|
|
CONNECTICUT STATE EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM
|
YOUR RETIREMENT
RETIREMENT...IT'S NOT SO FAR AWAY
Regardless of your age, you should start thinking about retirement now. You need money to enjoy your retirement years, and that takes careful planning.
Maintaining your pre-retirement living standard usually requires an income from various sources. The State of Connecticut understands this and provides you with retirement benefits through the Connecticut State Employees Retirement System. The State also offers you the option of participation in the Deferred Compensation Plan and 403(b) Program retirement savings plans to supplement your retirement income from the State Employees Retirement System; information on these and other miscellaneous employee benefits can be obtained on the Office of the State Comptroller?s website at osc.ct.gov under Employees Resources.
The State Employees Retirement System is based on a Connecticut state law enacted in 1939. Since 1939, the law has been changed by legislation and collective bargaining. Current plan provisions are in effect until June 30, 2022 in accordance with the 2011 agreement between the State of Connecticut and the State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition. You should be aware however that these provisions are subject to change in accordance with any subsequent legislative, collective bargaining or court ordered actions. There are currently six plans - Tier I, Tier II , Tier IIA, Tier III and, for teachers and certain eligible employees in higher education only, the Hybrid Plan and the Alternate Retirement Program.
In this SPD, we describe the System's Tier III retirement plan, which is a contributory defined benefit plan intended to be qualified under section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code. Accordingly, Tier III plan members are subject to the defined benefit plan compensation and benefit limitations provided for in the Internal Revenue Code sections 401(a)(17) and 415 (b).
The Tier III Plan is administered by the State Employees Retirement Commission whose members are representatives selected by state employees or their unions, management members appointed by the Governor, and actuaries. The Chair of the Commission is nominated by Commission members and must be authorized to serve as a neutral arbitrator in labor relations cases.
We've described the Tier III Plan in summary form in this SPD. Although retirement plans are by necessity complicated, we have taken care to eliminate legal terms whenever possible and to use everyday language. Also, you'll find a number of examples throughout this SPD to help you understand how the Plan works.
Please read this Tier III description carefully. If you have any questions about the Plan that the SPD does not answer, please visit the Office of the State Comptroller?s website at osc.ct.gov, contact your employing agency?s Human Resources Office or contact the Retirement Services Division as directed throughout this SPD. Written requests for information may be sent to the Division at the address below; you may also contact the Division by email at osc.rsd@po.state.ct.us.
Important note: This SPD is designed to help you understand your retirement benefits. It summarizes the more important provisions of the Tier III Plan. It is not intended to give you complete details on all Plan conditions. If there is any conflict in wording between the law and this SPD, the official wording of the law will govern.
|
Retirement Services Division |
|
|
Office of the State Comptroller |
|
|
55 Elm Street |
|
|
Hartford, Connecticut 06106 |
|
|
|
|
|
Kevin Lembo |
Brenda K. Halpin |
|
Comptroller |
Director |
|
State of Connecticut |
Retirement Services Division |
CONNECTICUT STATE EMPLOYEES
RETIREMENT COMMISSION
Peter R. Blum, Chair
Robert Baus
Sandra Fae Brown-Brewton
Michael Carey
Charles Casella
Robert Coffey
Richard Cosgrove, Jr.
Thomas P. Culley
James Dzurenda
Paul Fortier
Stephen Greatorex
Sal Luciano
Ronald McLelland
Claude Poulin
Linda J. Yelmini
MEDICAL EXAMINING BOARD
FOR DISABILITY RETIREMENT
Oluremi Aliyu, MD
Douglas D'Andrea, MD
Jayesh Kamath, MD
Catherine Lewis, MD
Wilner Samson, MD
Timothy Silvis, MD Ariane Sirop, MD
YOUR PLAN MEMBERSHIP
TIER III COVERS STATE EMPLOYEES FIRST HIRED ON OR AFTER JULY 1, 2011
Tier III covers employees first hired on or after July 1, 2011 except for teachers and certain employees in higher education who are eligible for and elect to participate in another retirement plan or system. If you were hired before July 1, 2011, whether you participate in the Tier I, Tier II, Tier IIA or Tier III Plan depends upon several factors. If you are uncertain as to which plan you participate in, please contact your agency's Human Resources or Payroll Office.
