Monthly pay date: Due to the New Year holiday, UCPath will issue monthly paychecks and schedule direct deposits to post on January 2, 2026, for monthly paid employees. 

Note: UCSB Payroll will be open through the end of business on Dec. 19, then closed until Jan. 5. Emergency support will be provided during this period and requests should be directed to BFS/Payroll by submitting a BFS/ServiceNow ticket.

Before you leave, adjust your out-of-office settings and maintain your directory and emergency contact information to ensure you stay informed of campus news and notifications. Update your settings.

January 2, 2026: Deadline to opt in to receive electronic W-2 statements

January 9, 2026: Deadline to update or verify tax information

UCPath will begin creating W-2 statements in mid-January. To ensure your information is accurate and reaches you:

Please note, UC does not send 1095-C or W-2 statements by email or text. If you receive an email or text with a link or an attachment for viewing these statements, it is a phishing scam designed to gain private information. Do not open attachments or click email links that claim to provide access to your 1095-C or W-2 statement. To access your electronic tax documents, always visit UCPath online using a safe, known link.

For those departments with limited staff onsite during the winter holidays and curtailment, please support a sustainable UCSB and help maximize energy savings. Unplugging devices in on-campus buildings is just one of a number of simple actions that you can take to help conserve resources over winter holidays/curtailment. Learn more about UCSB Sustainability.

Remove any perishable items from office refrigerators and take them home with you. You may also want to consider taking home any plants you keep in the office.

Health FSA: You have until Dec. 31 to incur expenses for reimbursement in your account and you may carry over up to $660 in unused funds from 2025 to 2026 and the deadline to submit claims is April 15, 2026. The 2026 Health FSA contribution limit is $3,300.  

Please review the WEX website for details about eligible expenses, if you have money to spend. The annual amount you have elected for 2026, plus any carryover, will appear in your WEX account in January.  

Dependent FSA: You have until Dec. 31 to incur expenses for reimbursement in your account. You cannot carry over any unused money from year to year. The annual amount you have elected for 2026 will appear in your WEX account in January.

Claims for the Health FSA and Dependent FSA must be filed by April 15, 2026. Full details about the Health and Dependent Care FSA can be found on the WEX website. 

Plan members will receive ID cards by the end of December or first week of January from the plan administrators as follows:

With your first paycheck in 2026, your 2026 benefits deductions will begin. Closely review your first pay stub to confirm your deductions are correct for the health benefits you elected. If there appears to be a mistake, contact UCPath. 

The IRS Form 1095-C is a tax form notifying you of the medical coverage offered by the University of California in 2025, regardless of whether you enrolled in that coverage. The IRS does not require you to submit your Form 1095 with your tax return. However, you should secure it with your other important tax forms for future reference. The University of California will produce this form in January and send it to you via U.S. Mail unless you have elected electronic delivery.

To elect for electronic delivery, go to UCPath online, then select Employee Actions > Income and Taxes > Online 1095-C Consent

Again, UC does not send 1095-C or W-2 statements by email or text. If you receive an email or text with a link or an attachment for viewing these statements, it is a phishing scam designed to gain private information. Do not open attachments or click email links that claim to provide access to your 1095-C or W-2 statement. To access your electronic tax documents, always visit UCPath online using a safe, known link.

For all benefits related questions please contact the UCPath Center by logging into the UCPath portal and submitting a question by clicking on the “Ask UCPath Center” button, or you can call 1-855-982-7284. The UCPath Center will be closed during the holidays on December 24, 25 and 31, 2025 and January 1, 2026. UCPath will resume normal operating business hours on December 26, 29 and 30, 2025 and January 2, 2026.

You may also contact your health plan directly for coverage related questions. Health Plan Contacts.

For retirement questions, contact RASC at 1-800-888-8267. RASC will be closed during the holidays on December 24, 25 and 31, 2025 and January 1, 2026. RASC will resume normal operating business hours on December 26, 29 and 30, 2025 and January 2, 2026.

Please consult your division, school or department regarding IT Service Desk support availability during the winter break, as some may operate with reduced staffing or hours.

Central IT (ITS) will maintain regular hours (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) but will be closed on December 24, 25, 31 and January 1.

If you require technical assistance outside these closure dates, please first contact your local IT support team. If you are unable to reach your local IT, for emergencies, such as system outages or critical technology needs, Central IT (ITS) will be available to assist. You can reach them at 805-893-5000 or submit a service request through ServiceNow.

Service requests will be monitored throughout the winter break, with urgent issues receiving priority attention. Non-urgent requests will be addressed as quickly as possible, though response times may be longer than usual until we resume full staffing on January 5.