As a CUNY employee, you have the option to supplement your retirement savings by enrolling in the CUNY sponsored 403(b) Tax Deferred Annuity Plan (TDA).  For more information and to view the Universal Availability Notice regarding CUNY’s Voluntary Savings Plans, please go online and review the 2026 CUNY Universal Availability Letter.

For 2026, Federal law allows tax-deferred contributions of up to $24,500, with an additional $8,000 if you become age 50 at any point in the 2026 calendar year. Also, if you are age 60, 61, 62, or 63 (but not age 64) by the end of the 2026 calendar year, your maximum catch-up contribution limit is increased to $11,250 for a total allowed deferral of $35,750. NEW for 2026 regarding catch-ups: If you earned $150,000 or more in 2025, any 2026 catch-up contributions that you elect, will be treated as a post-tax Roth contribution.

  1. If you are a current CUNY sponsored 403(b) (TIAA) participant and would like to change your 2026 contribution amount to start  on the Jan. 8, 2026 check, you will need to fill out a 2026 Salary Reduction Agreement (SRA) form. Please go online for the form, complete it, and return it to Human Resources no later than Friday , Dec. 19, 2025. For guidance on your TIAA 403B account, please call TIAA at 866.277.7957.   
  1. If you are a participant in the New York City Teachers’ Retirement System (TRS) 403(b) Tax Deferred Annuity Plan (TDA) and would like to change your percentage for 2026, please go online to change it. Changes will be reflected in payroll as early as administratively possible in 2026.
  1. Current participants in the New York State Deferred Compensation Plan 457(b) may also make changes to their contributions online. Changes will be reflected in payroll as early as administratively possible in 2026.

There are presently no coordination of limits between the 457(b) and the 403(b) plans. Therefore, you can contribute the maximum allowed to each plan.

If you are enrolled in any of the plans above and you do not wish to make any changes to your contributions, no action on your part is necessary at this time. 

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email me at anne.alarcon@csi.cuny.edu . 

BY Anne Alarcon