New Employees
If you were first hired into state service on or after July 1, 2011, you are automatically covered under the Tier III Plan as of your date of employment, unless you are eligible for and elect to participate in another retirement plan or system.
Rehired Employees
If you worked for the state as a Tier I, Tier II or Tier IIA member, left your job, then were rehired on or after July 1, 2011, Tier III Plan membership was mandatory as of the date you were rehired unless:
In these exceptions, you resumed membership in the Tier I, Tier II or Tier IIA Plan based upon your original membership.
Teachers and Professional Staff
If you are a state teacher or a professional staff member in higher education as defined by the Connecticut General Statutes, Section 5-160(g) employed by the state on or after July 1, 2011, you are covered under the Tier III Plan unless are eligible to and elect membership in either the Connecticut Teachers Retirement System or, if you are in higher education, the hybrid plan or the alternate retirement program. If you are eligible to do so, you must elect one of the other retirement plans within 60 days after your date of employment, or you automatically become a member of Tier III and you will be responsible for mandatory Tier III retirement contributions retroactive to your date of employment. You can be an active member of only one state retirement system.
Judges
Judges appointed to the Connecticut Supreme Court, Appellate Court or
Superior Court become members of the Judges, Family Support Magistrates, and
Compensation Commissioners Retirement System.
If you were covered by Tier III before your appointment to the Supreme Court,
Appellate Court or Superior Court and had accrued at least 10 years of credited
service under Tier III, you may elect to remain a member of the Tier III Plan.
Or, if you had withdrawn from Tier III, you may elect to be reinstated as a Tier
III Plan member. You may make either such election any time within 10 years
after your initial appointment as a judge. In determining your Tier III benefit,
you will receive credit for your years of service as a judge.
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE PLAN
YOU AND THE STATE SHARE THE COST OF YOUR RETIREMENT BENEFITS
By You
Contributions for membership in the Tier III Plan are based on your annual salary. Salary includes all pay you receive from the state as a Tier III member. Federal law (IRC Code Section 401(a)(17)) imposes a limitation on earnings covered for retirement purposes. For 2011 this limit is $245,000; for 2012 the limit is $250,000. No contributions will be taken on earnings above this limit.
Generally, if you are employed by more than one state agency at the same time, all the monies you receive from all state agencies are considered to be salary.
As a Tier III member you contribute two percent (2%) of your total annual salary unless you are in a position designated as hazardous duty. If you are in a hazardous duty position, you contribute five percent (5%) of your total annual salary. In both cases, the contributions are made on a pretax basis.
By The State
Your contributions pay only part of the cost of your retirement benefits. The State of Connecticut pays the remaining cost.
Your Beneficiary
It is important for you to name a retirement beneficiary or beneficiaries to receive any lump sum benefit payment as well as any salaries that may be due if you should die while you are an active state employee. This designation may be changed any time you wish. To name or change your retirement beneficiary, contact your agency's Human Resources Office for the proper forms.
SERVICE AND BENEFIT INFORMATION
ACTUAL STATE, VESTING AND CREDITED SERVICE
As a member of Tier III you will accrue three types of service: actual state, vesting and credited service. You are "vested" or eligible for immediate or deferred retirement benefits when you meet specific service requirements. Actual state and vesting service determine your eligibility for benefits. Credited service will be used to compute such benefits.
ACTUAL STATE SERVICE
Actual state service includes all years and months of state service for which you have paid contributions subject to permanent break in service rules outlined in the section entitled "Breaks in Service and Permanent Breaks In Service Rules." Actual state service begins building up from your employment or reemployment commencement date. Your employment commencement date is the date you first work an hour for which you are paid or entitled to pay by the state and for which you have paid retirement contributions. Your reemployment commencement date is the date you return to work after you terminate state employment and you first work an hour for which you are paid or entitled to pay and for which you have paid contributions. Actual state service continues building all the way to your severance from service date (the date your state employment ends).
