GSEU Benefits

Your employment-related benefits are negotiated by New York state and your bargaining unit, GSEU (Graduate StudentEmployee Union). These are your benefits if both these are true:

  • Your affiliation to UB is with the state
  • Your negotiating unit is 28
Not Your Union?

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Retirement

Retirement Plan Option

The University at Buffalo is proud to offer an excellent retirement plan option as a part of your benefits package. Human Resources is here to answer any questions you may have regarding the plan but cannot provide financial advisement nor make recommendations.

Employees' Retirement System (ERS) Tier VI

ERS is a defined benefit plan that provides a fixed, lifetime monthly income at retirement. Your benefit amount is calcuated based on age, years of service and final average salary.

Vesting is the service period required to become eligible for a benefit at retirement. ERS requires a 10-year full time service credit vesting period.

You will contribute to the pension for the duration of employment based on your salary.

Employee Contributions Based on Salary
Annual Salary Employee Contribution
$45,000.00 or less 3.00%
$45,000.01 - $55,000.00
3.50%
$55,000.01 - $75,000.00
4.50%
$75,000.01 - $100,000.00 5.75%
$100,000.01 or more 6.00%

How to Enroll

Full-time employees must enroll in a plan no later than 30 days from their appointment begin date. Enrolling past this deadline may affect retirement benefits. Part-time employees can enroll at any time.

Enrollment Steps

Retirement plan enrollments must be completed through the SUNY Retirement@Work website.

  1. Go to SUNY Retirement@Work and set up your account.
  2. Make your plan election for ERS. Your enrollment request will be sent to Human Resources for approval.
  3. Complete the ERS Membership Registration RS 5420 Form. Please note that you will receive an email about completing the form from Retirement@Work as well.
  4. Submit the membership registration form to Human Resources in Townsend Hall, South Campus.  
Need Help?

For assistance with Retirement@Work, contact the helpline at 866-271-0960, Monday to Friday, 8 am to 10 pm (ET), and Saturday, 9 am to 6 pm (ET).

Contact the Benefits Team

The State Benefit Services Team is available to answer your questions. Use our contact information below to access all team members for the fastest response.

  • avatar.

    UB HR Benefits

    State Benefit Services

    Phone: 716-645-7777

    Email: ub-hr-benefits@buffalo.edu

Department Leadership

Contact our department leaders for additional assistance.

  • Lissa Jasinowski.

    Lissa Jasinowski

    Assistant Director

    Benefits and Work Life Balance

    Phone: (716) 645-4488

    Email: lmt22@buffalo.edu

  • Amy Myszka.

    Amy Myszka

    Director

    Benefits and Work Life Balance

    Phone: 716-645-5357

    Email: amyszka@buffalo.edu

Manage My Retirement Plan

Become familiar with your retirement account and manage it personally.

Voluntary Retirement Savings

In addition to your retirement plan, you have the opportunity to save extra money for retirement through voluntary retirement plan options. You can establish your voluntary plan at any time and can change your contributions to adjust your needs. There are no employer contributions for voluntary retirement plans.

Plan Options

The University offers the option to enroll in a voluntary 403(b) account and the 457(b) NYS Deferred Compensation Plan.

403(b) Contributions

If you are already contributing to a 403(b) or 401(k) with another employer, the annual limit is applied to all plans combined. 457(b) plans have a separate limit.

Enrollment and Account Management

You may choose to enroll in one or both plan options available. Making contributions to one plan does not affect the other plan.

Contact the Benefits Team

The State Benefit Services Team is available to answer your questions. Use our contact information below to access all team members for the fastest response.

  • avatar.

    UB HR Benefits

    State Benefit Services

    Phone: 716-645-7777

    Email: ub-hr-benefits@buffalo.edu

Department Leadership

Contact our department leaders for additional assistance.

  • Lissa Jasinowski.

    Lissa Jasinowski

    Assistant Director

    Benefits and Work Life Balance

    Phone: (716) 645-4488

    Email: lmt22@buffalo.edu

  • Amy Myszka.

    Amy Myszka

    Director

    Benefits and Work Life Balance

    Phone: 716-645-5357

    Email: amyszka@buffalo.edu

Contact the Benefits Team

The State Benefit Services Team is available to answer your questions. Use our contact information below to access all team members for the fastest response.

  • avatar.

    UB HR Benefits

    State Benefit Services

    Phone: 716-645-7777

    Email: ub-hr-benefits@buffalo.edu

Department Leadership

Contact our department leaders for additional assistance.

  • Lissa Jasinowski.

    Lissa Jasinowski

    Assistant Director

    Benefits and Work Life Balance

    Phone: (716) 645-4488

    Email: lmt22@buffalo.edu

  • Amy Myszka.

    Amy Myszka

    Director

    Benefits and Work Life Balance

    Phone: 716-645-5357

    Email: amyszka@buffalo.edu