Retire From UNI: Next Steps
Administered By Human Resource Services
5-10 years from retirement:
- Meet with your financial planner, a TIAA consultant or IPERS representative.
- Create a budget for retirement by estimating your income and expenses.
- Estimate your future medical costs.
- Check your Social Security benefits at www.ssa.gov/myaccount.
1 year before retirement or when your retirement date is established:
- If you haven't already, attend a Retirement Readiness session. Visit our calendar of Benefits and Well-being events to view and register for an upcoming session.
- Schedule a private consultation with TIAA online or call 800-732-8353 (Monday - Friday, 8 AM - 8 PM (ET)).
- Contact IPERS by calling 800-622-3849 for an estimate of your IPERS retirement income. For additional information visit IPERS online.
- Contact Social Security 800-772-1213 to check your and your spouse’s eligibility for benefits and to order an estimate of your Social Security income. You can also receive a projection of your benefits and apply for benefits on the Social Security estimator.
- Contact any past employers to determine eligibility for other retirement benefits.
- Discuss your plans with your supervisor and/or department head.
- Once you have determined your final retirement date, please prepare a letter and/or email indicating your retirement date. You should provide a copy to your supervisor and Human Resource Services by emailing hrs-benefits@uni.edu or campus mail code 0034.
- If you are eligible for Emeritus status and wish to apply, please complete the online form. Faculty may add support letters to this application, and requests may take several months as they will be reviewed by the faculty senate.
3 to 4 months before retirement:
- Contact TIAA and/or IPERS to request forms specific to the income option you are choosing.
- If you have been making contributions to a tax-sheltered annuity other than TIAA, contact that company to order the required forms to begin benefits.
- Contact the local Social Security office to find out about your benefits. You should apply for benefits approximately 3 months prior to the date on which you want them to begin.
- If you are nearing 65 (within 3 months of retirement date) or older, schedule a meeting with the Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) to review medicare supplement plans and prescription drug plans available. Call 800-351-4664 to schedule your appointment.
1 to 2 months before retirement:
- Complete and mail all forms to begin your retirement income. These forms are provided through TIAA and/or IPERS.
- Contact the Benefits Team by emailing hrs-benefits@uni.edu or call 319-273-2422 to set up an appointment to complete final benefits paperwork.
- If you are over the age of 65 at retirement, you must enroll in Part A and Part B of Medicare. Contact the Social Security office to obtain an application form (Social Security form number CMS-L564) and an affidavit, which will allow you to enroll without penalty. The affidavit must be signed by an employee of the Human Resource Services Office.
- If you submitted an application for Emeritus, you should have received notification of status or final approval. You can view this status through the online application form.
- If you are signed up to receive UNI Alert notifications and would like to opt out of those alerts, log into MyUniverse and click once on "Manage My UNI Alert Contacts" in the Emergency Preparedness section.This should be completed prior to your last day. You will not be able to change or opt out after your retirement date.
- Two weeks prior to your last day, begin using auto away voice message and email indicating your retirement date and providing a new contact after your retirement date.
Contact HRS Benefits
hrs-benefits@uni.edu or 319-273-2422
Wherever conflicts occur between the contents of this site and the contracts, rules, regulations, or laws governing the administration of the various programs, the terms set forth in the various program contracts, rules, regulations, or laws shall prevail. Space does not permit listing all limitations and exclusions that apply to each plan. Before using your benefits, review the plan's coverage manual. Benefits provided can be changed at any time without the consent of participants.