Also counted as actual state service are all periods of time when you
received temporary Workers' Compensation (excluding specific indemnity awards)
or Disability Compensation under Connecticut General Statutes, Section 5-142 and
any unpaid leave consisting of individual prescheduled days or partial days off
as provided by the Voluntary Schedule Reduction Program pursuant to Section
5-248c of the Connecticut General Statutes. Not counted are periods of absence
without pay for other reasons.
You earn one year of actual state service when you work 12 calendar months for
the state. If you are a state teacher and work a full academic year, equivalent
to at least 10 months of service, you will receive credit for the full calendar
year.
VESTING SERVICE
You Earn a Vested Right to a Benefit After 10 Years of Vesting Service
Vesting service includes your actual state service. You also earn vesting service for a period(s) of severance of less than 12 months.
In addition, you may receive vesting service through a purchase for various types of leaves and service including the following:
After you have ten years of vesting service, you have earned a vested right to a benefit.
CREDITED SERVICE
Credited Service is Used to Calculate Your Retirement Benefit
Credited service includes all your vesting service except:
Credited service may include:
Special rules apply to hazardous duty members of Tier III who are detectives, chief inspectors, or inspectors in the Division of Criminal Justice, or chief detectives in any other division, with respect to former service to a municipal police department. Please contact your agency's Human Resources Office for additional information.
Breaks In Service And Permanent Breaks In Service Rules
A break in service occurs if you sever your state employment and do not return to state service within one year. You do not receive any retirement credit for a break in service.
Suppose you leave your job and are rehired within 12 months, the period between the time you leave and the time you return will count toward your total years of vesting service when determining your eligibility to retire. But it does not count as actual state service and will not be used as credited service when calculating your retirement benefit amount. If you terminate while on a leave of absence, you must return to state service within one year after the first day of your absence to avoid a break in service.
A permanent break in service occurs if:
If you have had a permanent break in service, you will not receive any retirement credit for service preceding the permanent break.
Alternatively, if you did not have a permanent break in service and did not withdraw your contributions (or if withdrawn, you restored them) your years of service before and after reemployment are added together after you are rehired.
Now, assume you are vested in Tier III when your state employment ends and you are later rehired. Your years of service, before and after reemployment, are automatically added together.
Reference Chart for Actual State, Vesting And Credited Service
The following chart is a quick check reference chart showing varying types of service and whether each qualifies as actual state, vesting or credited service in Tier III. Please contact your agency Human Resources or Payroll Officer regarding any additional statutory requirement which may also need to be met before actual state, vesting or credited service can be utilized.
| TIER III ACTUAL STATE, VESTING AND CREDITED SERVICE |
|---|
|
* If you received a refund of your Tier III retirement contributions for prior service, you must restore the contributions with interest in order to include as actual state, vesting, and credited service.
Detailed Information on Purchase Opportunities
You may request a purchase of retirement credit on the appropriate form provided by your employing agency's human resources or payroll office. After submission of the completed request form with all required documentation to the Retirement Services Division, you will either be sent an invoice to complete the purchase or a letter explaining why you do not qualify.
Invoices provide any payment options available; in some cases payroll deductions are permitted. Requesting a purchase does not obligate you to pay the invoice. However, no credit is allowed for any purchase unless all contributions and interest are paid in full within the time frames prescribed.
Note: Although the deadline to apply for some purchase opportunities is any time before retirement, the cost of the purchase may increase as the period between your date of hire and the date you apply for the purchase increases.
The following summarizes important information about purchase opportunities:
1. Prior military service
2. Prior service to another state
3. Service to a Connecticut municipality
4. Restoring prior Tier III retirement credit
5. Credit for qualifying leaves of absences without pay taken for personal or family illness
6. Credit for qualifying leaves of absences without pay taken for military service
Part-Time Service
If you have had part-time service, you should know that:
Benefit Calculation Factors
Your basic benefit is calculated by using a formula that takes into account your average salary, your average salary in excess of the year's breakpoint, and your credited service.
Average Salary
To determine your average salary, use your five highest paid years of credited service. Any 12 consecutive months period equals one year. For example, May 1st through the following April 30th equals one year. Add together your earnings from your five highest paid years, then divide this total by five.
