	At any age	At any age

Eligibility and Procedures for Cash Withdrawals and Loans

Following is information on when you may qualify for a loan from your U-M retirement plans, when you may qualify for a cash withdrawal, and the procedures to request a loan or cash withdrawal.

Loans
Loans may be available from your retirement accounts as follows:

Basic Retirement Plan – No loans are available at any time.

403(b) SRA – You may borrow from your 403(b) SRA at any time, for any reason, regardless of whether your employment is active or terminated.

457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan – You may borrow from your 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan account at any time, for any reason, regardless of whether your employment is active or terminated.

Generally, you may borrow up to 45% of your TIAA SRA and 50% of your Fidelity SRA accumulation. The minimum loan amount is $1,000 and the maximum is $50,000. The $50,000 loan limit is reduced by the highest outstanding loan balance on other plan loans during the previous one-year period. This is a combined loan limit and applies to all of your U-M 403(b) SRA and 457(b) accounts with both vendors. You may continue to participate in the U-M retirement savings plans if you take a loan from either plan.

There are no charges or fees for taking a loan from your 403(b) SRA or 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan account, and there is no income tax due or tax penalty. However, interest will be charged while you repay the loan. The rate is determined by the investment company and is not tax-deductible. You may choose the length of repayment period, from one to five years. If the loan is used solely for the purchase of your principal residence, you may choose a repayment period up to 10 years. Monthly payments are made directly to TIAA or Fidelity Investments. Payroll deductions are not available through the university. If you default on the loan, it is then treated as a withdrawal, and taxes and penalties are due. You can prepay the loan with no penalties.

To arrange for a 403(b) SRA or 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan loan, contact TIAA (800) 842-2252 or Fidelity (800) 343-0860 and request a loan application. University authorization is not needed to take a loan.
Cash Withdrawal Eligibility
Current Employees

Please note that being on a leave of absence, layoff (RIF), temporary hourly employment, phased retirement, retirement furlough, a 0% appointment, a period of non-appointment, or being on Long-Term Disability is not termination of employment (former employee). Your cash withdrawal eligibility is as a current employee.

Current employees may be eligible for a cash withdrawal as follows:

Basic Retirement Plan cash withdrawals are not available while you are still employed.

403(b) SRA cash withdrawals are available at age 59½ or in the event of disability or financial hardship.

457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan cash withdrawals are available at age 59½ or older. You may take a one-time withdrawal if your account balance is less than $5,000 and you have not made any contributions to the 457(b) Plan during the past two years.

University retirees and former employees who are rehired into an appointment that is not eligible to participate in the Basic Retirement Plan may elect a cash withdrawal at age 59½ or older.

Call the SSC Contact Center to determine if you are eligible for a cash withdrawal or rollover if you were previously enrolled in the retirement plans and now have a 0% appointment.

Former Employees

Former employees may be eligible for a cash withdrawal as follows:

Basic Retirement Plan – Employee contributions and earnings may be withdrawn at any age. University contributions and earnings are available at age 55 and older.

403(b) SRA cash withdrawals are available at any age.

457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan cash withdrawals are available at any age.

Termination of employment does not include being on a leave of absence, layoff (RIF), temporary hourly employment, phased retirement, retirement furlough, a 0% appointment, a period of non-appointment, or being on Long-Term Disability.

U-M Retirees

Faculty and staff who have officially retired from the university (see SPG 201.83) may elect a cash withdrawal of all contributions and earnings from the Basic Retirement Plan, the 403(b) SRA and the 457(b) at any age.
Cash Withdrawals from the Basic Retirement Plan
To take a cash withdrawal from the Basic Retirement Plan:

Contact TIAA (800) 842-2252 or Fidelity (800) 343-0860 to request a cash withdrawal or rollover:

Fidelity offers “By-Phone Distributions” which allows you to provide verbal instructions on a recorded line for your withdrawal or rollover request. No paper forms are needed.

TIAA will allow you to submit a withdrawal or rollover request online:

Log into the TIAA website, tiaa.org/umich, with your PIN

Select the tab at the top of the page called, “Manage My Portfolio”

Page down to select “Request a Withdrawal”

Complete the online information to initiate your withdrawal or rollover. Please note that TIAA has established a lifetime limit of $50,000 in withdrawals or rollovers that may be requested using this online method.

You may submit your request using a paper form rather than using the by-phone and online methods, however, it will take longer to process. Call TIAA (800) 842-2252 or Fidelity (800) 343-0860 to request the withdrawals forms.

Send your completed forms directly to TIAA or Fidelity for processing.

Disregard the “Employer Authorization” on the form asking you to obtain a signature from the Benefits Office. Do not mail, FAX, or bring your forms to the Benefits Office for this signature.

