Retirement Eligibility

To qualify as a JHU retiree, you must leave the university in good standing and meet one of these conditions:

  • Be at least age 55 and have completed 10 or more years of continuous full-time service, or
  • Have completed 30 or more years of continuous full-time service, regardless of age.

You shall be deemed to be in full-time service even if your level of service is reduced to less than full-time service in connection with the event described in (1) or (2), as applicable: (1) you are participating in a Transitions Program, and (2) you are determined by your medical insurance carrier to be eligible for long-term disability benefits and simultaneously continue performing part-time services for JHU.

Further, you shall have your full-time service to another employer included in the determination of years of full-time continuous service for JHU retiree eligibility: (1) if you transferred to JHU due to an involuntary administrative transfer from the Johns Hopkins Health System Corporation or one of its affiliates (as determined by JHU in its sole discretion), and (2) you were appointed and employed by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute as an investigator immediately following full-time service with JHU.

Note: A leave of absence from which an employee does not return to full-time service does not count toward satisfying the service requirement except when on disability. Any break in service for reasons other than Position Discontinued or Lack of Funds to Support Position will not be bridged for purposes of retiree eligibility. A break in service caused by a termination can be bridged if the termination was due to a reduction in force and the employee returned to active full-time service with JHU less than one year from the date of termination.

To take a distribution from your 403(b) retirement plan account, one of the following events must occur:

  • You terminate employment
  • You retire
  • You become disabled (as defined by Social Security eligibility)

Your beneficiary is entitled to a distribution of your plan benefits (if not yet distributed to you) following your death.