- November 1: New hires are eligible for auto-escalation if they start work on or before November 1st.
- November 2: New hires are not eligible for auto-escalation if they start work on or after November 2nd.
- December 1–31: You can opt out between December 1 at 9 a.m. and December 31 at 4 p.m. to avoid January 1st auto-escalation.
Hybrid Plan Auto-Escalation
VRS Hybrid Retirement Plan’s "Auto-Escalation" feature is implemented every three years. If you are enrolled in this feature, your voluntary retirement contribution may automatically increase by 0.5%.
Beginning January 1, 2026, VRS Hybrid Retirement Plan members contributing less than 4% will see a 0.5% automatic increase in their voluntary contributions to help grow retirement savings.
Review the Hybrid Contributions Illustration for information on how the Hybrid Retirement Plan Contributions work.
This increase helps you because:
- The sooner you boost your savings to the maximum 4%, the sooner you will receive the full employer match of 2.5%.
- The additional contribution ensures you save more for your retirement.
- The additional investment in your future helps build long-term financial security.
Want to Save More Now?
You don't have to wait for auto-escalation to boost your savings!
These are a couple of ways to take action now:
- Enroll in SmartStep, which allows you to control how and when your contribution increases.
- Request a one-time deferral increase, which can be done at any time by logging into your DCP account or calling 877-327-5261. Deferral changes are effective the 1st of the following month in which the change was submitted to Voya.
Start saving today—time is your greatest asset when it comes to growing your money. Check out the available Voya Calculators here or try our VRS Hybrid Contribution Estimator below!
VRS Hybrid Retirement Plan Calculator
This calculator estimates your mandatory and voluntary retirement contributions based on the salary you enter. Actual deductions may vary and are determined by VRS. All values shown are pre-tax.
This contribution calculator is for estimation purposes only and should not be used as your only decision-making tool. VCU is not responsible for decisions made by employees regarding their retirement contributions. All figures are based solely on user-provided inputs and do not represent actual contributions or elections. Calculations reflect pre-tax values only; Roth (post-tax) contributions vary by individual tax circumstances and cannot be projected.
Contact Us
For questions about your benefits, please submit a help ticket through the HR Service & Support Tool. You can also contact benefits@vcu.edu or call (804) 827-1723.
Your HR Professional may also be able to answer some benefits related questions.