Call the SSC Contact Center at (734) 615-2000 and request that an electronic authorization be sent to TIAA or Fidelity for your withdrawal or rollover request.

The University of Michigan will electronically supply your date of termination and “Employer Authorization” to TIAA or Fidelity within 24 hours that will approve your withdrawal or rollover.

Regardless of which process you use, TIAA and Fidelity will contact our office immediately if they are missing any information needed from the University of Michigan to process your request.

Please be advised that the University of Michigan does not sign paper forms to approve Basic Retirement Plan distributions for security and compliance reasons. The electronic approval process replaces the need to obtain a signature on the form. This will also increase the speed and efficiency with which TIAA or Fidelity will process your request. If a telephone service representative at TIAA or Fidelity indicated obtaining the employer signature was mandatory, they have done so in error. Disregard those instructions.

403(b) SRA Cash Withdrawals

Review the withdrawal considerations if you make a withdrawal from your 403(b) SRA while you are a current U-M employee.

403(b) SRA In-Service Withdrawal Options
Withdrawal Considerations	Disability	Hardship	Age 59½	SRA Loan
Generally subject to IRS 10% early withdrawal penalty?	No	Yes	No	No
Income tax due for tax-deferred SRA?	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Income tax due for after-tax-Roth SRA?	Qualified distributions: No Yes if it is not qualified	Qualified distributions: No Yes if it is not qualified	Qualified distributions: No Yes if it is not qualified	No
Can you still contribute to the Basic Retirement Plan?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Can you still contribute to the 403(b) SRA?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Requires Benefits Office approval?	Yes	No	No	No
Do you have to repay it?	No	No	No	Yes
How much can you access?	Entire 403(b) SRA accumulation	Contributions only, earnings are not available	Entire 403(b) SRA accumulation	45% of TIAA 403(b) SRA, 50% of Fidelity 403(b) SRA

Notes:

Qualified distributions from the after-tax Roth 403(b) SRA are generally tax-free when made after a 5-taxable-year period of participation and when it is: 1) made on or after the date you attain age 59½, or 2) made after your death, or 3) your being disabled as defined by Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 72(m)(7). If the distribution does not meet these criteria it is not qualified and income tax is due on the earnings. However, income tax is not due on the contributions of a nonqualified distribution since those amounts were subject to taxation when deducted from your paycheck.
A 10% penalty generally applies to withdrawals made prior to age 59 ½ (with some exceptions) and generally applies to nonqualified distributions of after-tax Roth 403(b) SRA amounts. Consult with a qualified tax advisor for information on taxation of distributions and the IRS early withdrawal penalty.
If you default on repayment of the 403(b) SRA loan, income taxes are due and an IRS early withdrawal penalty may apply if you are under age 59½.

403(b) SRA Disability Withdrawal

If you have a 403(b) SRA with TIAA or Fidelity, or both, you may withdraw your accumulations (up to all contributions and earnings) while you are still working for the university if you become disabled. The Internal Revenue Code defines an individual to be disabled if they are unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or to be of long-continued and indefinite duration. Individuals applying for a disability withdrawal must provide verification of disability to the Benefits Office, such as proof of Social Security disability benefit entitlement. Income tax will be due on the amount you cash out (except for qualifying distributions of after-tax Roth 403(b) SRA amounts). The IRS 10% early withdrawal penalty does not apply to a disability withdrawal.

To arrange for a disability withdrawal, contact TIAA (800) 842-2252 or Fidelity (800) 343-0860 to request an SRA Disability Withdrawal Application. After completing your sections of the application, mail, fax, or deliver the application to the Benefits Office along with documentation of your disability status. The Benefits Office will complete the employer authorization section and forward the application to your investment carrier within three business days.

403(b) SRA Hardship Withdrawal

You may be eligible to withdraw your contributions (earnings are not available) if you have a 403(b) SRA with TIAA or Fidelity Investments due to a financial hardship. Income tax is due on the amount you cash out (except for qualifying distributions of after-tax Roth 403(b) SRA amounts) and cash withdrawals made prior to age 59½ are generally subject to an IRS 10% early withdrawal penalty. A hardship must meet two requirements, per regulations issued by the U.S. Treasury Department.