When calculating your average salary, no one year's earnings can be greater than 130% of the average of the preceding two years. Effective July 1, 2014, this limit will be 150% if you have mandatory overtime earnings. You may be eligible for a refund of contributions made on salaries you earned during the three highest paid years which are not used in calculating your benefit.
Reminder: Federal law imposes a limitation on earnings covered for retirement purposes. For 2011 this limit is $245,000. Salary above this limit can not be included in the calculation of your average salary and no contributions will be taken on earnings above this limit.
Breakpoint
This table shows you the earnings breakpoints through the year 2013*.
|
*Important Note: The 2011 SEBAC Agreement provides for a modification to the breakpoint for service earned on and after July 1, 2013.
In the benefit formula, you take the breakpoint for the calendar year in which your last severance from state service occurs.
Minimum Guarantee
If you retire with 25 or more years of vesting service, the Plan provides a minimum benefit; your basic monthly benefit will equal the result of the formula calculation or $360, whichever is greater. This benefit will be pro-rated for members with 25 or more years of service which includes at least some part-time service.
IRC 415(b) Defined Benefit Limitations
IRC Section 415 is a federal provision that limits the amount of annual retirement benefits an individual can receive from a qualified defined benefit plan. The annual retirement benefits payable from Tier III are subject to the dollar limit imposed by Section 415(b). The 2011 calendar year benefit limit is $195,000 for members aged 62 to 65; the 2012 calendar year benefit limit is $200,000 for members aged 62 to 65. The benefit limit is typically adjusted downward for retirements beginning before age 62 and upward for retirements beginning on or after age 65. Special rules apply under Section 415(b) for certain "qualified police and firefighters."
Important Note: Many of the classifications designated as hazardous duty under SERS are not considered "qualified police and firefighters" and are subject to the Section 415(b) benefit limitation for regular governmental employees.
TYPES OF RETIREMENT
WHEN YOU MAY RETIRE AND RECEIVE BENEFITS
Normal Retirement
Your normal retirement date will be the first of any month on or after you are age 63 if you have at least 25 years of vesting service or age 65 if you have at least 10 but less than 25 years of vesting service.
Early Retirement
If you have at least 10 years of vesting service, you can receive retirement benefits if you retire on the first of any month on or following your 58th birthday.
Hazardous Duty Retirement
You may retire with a benefit on the first of any month on or after you have completed 25 years of credited service while a hazardous duty member or after attainment of age 50 if you have completed at least 20 years of credited service while a hazardous duty member.
The time you are away from your hazardous duty job because of an approved eligible leave of absence, military service or qualifying non-state employment may count toward your years of credited service as a hazardous duty member provided:
For detectives, chief inspectors or inspectors in the Division of Criminal Justice or chief detectives in any other division, certain prior service as a sworn member of a municipal police department, if purchased, can count toward the twenty year minimum requirement for hazardous duty benefits, under certain circumstances.
Disability Retirement
If you become permanently disabled and have 10 years of vesting service, you may be eligible for disability retirement benefits. If your disability is job related, you may receive benefits regardless of your years of service. Note: Prior military service cannot be used for eligibility or calculation purposes for a disability retirement.
Important Note Concerning Workers Compensation and Retirement:
Receipt of workers compensation disability payments under Connecticut General
Statutes (CGS), Section 5-142(a) may prevent you from receiving any retirement
benefits until the payments end - receipt of section 5-142(a) payments may stop
your SERS retirement benefit. This provision is applicable to all types of
retirement - normal, early, hazardous duty or disability.
NORMAL RETIREMENT
YOUR BENEFIT IS BASED ON A FORMULA
Eligibility Requirements
You are eligible for normal retirement benefits on the first of any month on which or after you attain:
OR
The Benefit Formula
For retirement income calculation purposes, your credited service is used in the formula.
Your basic annual retirement benefit equals:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Keep in mind your credited service includes fractions of a year, based on completed months of service. The above chart provides you with your annual benefit. To determine what your basic monthly benefit will be, divide your annual retirement by 12.
If you retire in the first six months of the year, your benefit will not be less than the benefit you would have received had you retired on the previous December 31st.
