LOANS
Loans are available from a minimum of $1,000 to a maximum of $50,000 from each employer that you are eligible to take a loan from. How much you can borrow may depend on the amount you currently have in the plan that is eligible for loans and whether you have other outstanding loans. If you have money in other employer's plans, you may be able to transfer or roll it over to the University System of Maryland retirement plan to increase your maximum loan amount. This is only if the University System of Maryland retirement plan accepts rollovers.
IMPORTANT: TIAA doesn't offer loans on Roth accumulations in 403(b)/401(k) plans. The maximum loan amount available to you is calculated based on the total accumulations in your contract, minus any Roth accumulations.
Prior to rolling over, consider your other options. You may also be able to leave money in your current plan, withdraw cash or roll over the money to an IRA. Compare the differences in investment options, services, fees and expenses, withdrawal options, required minimum distributions, other plan features, and tax treatment. Contact TIAA or your HR Office to verify details of your plan(s) in regards to loan availability and transfer/rollover loan eligibility.
DISTRIBUTIONS
Age based distribution
Your employer will typically allow you to withdraw funds once you've reached 59.50.
Lump-sum distribution
You can withdraw all or part of your account in a single cash payment, depending on your plan rules and the terms of your contracts.
- Your right to a lump-sum distribution from your TIAA Traditional Account may be restricted to taking periodic payments under the terms of the contract. Please refer to your contract or certificate for full details or contact us at 800-842-2252.
Systematic withdrawals
If your plan allows, you can choose to receive regular income payments on a semimonthly, monthly, quarterly, semiannual or annual basis. You can increase, decrease or suspend the payments at any time.
- These withdrawals are not available from TIAA Traditional Account balances.
Small-sum distribution
When you leave your employer, you may be eligible to withdraw your retirement savings. Your plan may distribute your entire balance if the value does not exceed $2,000. Even if your plan doesn't allow cash distributions, you can withdraw your entire retirement savings if your TIAA Traditional Account value does not exceed $2,000 and your overall account balance is below a limit set by your employer's plan (either $1,000 or $5,000).
Disability
You can withdraw elective deferrals and earnings from your retirement plan while employed by your institution but not working due to a disability.
- To qualify you must be totally and permanently disabled, and the deferrals and earnings must have been credited to your plan on or after January 1, 1989.
- Disability withdrawals are not subject to the 10% IRS penalty on withdrawals prior to age 59½.
Hardship
If your plan permits, you can withdraw some of the money you've put in over the years (but not earnings) due to financial hardship, such as medical or funeral expenses, while still employed.
- Generally, you must show an immediate, significant need that cannot be met with other resources, including loans from your retirement plan.
Lifetime retirement income
- One-life annuity - provides income for as long as you live.
- Two-life annuity - provides lifetime income for you and an annuity partner (your spouse or someone else you name) for as long as either of you live.
- One- or two-life annuity with guaranteed period - guarantees income for up to 20 years, as long as the period you choose does not exceed your life expectancy. It ensures that income continues to go to your beneficiaries for the remainder of the guaranteed period if you (one-life annuity) or both you and your annuity partner (two-life annuity) die before the end of that period.
Single-sum death benefit
A set amount your beneficiary(ies) will receive from your retirement account if you die before taking income.
Fixed period
You can choose to receive income for a set period of two to 30 years, depending on the terms of our contract and your plan's rules (and not to exceed your life expectancy).
- Payments stop at the end of the period, during which you will have received all your principal and earnings.
Interest only
You can receive the current interest earned on your TIAA Traditional Account in monthly payments. Your principal remains intact while you receive the interest.
- These payments generally are available to individuals who have attained age 55 but have not yet reached RMD Applicable Age and must begin at least one year prior to reaching RMD Applicable age. Your RMD Applicable Age was 70 ½ if you were born before 7/1/49; 72 if you were born on or after 7/1/49 or in 1950; 73 if you were born between 1951 and 1958; 75 if you were born in 1960 or later. If you were born in 1959, federal guidance is needed to determine if your RMD Applicable Age is 73 or 75.
Retirement transition benefit
In order to more easily transition into retirement, you may be able to withdraw up to 10%, in cash, of your lifetime annuity income. The amount you withdraw will reduce your lifetime annuity income accordingly.
TPA to cash
If you need some of your retirement savings in cash, you can withdraw your TIAA Traditional Account balance through a Transfer Payout Annuity (TPA) under the terms of the contract. A lump-sum payment, subject to a surrender fee, may be available depending on your plan rules and the terms of your contract.
For more information about the terms of your individual contract, contact your plan sponsor or financial advisor.
DB service credits
Plan participants may consider purchasing service credits when they directly transfer from a Section 403(b) tax sheltered annuity or governmental 457(b) plan to a governmental defined benefit plan allows the purchase of "permissive service credits."
A permissive service credit is credit for a period of service recognized by a defined benefit governmental plan only if you voluntarily contribute to the plan an amount that does not exceed the amount necessary to fund the benefit attributable to the period of service and the amount contributed is in addition to the regular employee contribution, if any, under the plan.
A permissive service credit may also include service credit for up to 5 years where there is no performance of service, or service credited to provide an increased benefit for service credit which a participant is receiving under the plan.
When purchasing service credits, keep in mind:
- The request for purchasing service credits is most often accomplished via a direct transfer from either a qualified or non-qualified plan.
- For example, permissive service credit can be granted for time spent teaching outside of the United States without being considered non-qualified service credit.
- If an institution does not allow participants to purchase service credits, they must meet a triggering event at which point the transaction can be processed (Per Plan Rules). The request would need to be processed as a rollover and financial forms are required.
Rollover
Prior to rolling over, consider your options. You may be able to leave money in your current plan or withdraw cash. Compare the differences in investment options, services, fees and expenses, withdrawal options, required minimum distributions, other plan features, and tax treatment.
If you have had an IRS-defined "triggering event," and your plan allows withdrawals, you can roll over your accumulations to another retirement plan that will accept them or to an Individual Retirement Account (IRA).
- Direct rollovers - from one account to another - are nontaxable and not reported as income to the federal government. Your plan's rules specify when you are eligible for a distribution.
Minimum distribution option
You must begin taking minimum distributions from your IRAs and employer retirement plan accounts by your required beginning date (or retirement, if later for employer retirement plan accounts). For IRAs (other than Roth IRAs), your required beginning date is April 1 of the year following the calendar year in which you reach your RMD Applicable Age. For employer-sponsored retirement plans, your required beginning date is April 1 of the year following the calendar year in which you reach your RMD Applicable Age or retire from the plan sponsor, if later.
Your RMD Applicable Age was 70 ½ if you were born before 7/1/49; 72 if you were born on or after 7/1/49 or in 1950; 73 if you were born between 1951 and 1958; 75 if you were born in 1960 or later. If you were born in 1959, federal guidance is needed to determine if your RMD Applicable Age is 73 or 75.
If you're married, you may be required to get spousal consent to receive any distribution option other than a qualified joint and survivor annuity.
This plan allows you to receive a cash withdrawal. This may be restricted by the terms of your TIAA contracts. Taxes and penalties may apply.
