GDCP at UGA

The Georgia Defined Contribution Plan:

Individuals employed as temporary employees by state agencies (including the University of Georgia) are required by Georgia law to contribute 7.5% of their pay to the Georgia Defined Contribution Plan (GDCP) instead of making contributions to Social Security.  

Excluded from this plan are the following:

• Persons qualified as bona fide independent contractors
• Active members of ERS or TRS
• Retirees of ERS or TRS
• Persons working for an institution in which that person is regularly enrolled and attending classes and meets IRS student-exclusion criteria

View the State of Georgia GDCP page. View an example of GDCP participation vs. Social Security.

INFORMATION FOR SUPERVISORS OF GDCP-ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES

Enrollment in GDCP:
Employees hired into GDCP-eligible positions will have automatic deductions and will receive a letter from ERS/GDCP requesting them to designate a beneficiary.

When the employee leaves a GDCP-eligible position, the department should change the individual to temporary employee status, reflecting the employee is either terminating (leaving UGA) or transferring to a non-GDCP-eligible position (student worker, benefit-eligible employee).

INFORMATION FOR GDCP-ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES

Requesting refund of GDCP contributions:
The Employees Retirement System of Georgia (ERSGA) administers the GDCP program. When leaving a GDCP-eligible position, it may be possible to request a refund of your GDCP contributions. In order to be eligible to apply for a refund, you must separate employment from UGA or transfer to a benefits-eligible position. UGA must notify ERSGA of your GDCP termination date and your GDCP account status must be “inactive.” You must wait 31 days after you receive your last GDCP  payroll deduction before you can request a refund.

Visit the ERS site to log in to your account and request a refund of GDCP contributions.

• If you are leaving UGA employment and are not able to request a refund after 6-8 weeks from the  date you receive your last paycheck, please contact your department to ensure they have submitted paperwork to terminate your temporary employment at UGA. If your paperwork has been submitted and you still cannot access the ERS site, please email payroll@uga.edu.
• If you transferred from a temporary position to a benefits-eligible or student worker/graduate assistant position at the University and are not able to request a refund after 31 days from receiving your last paycheck from the previous department or previous position, please contact payroll at payroll@uga.edu.

STUDENT EMPLOYEES (as defined in UGA policy)

At termination of GDCP eligible employment, you may request a full refund of your GDCP Employee Contribution Account. If you take a refund of your GDCP Employee Contribution Account, you forfeit all future benefits attributable to those contributions. 

Refunds are requested directly from GDCP here.

Before requesting your refund, please submit a request for an employment status update by emailing HRWeb@UGA.edu. Employment status cannot be updated until 30 days after the last GDCP contribution.

For more details about GDCP, please visit the GDCP website. 

If you have any questions or concerns about your GDCP enrollment, please contact University Human Resources at HRWeb@uga.edu. 

If you have questions about GDCP at the University of Georgia, please contact Employee Benefits at 706-542-2222 or benefits@uga.edu.