University of Southern California

USC Benefits

Your USC employee benefits—a quick overview of the highlights

When do I get them?

  • You must enroll for your benefits online (within 60 days of your hire date). Once you do that, most of your benefits will take effect on the first day of the following month.
  • Generally, USC will begin making contributions to your retirement plan after you've met the eligibility period of six months.
  • After 12 months, you are eligible for Supplemental Disability.
  • Other time restrictions may apply for union employees.

Medical choices

  • PPO (USC Network Medical) or HMO options
  • Prescription drug coverage included on all plans
  • Some include vision plan, or add vision plan
  • Dental—choices include PPO (Delta Dental) or HMO (United Concordia) options
  • Other medical-related choices—long term care, cancer expense protection, disability
  • Costs depend on plan chosen and whether dependents are covered

(Local 11 employees have their own plan; hospital union employees have different choices)

Retirement

  • Six month waiting period before retirement contributions begin
  • You choose from our selection of investment companies to open your retirement plan
  • You may make pre-tax or after-tax Roth contributions to your account
  • You may invest up to 5% of your earnings
  • USC will match your contribution, up to 5%
  • USC will ALSO contribute an additional 5%, even if you choose not to contribute anything
  • The additional 5% contribution is subject to a four-year graded vesting schedule for employees hired after December 31, 2011
  • Supplemental retirement contributions may also be invested in the same companies available for the basic retirement plan
  • Some employees may also qualify for a 457(b) deferred compensation plan

(NUHW employees have a different plan)

Other finance-related benefits

  • Flexible spending account for health care related expenses
  • Flexible spending account for dependent care related expenses
  • Life insurance with additional supplemental options
  • Accidental death and dismemberment insurance with additional supplemental options
  • Legal services
  • Group homeowner, renter, auto, motorcycle, and personal property insurance
  • 529 college savings plan
  • Business and personal travel insurance
  • Preferred banking options through USC Credit Union or Bank of America

(hospital union employees may have different options)

Education

  • Tuition Assistance offers 100% free tuition to full time employees and their eligible children; 50% tuition to their spouses and registered domestic partners
  • Two year waiting period for dependents of staff employees; no waiting period for dependents of faculty employees
  • Dependents may only use Tuition Assistance (or Tuition Exchange) for one degree—unit maximums may apply
  • Children of full-time employees may apply for Tuition Exchange scholarships, which pay for a high percentage of tuition costs at any one of several hundred member colleges and universities

(part-time staff, postdoctoral research associates, postdoctoral teaching fellows, and faculty with 50–99% appointment are not eligible; hospital union employee plans differ)

Quality of Life

  • Child care centers at both UPC and HSC offer high-quality, subsidized daycare
  • Center for Work and Family Life offers many free services, programs and counseling
  • Healthy living benefits include discounts at USC's fitness centers at UPC and HSC, discounts at the L.A. Athletic Club, and the Healthy Trojans website
  • Employee TV network—USCeTV
  • Professional and personal development offerings include hundreds of free online courses available in a wide variety of subjects
  • Countless free or discounted cultural opportunities on campus daily—plays, concerts, lectures, art exhibits, performances and movie screenings
  • Discounts at USC Ticket Office including local movie theaters, amusement parks, and even Broadway shows
  • Free admission to Exposition Park's Natural History Museum just south of UPC
  • Transportation options include discounts on public transportation, pre-tax purchasing of bus and parking passes, van and carpool options, free tram service around and between campuses, and discounted car rental options
  • Neighborhood Homeownership program provides up to $50,000 when purchasing a home in the immediate neighborhood around UPC or HSC

 

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This brief overview is not meant to serve as a definitive source of benefit information. Please familiarize yourself with the detailed information found throughout the site.