Retiree Accumulated Sick Leave Program
The program offers benefits-eligible faculty and staff the opportunity to receive payment for accumulated unused sick leave at retirement. The maximum total benefit is $30,000 per person, per retirement system. The minimum number of sick leave hours paid from this program is 500 per person, per retirement system. The maximum number of sick leave hours paid from this program is 1,500 per person, per retirement system. Sick leave hours below 500 or above 1,500 are forfeited. The benefit value is calculated by taking the hourly rate of pay on the date of termination from state or university service, multiplied by the number of unused sick leave hours at termination up to 1,500 hours, multiplied by one of the following percentages:
- 25%, at least the minimum 500 but less than 750 sick leave hours.
- 33%, at least 750 but less than 1,000 sick leave hours.
- 50%, at least 1,000 up to the maximum of 1,500 sick leave hours.
See RASL program benefit formula and examples.
Apply for RASL
Required forms are fillable and available online.
All other information in bold is available at ADOA GAO.
- Read the RASL Program’s Frequently Asked Questions and Answers.
- Establish an effective date of retirement with your State retirement system - ASRS, PSPRS or ORP investment provider - that is within 31 calendar days of your ASU separation date.
- Complete the top portion of the Application and Certification Form - GAO-SL-50. Instructions are on page 2.
- Complete the left column of the RASL University Employee Checklist.
- Complete the W-4 Employee's Withholding Allowance Certificate.
- Complete an Arizona Form A-4 Employee's Arizona Withholding Election.
- If you choose the Deferred Compensation 457(b) Plan option for your first installment payment:
- Not a current plan participant? You must establish an account with Nationwide Retirement Solutions prior to your ASU separation date.
- Submit a completed RASL Deferral Notification Form directly to Nationwide no later than four weeks after your ASU separation date.
- Visit our Deferred Compensation 457(b) Plan web page for more info.
- Current plan participant? Submit a completed RASL Deferral Notification Form directly to Nationwide no later than four weeks after your ASU separation date.
- Not a current plan participant? You must establish an account with Nationwide Retirement Solutions prior to your ASU separation date.
- If you want direct deposit to a checking or savings account, attach a voided check or letter from your financial institution with ABA routing and account numbers to your application packet.
- Before you retire but no later than 150 calendar days from your ASU separation date, submit the completed packet to HR Benefits. The packet items include the application, checklist, W-4, A-4 and if applicable, a voided check or letter from your financial institution. This will allow sufficient time for HR Benefits to complete employer sections and submit the application packet to the GAO within 180 days of your ASU separation date.
RASL benefits will be denied if required forms are not received by the GAO within 180 days of your ASU separation date.
| Submit the original copies of your four completed forms in one of three ways: | ||
|---|---|---|
| US Mail HR Benefits PO Box 871304 Tempe, AZ 85287-1304 | Campus Mail Intercampus Mail Code 1304 | Hand delivery ASU HR Employee Service Center University Center, 1100 E. University Drive, Tempe, AZ, 85281 |
RASL eligibility
Faculty and staff who meet the following RASL Program eligibility requirements are eligible to receive payment for accumulated - unused - sick leave at retirement:
- Have an accumulated - unused - sick leave balance of at least 500 hours available to use at the time of separation from employment
- HR Benefits will complete the employer sections and forward the application packet to the Arizona Department of Administration, General Accounting Office - GAO, within 180 calendar days of the effective date of retirement.
- Must establish a retirement date from a state-authorized retirement system - ASRS, PSPRS, University ORP, CORP - that is effective within 31 calendar days after the date of separation from employment.
- Must complete and submit the required RASL Program forms to HR Benefits within 150 calendar days of the effective date of retirement.
- Required forms: RASL Program application, university checklist, W-4 and A-4.
RASL payments
The first RASL payment is normally issued 60 to 90 days after the application packet has been received by the GAO. Subsequent RASL payments are issued on the second and third anniversaries of the first payment.
The first payment only can be deferred to the retired faculty or staff member’s State of Arizona Deferred Compensation 457(b) Plan account with Nationwide Retirement Solutions. First payments rolled into a deferred compensation account are subject only to Social Security and Medicare taxes. All other payments are subject to Social Security, Medicare, federal and Arizona taxes.
RASL payments are mailed directly to retired faculty or staff member’s home or if authorized, electronically deposited to their designated bank account(s).