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Eligibility

Topics on This Page:

  1. Special eligibility circumstances
  2. Additional benefits

Joining the RPB community

We’re proud to have helped thousands of Reform Movement clergy, professionals, educators, and staff achieve a fulfilling retirement. And we’re ready to help you do the same.

Any employee of a qualified employer who is 18 years or older is eligible to enroll in the RPB Retirement Plan if they meet one of the following requirements:

  • Works in a role that requires membership in a Reform Movement professional organization and is an active member (see the table below).
  • Works an average of 18 hours per week or more (at least 936 hours annually) in a role that does not require membership in a Reform Movement professional organization, including those employees in administrative, finance, custodial, security, seasonal, or other positions.
  • Works an average of 9 to 17 hours per week (at least 468–935 hours annually) with a minimum of 2 years of service in a role that does not require membership in one of the Reform Movement professional organizations, including those employees in administrative, finance, custodial, security, seasonal, or other positions.

  • Works for a Reform Movement institution, such as the URJ, CCAR, or RPB.

NOTE: Employees eligible for the American Conference of Cantors (ACC) retirement plan are not eligible for the RPB Plan.

Please contact RPB with any questions regarding our eligibility requirements.

Organization Positions Requiring Membership to Enroll in RPB

Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR)
  • Rabbis (all levels)

National Association of Temple Administrators (NATA)
  • Executive Director/Temple Administrator (or equivalent)

Association of Reform Jewish Educators (ARJE)**
  • Directors (all levels*) of Lifelong Learning / Education / Religious School
  • Directors (all levels*) and Coordinators of Youth Programming and Engagement

Early Childhood Educators of Reform Judaism (ECE-RJ)**
  • Directors (all levels*) of Early Childhood Education
  • All Early Childhood Education teachers

Program and Engagement Professionals of Reform Judaism (PEP-RJ)**
  • Directors (all levels*) of Programming
  • Directors (all levels*) of Membership & Engagement (other than Youth)
  • Directors (all levels*) of Communications

Advancing Temple Institutional Development (ATID)
  • None (although all development professionals are encouraged to join)
  1. This list may not be all inclusive. Each organization reserves the right to change its eligibility requirements.
  2. * Director titles include all levels: Directors, Associate Directors, and Assistant Directors.
  3. ** Multiple member discounts may be available. Contact the organization for more information.

Topics on This Page:

  1. Special eligibility circumstances
  2. Additional benefits

Related Documents & Links:

Special eligibility circumstances

If you don’t meet the primary criteria, you may still be able to participate in RPB’s retirement plan if you fall into one of the categories listed below. You can also contact us to discuss your eligibility if you have any questions.

As an HUC-JIR rabbi and active member of CCAR, you can participate in RPB’s retirement plan for up to five years.

You’re eligible to fully participate in RPB’s programs after providing verification from your employer that (1) your employer is a non-profit organization as defined by IRS Code section 501(c)(3) and (2) you're working in a parsonage-eligible role.

If you're actively participating in RPB’s plan while at a URJ congregation, when you take a new job with a non-URJ congregation, you can still make contributions for up to five years from your date of employment—as long as (1) you remain a member in good standing of your professional organization, (2) there is no gap in employment, and (3) your new employer will remit their contributions to RPB.

You have a five-year grace period in which you can make contributions if your organization is no longer affiliated with URJ—as long as you maintain your membership with your professional organization. After that, you can no longer make contributions to your 403(b) account but you can keep your money with RPB, enjoying the full range of investing and service options.

Employees enrolled in RPB’s plan due to previous employment don’t have to satisfy the hourly service requirements to continue their contributions.

Additional benefits

Set up your safety nets with RPB

In addition to our defined-contribution retirement plan, you might be able to take advantage of the insurance plans we offer. Click on the links below to learn more about the eligibility criteria for:

  • Life insurance, including basic term life insurance and accidental death & dismemberment coverage as long as your combined contributions are at least 10% of your salary. After you qualify for basic term life insurance, you can purchase additional coverage through our optional life insurance program.
  • Long-term disability insurance.
  • RPB retirement plan contribution insurance.

Save time and avoid unnecessary paperwork by opting in during enrollment.

When you're first hired by an RPB-eligible employer, you have 60 days to sign up for long-term disability insurance. If you miss that window, you'll need to wait for the next open enrollment period.

You can also purchase additional life insurance at enrollment up to 2x your salary without submitting a Statement of Health form.

Hear what your peers think of RPB.

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