On-line benefit estimators are available on the OSC website to help you determine your estimated retirement benefit. You are responsible for entering the relevant data (age, length of service, salary, etc.) and the calculator will produce an estimated benefit by option factor. You may need help from your agency Human Resources or Payroll Officer to determine ?high? salary or service credit information. The benefit estimators can be found on the OSC website under ?Employee Resources? or at the following link: http://osc.ct.gov/empret/indxwork.htm
Reminder: Pursuant to the 2011 SEBAC agreement the earnings
breakpoint is under review.
EARLY RETIREMENT
YOU MAY RETIRE WITH A BENEFIT IF YOU HAVE 10 YEARS OF VESTING SERVICE AND ARE AT LEAST AGE 58
How Your Benefit is Figured
Your basic early retirement benefit is first figured with the same formula used for a normal retirement benefit. Your average salary and years of credited service, as of your early retirement date, are used in the calculations.
Your basic normal benefit amount is then reduced by half of one percent (.005) for each month you retire prior to your attaining age 63 if you have at least 25 years vesting service, or age 65 if you have at least 10 but less than 25 years vesting service.
These reductions are required because your benefits are expected to be paid over a longer time period.
An Example
Suppose you retire effective July 1, 2021 on your 63rd birthday with at least 10 years vesting service. Let's assume your basic monthly benefit at normal retirement would be $500. This basic benefit would then be reduced by one half of one percent for each month you receive a benefit before your 65th birthday, as follows:
|
||||||||
Your basic early retirement benefit at age 63 would be $440.00 per month.
HAZARDOUS DUTY RETIREMENT
YOU MAY RETIRE WITH A BENEFIT AT ANY AGE IF YOU HAVE 25 YEARS OF HAZARDOUS DUTY
SERVICE OR AT AGE 50 IF YOU HAVE AT LEAST 20 YEARS OF HAZARDOUS DUTY SERVICE
Definition Of Hazardous Duty
You are considered a hazardous duty member if you are an employee working:
The Hazardous Duty Appendix was created as a result of the 1988 - 1994 Pension Arbitration Award and lists all state job classifications which have been designated as covered under the hazardous duty provisions of the State Employees Retirement System. In some circumstances the job classifications may be covered under hazardous duty provisions only when used at certain state agencies and facilities.
The Hazardous Duty Appendix is available on the OSC website at the following link: http://osc.ct.gov/rbsd/hazduty/index.html
How Your Benefit Is Figured
If you qualify for a hazardous duty retirement, your basic annual benefit will be calculated as follows:
|
To determine what your basic monthly income would be, divide your basic annual retirement income by 12.
On-line benefit estimators are available on the OSC website to help you determine your estimated hazardous duty retirement benefit. You are responsible for entering the relevant data (age, length of service, salary, etc.) and the calculator will produce an estimated benefit by option factor. You may need help from your agency Human Resources or Payroll Officer to determine ?high? salary or service credit information. The benefit estimators can be found on the OSC website under ?Employee Resources? or at the following link: http://osc.ct.gov/empret/indxwork.htm
Important Note: The annual retirement benefits payable from Tier
III are subject to the dollar limit imposed by Section 415(b). The 2011 calendar
year benefit limit is $195,000 for members aged 62 to 65; the 2012 calendar year
benefit limit is $200,000 for members aged 62 to 65. However the benefit limit
is adjusted downward for retirements beginning before age 62. Although special
rules apply under Section 415(b) for certain "qualified police and
firefighters", you should be aware that many of the classifications designated
as hazardous duty under SERS are not considered "qualified police and
firefighters" and are subject to the Section 415(b) benefit limitation for
regular governmental employees which is significantly lower for employees
retiring before age 50.
If You Leave State Service Before Meeting The Eligibility Requirements For A Hazardous Duty Benefit
Hazardous duty members who leave state service before qualifying for
hazardous duty retirement benefits may, if eligible to do so, receive early,
normal, or vested retirement benefits. Contributions in excess of those required
for an early, normal, or vested rights retirement benefit will be refunded to
the member following retirement. Upon completion of the appropriate refund
application form, terminated vested members may receive a refund of the excess
contributions before their retirement benefits begin. Hazardous duty members who
retire on disability retirement are not entitled to a refund of any of their
hazardous duty contributions.
