1805 - Alternate Retirement Program (ARP) (Historical View)

** Effective: 12/29/2016 12:25:07 PM - 2/14/2024 10:05:18 AM **

Status: Active

Change Notes

Added link to PML 2013-018 in Resources.

Category

Savings Plus

Audience List

Synopsis

This policy

Introduction

The Alternate Retirement Program, or ARP, is a retirement savings program that certain state employees first hired into state service between 8/11/04 to 6/30/13 were automatically enrolled in for two years from their initial hire date (or when they qualified for CalPERS membership.)

It is an "alternate" retirement program because it provides two years of retirement savings in lieu of two years of retirement service credit under CalPERS.  Even though the employee did not earn retirement service credit with CalPERS during this period, they are still a CalPERS member.  Savings Plus (part of the California Department of Human Resources) administers the ARP.

Pursuant to California Government Code sections 20281.5 and 19999.3(g), the ARP was closed to new employees effective July 1, 2013, and is closed to payroll deductions for hours worked on or after July 1, 2015.  However, departments should continue to process retroactive corrections in accordance with this policy for time worked prior to July 1, 2015.  Refer to PML 2013-018 for additional information.

Statement

Employees with an ARP balance will continue to follow the normal ARP process and will be notified of their ARP payout options prior to their three-month election period (months 47 – 49 following their initial ARP enrollment).  Savings Plus continues to issue ARP annual statements for all accounts with a balance.

Use the ARP Eligibility Worksheet to help determine ARP eligibility and proper ARP retirement code.

Savings Plus charges the department a $4.80 per ARP deduction including corrections, regardless of whether the transaction involves a positive or negative amount.

Separated employees are eligible to take a distribution of their ARP account balance 90 days after the posting date of their last ARP transaction.  If a payout option is not selected during the election period, the ARP account is subject to a monthly administrative fee.  Funds left in ARP for three years after the employees last contribution posting will transfer to the State Controller’s Office (SCO) Unclaimed Property Unit.

For California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) eligibility and benefit information contact CalPERS at (888) 225-7377.  Questions related to Personnel Action Request (PAR) documentation, contact SCO’s Customer Contact Center at (916) 372-7200.

Application

Not Applicable.

Authorities

Resources

PML

Web Pages

Authorized By

Michelle Berklacich
Chief, Savings Plus Division

Contact Person

Ronnie Garcia
Project Manager, , Savings Plus
Phone: 916-324-3444
Fax: 916-327-1885
Email: ronnie.garcia@calhr.ca.gov

Superseded Policies

Not Applicable.