Fringe Benefit Rates

Since the university uses fringe benefit rates to assess benefits to sponsored projects, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) requires Rutgers to submit and negotiate an annual fringe benefit rate proposal. Our office handles this process. When finalized, the rates are appended to the university’s F&A Rate Agreement.

Rutgers develops and submits the fringe benefit rates annually to DHHS Cost Allocation Services (DHHS-CAS), our federal cognizant audit agency, for approval. Prior year provisional fringe benefit rates remain in effect until DHHS-CAS approves the current fiscal year rates. Once approved, the final negotiated fringe benefit rates become effective on July 1 of the fiscal year noted by the rate agreement. 

Rutgers’ composite fringe benefit rate is a hybrid of the benefit components detailed below.

State of New Jersey Fringe Rate: The state of New Jersey proposes and federally negotiates these rates on an annual basis. Most of the benefits included in the state’s fringe benefit rates are applicable to Rutgers employees. The benefits are passed down from the approved state rate and include:

• Pension/retirement
• Health insurance
• Unemployment insurance
• Disability insurance

Rutgers-Only Claims-Made Rates: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, proposes and federally negotiates these rates on an annual basis. Claims-made fringe benefits refer to benefits for which the university only incurs costs when a claim is made.

These benefits include:

• Unused sick leave
• Workers’ compensation
• Tuition remission
• Vacation payout
• ABP pension match

Once both sets of rates are approved annually, implementation and application of the composite rate may begin. View a breakdown of the FY24, FY25, and FY26 composite fringe benefit rates by component and our rate agreements.