CBR Resources and FAQ
Browse resources and FAQs related to composite benefit rates.
| UCSD Values & Names | UCPath (SDCMP) Value & Names | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UCSD CBR Category | UCSD CBR Category Name | Path Systen Value | Path Long Name | Path Short Name |
| 1 |
HCOMP Faculty & Doctors |
12 | Campus Rate #3 - Full Benefits | Campus Rt3 |
| 2 | Faculty HSCP - Full Benefits | Faculty HS | ||
| 2 | Faculty, Leadership, & Professionals | 11 | Campus Rate #2 - Full Benefits | Campus Rt2 |
| 1 | Faculty Not HSCP - Full Benefits | Faculty NH | ||
| 3 | Service Professionals | 13 | Campus Rate #4 - Full Benefits | Campus Rt4 |
| 4 | Campus Support | 10 | Campus Rate #1 - Full Benefits | Campus Rt1 |
| 5 | General Staff & All Other | 3 | Other Academics - Full Benefits | Other Acad |
| 4 | Staff Exempt - Full Benefits | Staff Exmp | ||
| 5 | Staff Non-Exempt - Full Benefits | Staff NExm | ||
| A | Faculty Summer Salary | 14 | Fclt Nt HSCP-Ful Ben Sumr Sal | Sumr Sal |
| B | Post Doc Scholars | 7 | Post Docs | Post Docs |
| C | Partial Eligibility | 8 | Faculty/Staff - Partial Ben Elig | Faculty/St |
| D | Students & No Eligibility | 9 | Faculty/Staff - No Ben Elig | Faculty/St |
| 6 | Students - Graduate/Undergrad | Students | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Does CBR affect what employees will pay for benefits?
No, CBR only affects the employer contribution.
Q2. How will benefits be charged to my fund with the composite rates?
The composite benefit rates represent the percentage of benefits that will be applied to the employee salary (Salary x CBR %). This amount will be charged to the account for fringe benefit costs regardless of the actual costs to the University.
Q3. How are the composite rates calculated?
Following federal regulations and the approved, system wide CBR model, the rates are calculated by allocating a pool of composite benefit costs on the basis of institution-wide salaries and wages of the employees receiving the benefits. The pool of fringe benefits for a group of employees is divided by the total salaries of that group. The resulting rate is known as the CBR, and is applied against the total institutional base salary of the individuals.
Q4. How frequently are the composite rates reviewed and updated?
In collaboration with UCOP, actual benefits costs incurred by the University will be reconciled with the amount charged using the composite benefit rates on an annual basis. Any over- or underrecovery will be adjusted in future year rates, similar to that of recharge activity. This may result in CBRs updating each fiscal-year.
Q5. What factors determine which CBR group an employee falls under?
An employee will fall into a CBR group based on 1) Employee Class, 2) Eligibility Configuration (BELI equivalent), and 3) Job Code.
Q6. What if an employee is eligible for full-benefits, but is not appointed at 100% time?
The benefits cost for an employee is the applicable rate multiplied by gross salary. If the appointment percentage is lower, the salary is lower, and the benefits cost will be lower, even if the employee receives full-benefits. This is considerably simpler to calculate and also reduces benefit expenses for part-time employees as compared to the old method of calculating benefit costs.
Q7. If an employee has opted out of healthcare will CBR still apply?
Yes, CBR will still be applied. Opting out of health insurance would have no impact on the CBR rate. The rate is based on benefit eligibility and not benefit selection.
Q8. If two employees are married, which CBR category would determine the benefit rates?
The employees would each be assigned to the employee class that is appropriate for the terms of their employment. The marriage would have no impact on the CBR rates applied.
Q9. If I hire a prospective Assistant Researcher who currently has his own medical insurance, will the composite rate be reduced based on this or will it remain the same?
CBR groups are assigned using Employee Class, Eligibility Configuration (BELI equivalent), and Job Code. If someone waives their UCSD medical insurance, it will not affect the CBR group or rate that they are assigned.
Q10. If I have maxed out my UCRP contribution, will CBR still apply?
Yes, maxing out your UCRP contribution does not affect your eligibility for CBR, which will continue to be assessed at the same rate. The composite benefit rate includes various components beyond just retirement benefits.
Q11. How do I find the benefit eligibility code for an employee?
In UCPath, benefits eligibility is determined by the Eligibility Config1 Code. An Eligibility Config1 = F (Full) or FO (Full Override) indicates the employee is eligible for Full Benefits; all others are not. The pre-UCPath BELI code no longer exists. To determine if an employee is eligible for full benefits, see the table below. For existing employees, benefit eligibility can be found by looking at the Labor Ledger or contacting UCPath. Please consult with HR or UCPath for guidance on scenarios not involving current employees.
| Benefit Package | Initial Requirements | Continuing Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Full
Eligibility Codes F or FO |
Member of a UC-sponsored defined benefit retirement plan
AND An appointment that is 50% or more for 12 months or more OR 1,000 Eligible hours worked in a rolling 12-month period, including previous UC employment |
Minimum 17.5 hours/week or 43.75% average paid time (APT) over a rolling 12-month period |
| Mid-Level | NOT a member of a UC-sponsored defined benefit retirement plan
AND Mimimum 50% appointment for 12 months or more OR An appointment that is 100% for 3 or more months (but less than 12 months) |
Minimum 17.5 hours/week or 43.75% average paid time (APT) over a rolling 12-month period |
| Core | Minimum 43.75% appointment for any duration
Employee is ineligible for Health and Welfare Benefits because of excluded appointment type or does not meet the BELI 1-4 requirement |
Minimum 17.5 hours/week or 43.75% average paid time (APT) over a rolling 12-month period |
| None |
|
N/A |
| Post-Doctoral Benefits | EMPL_CLASS = 23 |
Q12. Which ERN codes are included in CBR and VLA?
The CBR website has a CBR and VLA by ERN Code Lookup to assist with understanding which ERN Codes will be assessed. Filtering on ERN Code and ERN Code Description will identify whether CBR/VLA will be charged.
Q13. How do I project composite benefits costs beyond the provided schedules?
A standard escalation of 2% should be used for budgeting beyond the provided schedules.Please note that the projected CBRs provided on the Composite Benefits Rate website/accompanying materials are subject to change.
Q14. Who do I contact if I have additional questions about the CBR?
Can't find what you are looking for on the CBR website? Please email: cbr@ucsd.edu