DISABILITY RETIREMENT
YOU MAY RECEIVE RETIREMENT BENEFITS IF YOU BECOME PERMANENTLY DISABLED
Types of Disability
There are two types of disability retirement available to eligible SERS members: a service connected disability (SCD) and a non-service connected disability (NSD) benefit.
Disability Standard
A member is disabled and eligible to receive a disability retirement benefit for the first twenty-four months if he or she is permanently unable to continue to render the service in which he has been employed: that is the employee is unable to perform the duties of his occupation. After 24 months, the standard for disability retirement changes and the disability retirement continues thereafter only if such member is totally disabled for any suitable and comparable job. ?Suitable and comparable? can refer to any job that a disability retiree is capable of performing considering his age, education, physical limitations, vocational skills, and experience.
Disability Retirement Application Process
To apply for a disability retirement you must contact the Human Resources or Payroll Office of your employing agency to request the preparation of your Application for Retirement Benefits and other related retirement forms as described under ?The Application Process? in the Section of this SPD entitled WHEN YOU ARE READY TO RETIRE. You will also need to provide a form entitled "Disability Retirement Application Medical Report" as completed by your treating physician, as well as diagnostic test and hospital summaries and any other relevant information of ongoing care for the condition on which your application is based. The completed application is then forwarded to the Retirement Services Division.
The determination of eligibility for disability retirement benefits is made
by the Medical Examining Board (MEB). The Retirement Services Division does not
determine whether or not a member is disabled. The Division, on behalf of the
Medical Examining Board (MEB), accepts applications for disability retirement
with appropriate medical documentation. It is the member?s responsibility to
show that he or she is disabled under the standard for disability retirement and
to ensure that all medical documents, reviews, records and reports necessary to
support his or her claim for disability retirement are properly submitted to the
MEB.
The MEB performs medical record(s) review with regard to applications for
disability retirement. The MEB may conduct reexaminations at any time to
determine continuance of disability. The MEB using its medical judgment may
believe or disbelieve any evidence presented before it so long as its final
determination is supported by the evidence. The MEB may also make a
determination as to whether a disability is service connected. Findings and
determinations made by the MEB may be made without holding a hearing and solely
on the basis of a "record review."
It is important to note that due to the number of applicants, it may take 3-6 months before a disability retirement application can be reviewed by the MEB.
Assuming your disability retirement application is approved, your entitlement to a continued disability benefit is reviewed again after you receive benefits for 24 months. The MEB will require updated medical records and review continued eligibility under the ?suitable and comparable? standard. That is, after 24 months you must show that you are disabled from any and all comparable positions for which you would be suited for by experience and training. You must submit proof of continuing disability at the request of the Retirement Services Division.
How Your Disability Benefit is Calculated
There are several components used in the determination of the amount of your SERS disability retirement benefit: the statutory benefit, the 100% maximum, the 80% maximum and the 60% minimum.
The "Statutory Benefit"
The statutory benefit is the basic benefit calculated prior to the application of the minimum or maximum rules or any offsets.
If you qualify for a disability retirement, the following formula is used to compute your basic annual benefit:
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
To determine what your basic monthly benefit will be, divide by 12.
Your disability retirement, either service or non-service connected, is subject to certain offsets. Those offsets are: (1) Social Security regular and disability (SSDI) benefits (individual and family Social Security disability payments); (2) most workers compensation payments and (3) outside earnings (where you work or earn income from another employer while collecting a disability retirement benefit from SERS).
It is important to note that these benefits are not always "dollar for dollar" offsets to your SERS retirement benefit but rather are just one component used in determination of your benefit. Therefore, your disability retirement may start with one monthly benefit amount and then be reduced if and when you receive any type of social security benefits or workers compensation payments and increase (or further decrease) due to changes in those benefits. Workers compensation benefits alone may not reduce your benefit but when coupled with SSDI payments may severely reduce or even eliminate in its entirety your SERS monthly retirement benefit.
It is your duty and obligation when receiving a disability retirement benefit to promptly notify the Retirement Services Division upon receipt of any social security income, workers compensation payment or outside earnings. Failure to do so will cause an overpayment of your retirement benefit and repayment of the amount through a reduction of your retirement benefit.
