Programs & Services - Eligibility

Eligibility for participation in the Reform Pension Plan requires that the individual is a member of their appropriate Reform Movement professional organization participating with the RPB and be employed by a URJ-affiliated congregation. In addition, 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations such as federations, Jewish community centers, etc. may also be considered eligible employers. Membership in or employment by the following organizations qualify for eligibility:

• Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR)
• Union for Reform Judaism (URJ)
• National Association for Temple Administration (NATA)
• National Association of Temple Educators (NATE)
• Early Childhood Educators of Reform Judaism (ECE-RJ)
• Progressive Association of Reform Day Schools (PARDeS)
• Program Directors of Reform Judaism (PDRJ)
• Reform Pension Board (RPB)

While a congregation that is not affiliated with the URJ is not an RPB-eligible employer, newly ordained rabbis from the HUC-JIR who commence employment with a congregation that is not affiliated with the URJ are automatically eligible to participate in the Reform Pension Plan for three years. An extension of up to two additional years is possible by writing a request to the RPB Board.

Participants who change positions to a congregation that is not affiliated with the URJ but maintain an active membership status with their appropriate professional organization can continue to make contributions under a three-year grace period. The three-year grace period begins as of the plan year following commencement of employment with the non-affiliated congregation. When the three-year grace period concludes, participants are allowed to leave their pension accounts invested with the RPB and start taking distributions at retirement.

Suspensions from the URJ have no effect on RPB participation for current or new RPB participants. RPB participants who work for terminated congregations are given a three year grace period during which their pension contributions can continue. The definition of three years is three RPB plan years following termination.

Yes, all staff members of URJ-affiliated congregations are eligible for RPB Long Term Disability (LTD) coverage if they work for their congregation at least 18 hours per week. RPB LTD coverage is available to all employees of URJ-affiliated congregations who work at least 18 hours per week, unlike the pension and life insurance programs, which have restrictive eligibility criteria.

Clergy who work for a religious non-profit organization are eligible for full participation in the RPB programs. If your non-profit organization will not make contributions directly to the Reform Pension Plan, you can contribute to the plan by paying with your personal check. The contributions are limited to the amount of the annual IRS voluntary salary deferral amount limits. The 2012 Plan deferral limits are $16,500 if you are under the age of 50 and $22,000 if you are 50 or over.To begin making contributions, the RPB requires the following items:

1. A certification that shows that your employer is a non-profit organization as defined by IRS code paragraph 501(c)(3). Your employer could provide you with a copy of their tax exempt certificate, which the IRS provides to them.
2. A letter from your organization to confirm that they will not make direct contributions to the Reform Pension Plan on your behalf.
3. The relevant RPB forms to either enroll in the Reform Pension Plan if you will be a new participant, or to change your status from “inactive” to “active” if you are a current participant.

It is important to note that you are responsible for handling the recategorization of the elective salary deferral payment to the RPB to non-taxable income on your IRS income tax filing. Contact the RPB office for more specific information.

If your congregation will not make pension contributions on your behalf, you can have your congregation withhold pension contributions from your salary as an elective salary deferral. Your congregation would then remit the contribution to the Reform Pension Board. You must first enter into a Salary Reduction Agreement with your congregation and maintain a copy of the agreement at the congregation’s office.

Non-rabbinic staff who work for religious non-profit organizations are eligible to participate if the individual has served eligible Reform Movement congregations for at least eight years and is a member of their appropriate Reform Movement professional organization. In these circumstances, you would be eligible to contribute to the Reform Pension Plan up to the maximum IRS elective salary deferral limits. You would only be eligible to participate in the RPB Rabbi Trust Plan.

A spouse does not qualify for the same benefits that you receive through your participation in the Reform Pension Plan. To be eligible for participation in the Reform Pension Plan, a person must be a member of a participating Reform Movement professional organization and be employed by a URJ-affiliated congregation.

RPB participants who have a combined annual pension contribution paid on their behalf of at least 10 percent of salary (including parsonage, if applicable) through their congregations/employers are eligible for free basic life and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance coverage from the RPB. The 10 percent contribution can originate from either the employer or the participant (via elective salary deferral) to qualify for the free benefit. The benefit is equal to one times annual salary (including parsonage, if applicable) up to $50,000. The AD&D insurance program has a maximum benefit of $30,000.

RPB participants who have a combined annual pension contribution paid on their behalf of at least 10 percent of their salary (including parsonage, if applicable) by their congregations/employers are eligible to purchase optional life insurance. The 10 percent contribution can originate from either the employer or the participant (via elective salary deferral) to qualify. Optional life insurance coverage, which is in addition to the free basic life insurance coverage, can be purchased in increments of up to five times their salary to a total maximum amount of $600,000. Participants enrolling in the pension plan for the first time may purchase life insurance coverage equal to two times salary up to $300,000 without completing the insurance carrier’s Statement of Health form. Participants who want to purchase life insurance coverage in an amount greater than two times salary up to $300,000 must complete the insurance carrier’s Statement of Health form and be approved by the insurance carrier for the coverage. Click here to view the Optional Life Insurance Rate Schedule for the cost of life insurance for your age bracket, and please contact the RPB office if you wish to request a life insurance enrollment form.