UW 403(b) Supplemental Retirement Program (SRP)

The UW 403(b) Supplemental Retirement Program (SRP) is a supplemental retirement savings plan that allows you to invest a portion of your income for retirement either on a pre-tax or post-tax (Roth) basis, or a combination of both. Participation in the UW SRP Program is voluntary with employees making the entire contribution; there is no employer match.

The UW offers SRP accounts through the following providers:

TIAA
Plan ID Number: 100988
Phone: 800-842-2776
Fidelity Investments
Plan Number: 82828
Phone: 800-343-0860

Questions?

If you have questions or need assistance, please contact the human resources office in your school, college, or division.

UW 403(b) Supplemental Retirement Program FAQs

Language assistance

For assistance with translation or interpretation, please contact Cultural Linguistic Services.

Forms

Additional Resources

Eligibility

Eligible Employees

Employees covered by the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS)
LTE and Project employees
Rehired annuitants
Student hourly employees
Graduate Assistants
Short-Term Academic Staff employees

Ineligible Employees

Employees-in-Training
Fellows
Interns

Enrollment

To enroll in the UW 403(b) SRP, research and select a 403(b) SRP recordkeeper(s) that can help you meet your future retirement needs, with the flexibility you need to manage your account. The recordkeeper websites have helpful information on investment basics.

Salary Reduction Agreement (SRA)

Set up your account using the links below based on your choice of recordkeeper.

TIAA: Click the Open Account Log in if you already have an account or click Register now to create one. The Enroll Now button links to Workday.
Fidelity: Click the Start Now On the next page, click the Get started button. If you have a log in, enter your information. If you do not have a log in, register as a new user.

Once you have established your account with the recordkeeper, fill out the Salary Reduction Agreement (SRA) to start your deduction.

Complete and submit to: benefits@ohr.wisc.edu.

Workday

Learn more about how to start supplemental retirement benefits in Workday.

Please note that your contribution will start on the payroll earning period when you sign up, as long as you sign up before your pay for that earning period is calculated. If you have questions about how the payroll calculation dates affect your first payroll deduction, please contact the human resources office in your school, college, or division.

You do not need to stop contributions when you reach the contribution limit. Your contributions will be automatically stopped by Workday once you reach the contribution limit.

Do NOT file a Salary Reduction Agreement until you have enrolled with your recordkeeper. If you do not have an account with TIAA or Fidelity before your first payroll deduction, your account will be automatically set up and your contributions will be invested in a Target Date Fund.

EZ Enrollment

Use the EZ Enrollment as a one-step process to set up your basic account with the recordkeeper and make your contribution election through your paycheck.

Your contributions will default to an age-appropriate target date fund. You can update to other investments after the account has been established.
Complete and submit to: benefits@ohr.wisc.edu.

Salary Reduction Agreement (SRA) form in Workday

Set up your account using the link(s) below based on your choice of recordkeeper.

TIAA: Click the Ready to Enroll button, select the UW 403(b) Supplemental Retirement Program, and click Begin enrollment. Log in if you already have an account or click Register now to create one.
Fidelity: Click the Get started If you have a login, enter your information. If you do not have a login, register as a new user.

Once you have established your account with the recordkeeper, fill out the Salary Reduction Agreement (SRA) to start your deduction.

Log in to Workday .
Click Benefits and Pay in the Menu.
Click Change Benefits, then Supplemental Retirement Change.
Enter the date you want your contributions to start. The change will take effect for the pay period that this date is in.
Click Submit.
A Change Benefits Election will pop up. Click Open, then Let’s Get Started.
Click Manage under Supplemental Retirement Plan.
Click Enroll in Supplemental Retirement Plan.
Click Select on the contributions you want to start.
Click Confirm and Continue.
On the next page, you can enter the contribution amount as a dollar or a percent, then click Save. The amount you enter is the amount that will be taken out of each paycheck. If you want to come back to this page later, click Save for Later. Note that if you select multiple types of contributions (pre-tax and Roth), they will show up on individual pages, starting with TIAA Pre-tax. The top of the pop-up will state which contribution you are entering the amount for.
Click Review and Sign, Submit and then Done.

You do not need to stop contributions when you reach the contribution limit. Your contributions will be automatically stopped by Workday once you reach the contribution limit.

Contributions

Effective January 1, 2024, UW Supplemental Retirement Program contributions are deducted from the first two biweekly paychecks of the month (24 of 26 paychecks for calendar year appointments or 16 of 18 paychecks for academic year appointments). Deductions will not be taken for the third paycheck in a month. For more information about payroll deductions, visit the Payroll web page from the Universities of Wisconsin.

You can invest on a before-tax and/or after-tax (Roth) basis.