First, you must have an immediate and heavy financial need that falls under one of the following six categories determined by the IRS:

Expenses for medical care that would be tax-deductible under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) section 213(d), for the employee, spouse, or dependents;
Costs directly related to purchase of the principal residence (excluding mortgage payments) of the employee;
Payment of tuition, related educational fees, and room and board expenses for the employee, spouse, or dependents for the next 12 months of post-secondary education;
Payments necessary to prevent eviction of the employee from the employee’s principal residence or foreclosure on the mortgage of that residence.
Payments for burial or funeral expenses for the employee’s deceased parent, spouse, children, or dependents;
Expenses for the repair of damage to the employee’s principal residence that would qualify for the casualty deduction under IRC Section 165 (determined without regard to Section 165(h)(5) and whether the loss exceeds 10% of adjusted gross income).
Expenses and losses (including loss of income) incurred by the employee on account of a disaster declared by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, provided that the employee's principal residence or principal place of employment at the time of the disaster was located in an area designated by FEMA for individual assistance with respect to the disaster.

Second, the hardship withdrawal cannot exceed the amount necessary to relieve the financial need and it cannot be satisfied from other resources reasonably available to you (“Safe Harbor method”).

To arrange for a 403(b) SRA hardship withdrawal, contact TIAA (800) 842-2252 or Fidelity (800) 343-0860 to speak with a counselor to determine if you are eligible. If you meet the eligibility criteria, TIAA or Fidelity will send you an application for the hardship withdrawal. Return your completed forms to the vendor with the appropriate documentation demonstrating the amount of the need and that it meets one of the six qualifying expenses.

403(b) SRA Age 59½ Withdrawal

If you have a 403(b) SRA with TIAA or Fidelity, or both, you may withdraw your accumulations (up to all contributions and earnings) while you are still working for the university starting at age 59½. Income tax will be due on the amount you cash out (except for qualifying distributions of after-tax Roth 403(b) SRA amounts). TIAA and Fidelity Investments are required by federal regulations to withhold 20% of the amount of the withdrawal for income tax purposes. There is no IRS 10% early withdrawal penalty on a withdrawal made at or after age 59½.

To arrange for a withdrawal, contact TIAA (800) 842-2252 or Fidelity (800) 343-0860 and request a 403(b) SRA withdrawal application.

457(b) Withdrawals
457(b) Age 59½ Withdrawals

You may withdraw any portion or your entire accumulations while you are a current member of the faculty or staff at age 59½ or older for any reason. Income tax will be due on the amount you cash out (except for qualifying distributions of after-tax Roth 457(b) amounts). You can rollover this withdrawal if you wish.

To initiate a 457(b) Age 59½ Withdrawal, contact TIAA (800) 842-2252 or Fidelity (800) 343-0860 for a withdrawal application.

457(b) One-Time Withdrawal

You may withdraw your entire 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan accumulations under a special provision while you are a current member of the faculty or staff if the following conditions are met:

The total account balance (not counting rollovers you made into the plan) is no more than $5,000;

No amount has been deferred under the plan during the two-year period that ends on the date of distribution; and

No previous distribution was taken under this special provision.

Income tax will be due on the amount you cash out (except for qualifying distributions of after-tax Roth 457(b) amounts), but there is no additional tax penalty. You can rollover this withdrawal if you wish.

To initiate a 457(b) One-Time Withdrawal, contact TIAA (800) 842-2252 or Fidelity (800) 343-0860 for a withdrawal application.
Required Minimum Distributions
Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) are the minimum amounts you must withdrawal from your retirement accounts each year once you have retired or terminated employment and reach a certain age. Note the following:

If You Reach Age 70½ by December 31, 2019

You have to start taking your RMDs from your retirement plan by the later of:

April 1 of the year after you reach age 70½ once you have retired or terminated employment; or

If you are already over age 70½ at the time of your retirement or termination, you must begin RMDs by April 1 of the following year.

If You Reach Age 70½ in 2020 or Later

You have to start taking your RMDs from your retirement plan by the later of:

April 1 of the year after you reach age 72 once you have retired or terminated employment; or

If you are already over age 72 at the time of your retirement or termination, you must begin RMDs by April 1 of the following year.

RMDs apply to the U-M Basic Retirement Plan, the 403(b) Supplemental Retirement Account and the 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan. It also includes assets from another retirement plan or IRA that you have rolled into any of the U-M plans.

Age 75 Grandfathering

A special rule allows you to postpone distributions of 403(b) accumulations as of December 31, 1986 until age 75 once retired or terminated. This grandfathering is forfeited for accumulations you rollover to an IRA. This special provision on grandfathering does not apply to other plans such as a 401(a), 403(a), or 401(k).

If You Are Still Working at U-M

You can postpone RMDs attributable to your U-M retirement plans while you are still working for the University of Michigan. However, assets in another retirement plan outside of the U-M plans or an IRA generally have to begin by April 1 following the calendar year you reach age 72 (age 70 ½ if you are already age 70 ½ by December 31, 2019) even if you are still employed at U-M.