Before Tax: Contributions are deducted from your earnings on a before-tax basis to reduce your current taxable income. Both your contributions and your earnings grow on a tax-deferred basis. When you withdraw money from your account, it is taxed as regular income to you in the year you receive it.
After Tax (Roth): Contributions deducted from your earnings on an after-tax (Roth) basis are included in taxable income in the year they are made, but the account balance and earnings are not taxed when you take the money out in retirement (subject to certain restrictions). TIAA and Fidelity offer the Roth option.
Learn more about Roth on the UW 403(b) FAQ page from the Universities of Wisconsin.

Mandatory Roth Catch-Up Contributions

Beginning January 1, 2026, for employees who earned more than $150,000 from the Universities of Wisconsin in 2025, all age-based catch-up contributions must be made on a Roth (after-tax) basis. Once your pre-tax contributions reach the 2026 basic limit ($24,500), your contributions will automatically be changed to Roth. You can change or stop your contribution amount at any time. Aged-based 2026 catch-ups include the age 50 and older catch-up ($8,000) and the age 60-63 catch-up ($3,250).

If you are eligible, 15-year service catch-up contributions ($3,000) can be either pre-tax or Roth.

Maximum Contributions

2026 Maximum Contributions

The following maximum contribution limits apply to the UW 403(b) SRP. As of 2022, there is no minimum contribution.

Age 49 and under: $24,500
Age 50-59: $32,500 ($24,500 + $8,000)
Age 60-63 : $35,750 ($24,500 + $11,250)
Age 64 and over: $32,500 ($24,500 + $8,000)
Plus the 15-year rule service catch-up, if eligible.

Contributions to Other Savings Plans

Contributions to the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS), Wisconsin Deferred Compensation (WDC) or other 457 deferred compensation plans, and Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) do not affect your 403(b) limit. You may contribute the full amount to the UW 403(b) SRP, the WDC 457 Program, and to a personal IRA, either traditional or Roth. You may also contribute the full amount to the UW Medical Foundation 401(a) plan.

402(G) Limit – Elective Deferrals

Your UW 403(b) SRP contribution limit is reduced dollar for dollar by contributions you make to any of the following retirement savings plans: other 403(b), 401(k), and Federal Thrift Savings Plans (TSP) and SIMPLE IRAs, SIMPLE 401(k)s, and salary reduction SEP IRAs.

415(c) Limit – Annual Additions

If you own more than 50% of a business, then retirement contributions made on your behalf by that business must be aggregated with your UW 403(b) SRP contributions and are limited by the 415(c) limit of $72,000 in 2026. Your 403(b) contributions made under the Age 50 catch-up are not included when calculating the 415(c) limit.

Fees

The UW 403(b) SRP provides a low-cost way to save for retirement. All funds are no-load; there are no sales commissions or broker fees. Participants have access to low-cost institutional share classes through the core line-up.

In the past, recordkeeping and administrative fees were included in the expense ratios. In order to be transparent, beginning in 2022 these fees are charged as a quarterly flat-dollar amount per participant and will be automatically deducted from your account. You will see them listed as “fees” on your statements.

Distributions

You may withdraw your contributions only when you leave employment with the Universities of Wisconsin, reach age 59 ½ – even if you are still working for the UW, or become disabled. Hardship distributions that meet federal requirements are also allowed.

Withdrawals before age 59 ½ may result in tax penalties. As long as you terminate UW employment in the year you turn 55 or later — even though you are not 59 ½ — you may take distributions from your UW 403(b) SRP account without being subject to the 10% tax penalty for early withdrawal.

For more information, see the Distributions & Loans page from the Universities of Wisconsin.

Updating Contributions

You can start, change, or stop your deductions. You can also choose a future paycheck date.

Learn more about how to start, change, and stop supplemental retirement saving elections in Workday.

Name and Address Changes

If you are enrolled with a UW 403(b) SRP provider and need to make changes to your personal information, you must notify them directly. (Changing your name and address in Workday is also important, but Workday will not notify your UW 403(b) provider of these changes.)

Name change

Must be made in writing. Contact your provider to obtain a form.

Address change

Contact the provider via phone or in writing. Only TIAA permits online address changes.

Beneficiary Information

Employees are encouraged to designate a beneficiary(ies) to ensure benefits are paid according to their wishes. Whenever an employee has a life event, such as a marriage, divorce, or birth of a child, beneficiary designations should be reviewed and updated. Beneficiary designations can be changed at any time through your online account with TIAA or Fidelity. For security reasons, beneficiary changes must be made in writing.

Contact information:

For more information on beneficiary designations, see the Beneficiary Information page from the Universities of Wisconsin.

Individual Counseling Appointments

One-on-one counseling sessions are a free service available to both participants in the program and those considering participation. In-person counseling is available in Madison.

TIAA

If you choose to register online:

Click on Schedule
Choose either Register for TIAA access or Register for guest access.
Choose how and when you would like to meet.

Fidelity

If you choose to register online, the “Universities of Wisconsin” will pre-fill. Choose from three options: Virtual Appointment, In-person, or Phone; available times will be displayed.