You need to be employed by U-M and have salary and wages reported on a University of Michigan W-2 that are subject to federal income taxation in order to postpone RMDs for your U-M plan assets. You do not have an employment relationship that allows you to postpone the RMD requirement if you are not receiving salary or wages reported on a University of Michigan W-2, even if you are performing services. Consult with a tax advisor to determine if you need fulfill your RMD requirements.

Your Year of Retirement or Termination

Your year of retirement or termination is the final calendar year in which you received W-2 reported salary or wages from U-M. This affects when you must begin taking your RMDs.

For example, Margaret's faculty appointment ends December 31, 2020 and she is age 78. Her retirement begins on January 1, 2021.

Her date of retirement is December 31, 2020 since it is the last year she received W-2 salary and wages from U-M.

January 1, 2021 is her first day as a U-M retiree, it is not her date of retirement. Therefore, Margaret cannot further postpone RMDs if she does not have U-M salary and wages for 2021.

Margaret must begin taking RMDs no later than April 1, 2021.

Disclaimer

The above is an overview of federal regulations on retirement plan minimum distribution requirements and is based on the university’s current understanding of highly complex Internal Revenue Code (IRC) and U.S. Treasury Department regulations. It is provided for general informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute tax or legal advice. Not all possible scenarios are covered by this information and it is the responsibility of each plan participant to comply with federal tax regulations. Questions or concerns regarding RMD requirements should be addressed with a tax adviser.
TIAA Traditional

Accumulations in TIAA Traditional in the Basic Retirement Plan are not available for lump-sum cash withdrawals, rollovers, or transfers. These transactions occur over a nine-year period through a process called the TIAA Traditional Transfer Payout Annuity. Contact TIAA for more information.
Taxes and Penalties

Income tax is due on withdrawals, and a 10% penalty generally applies to withdrawals made prior to age 59 ½ (with some exceptions). Qualified distributions from the after-tax Roth 403(b) SRA and from the after-tax Roth 457(b) are generally tax-free when made after a 5-taxable-year period of participation and is either: 1) made on or after the date you attain age 59½, or 2) made after your death, or 3) your being disabled according to Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 72(m)(7). Consult with a qualified tax advisor for information on taxation of retirement plan distributions and the IRS early withdrawal penalty.

Questions About Your Benefits?

Call the SSC Contact Center at 5-2000 from the Ann Arbor campus, (734) 615-2000 locally, or (866) 647-7657 toll free, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Limitations

The University of Michigan in its sole discretion may modify, amend, or terminate the benefits provided with respect to any individual receiving benefits, including active employees, retirees, and their dependents. Although the university has elected to provide these benefits this year, no individual has a vested right to any of the benefits provided. Nothing in these materials gives any individual the right to continued benefits beyond the time the university modifies, amends, or terminates the benefit. Anyone seeking or accepting any of the benefits provided will be deemed to have accepted the terms of the benefits programs and the university's right to modify, amend, or terminate them. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the benefits information in this site. However, if any provision on the benefits plans is unclear or ambiguous, the Benefits Office reserves the right to interpret the plan and resolve the problem. If any inconsistency exists between this site and the written plans or contracts, the actual provisions of each benefit plan will govern.

Benefits Office

Contact Us

Human Resources University of Michigan

Cash Withdrawals and Loans

Overview

Compare Your Options for Cash Withdrawals and Loans

Eligibility and Procedures for Cash Withdrawals and Loans

Current Employees

Former Employees

U-M Retirees

403(b) SRA Disability Withdrawal

403(b) SRA Hardship Withdrawal

403(b) SRA Age 59½ Withdrawal

457(b) Age 59½ Withdrawals

457(b) One-Time Withdrawal

If You Reach Age 70½ by December 31, 2019

If You Reach Age 70½ in 2020 or Later

Age 75 Grandfathering

If You Are Still Working at U-M

Your Year of Retirement or Termination

Disclaimer

Questions About Your Benefits?

Limitations

Benefits Office

Cash Withdrawals and Loans

Overview

Compare Your Options for Cash Withdrawals and Loans

Eligibility and Procedures for Cash Withdrawals and Loans

Current Employees

Former Employees

U-M Retirees

403(b) SRA Disability Withdrawal

403(b) SRA Hardship Withdrawal

403(b) SRA Age 59½ Withdrawal

457(b) Age 59½ Withdrawals

457(b) One-Time Withdrawal

If You Reach Age 70½ by December 31, 2019

If You Reach Age 70½ in 2020 or Later

Age 75 Grandfathering

If You Are Still Working at U-M

Your Year of Retirement or Termination

Disclaimer

Questions About Your Benefits?

Limitations

Benefits Office

Stay informed with UHR News