Important Note: Receipt of workers compensation disability payments under Connecticut General Statutes (CGS), Section 5-142(a) may prevent you from receiving any retirement benefits until the payments end - receipt of section 5-142(a) payments may stop your SERS retirement benefit.
The "100% Maximum" Rule
There is a maximum benefit limitation you can receive with respect to the combined income from your SERS disability benefit, individual and family Social Security disability benefits, workers compensation payments and outside earnings. You must receive outside earnings for this rule to apply.
The total amount you may receive from these sources, combined with your Tier III benefit, cannot be more than 100% of your average salary or 100% of your salary at the time of disability, if higher.
If your total benefits exceed the 100% maximum, your Tier III benefit will be reduced. The reduction will be the amount needed to bring the benefit total down to the 100% maximum.
If you are receiving Social Security disability benefits or workers compensation payments but no outside earnings, the 80% maximum and the 60% minimum rules apply.
The "80% Maximum" Rule
There is a maximum benefit limitation a disability retiree can receive with respect to the combined income from a SERS disability benefit, individual and family Social Security disability benefits, and workers compensation payments.
The total amount you may receive from these sources, combined with your Tier III benefit, cannot be more than 80% of your average salary or 80% of your salary at the time of disability, if higher.
If your total benefits exceed the 80% maximum, your Tier III benefit will be reduced. The reduction will be the amount needed to bring the benefit total down to the 80% maximum.
If you do not receive social security or workers compensation payments, the 80% rule will not apply.
The "60% Benefit"
As a SERS member your combined income from a SERS disability benefit, individual and family Social Security disability benefits, and workers compensation payments cannot be less than 60% of your rate of salary (base salary of office) at the time your disability occurred.
This is a minimum benefit using combined income therefore your receipt of any Social Security benefit (including but not limited to "normal" social security benefit at age 65) or workers compensation following your receipt of SERS disability retirement benefits will usually reduce your SERS benefit.
Important Note: As long as you remain disabled, your disability retirement benefit will never revert to a normal retirement benefit.
If You Recover
All disability retirement benefits will end if you recover from your condition before your normal retirement date. You will receive credit for the period of time you were receiving Tier III disability benefits. The total number of years including the time you worked and the period you were receiving the disability benefits is subject to a maximum of 30 years. However, if your service at time of disability is greater than 30, you will receive credit for your total years of service before your disability.
Special Note
In the event that the Retirement Medical Examining Board determines that you are not permanently disabled from performing your job duties, the agency where you were last actively employed will be required to return you to employment, if you so choose. This assumes there are no other employment related reasons for your separation.
[file:///C:/Inetpub/wwwroot/rbsd/_private/tier3header.htm]
BENEFIT PAYMENT OPTIONS
YOU MAY CHOOSE THE FORM OF BENEFIT PAYMENT
Benefit Options
When you apply to retire you must elect one of four benefit payment "options." You should review your option choices with care and select the one that will provide you with retirement income in the form best suited to your personal needs. If you elect to have your retirement benefits paid to someone else when you die, the recipient would be your contingent annuitant, commonly referred to as your "optionee." The optional forms of payment available are:
If you elect a benefit option that will continue an income to a surviving contingent annuitant, the benefit amount you receive will depend on your closest age and, with the exception of Option C, the closest age of your contingent annuitant. In the case of Option C, your closest age alone is the determining factor. The amount is less than you would receive if benefits were paid to you alone.
Important Information to Consider When Making Your Option Election
If you have been married for at least one year prior to the commencement of your retirement benefits, written spousal consent will be required if you do not provide a lifetime guarantee (50% or 100% option) for that spouse.
Regardless of your option choice or marital status, you must submit proof and/or attest to your marital status within one year prior to the date your retirement benefits are to commence. Failure to submit the required waiver and documentation prior to your effective date of retirement may result in a delay of retirement income payments.
If you retire and have not designated in writing the benefit payment option you would prefer or have not obtained the consent of your spouse, your benefit will be paid according to your marital status when payment begins.
Your benefit payment option cannot be changed after retirement. Therefore, it is very important that you elect your "option" following careful review of all the available choices.
Except for Option C, each option requires you to designate a beneficiary. Your beneficiary would receive a lump sum refund of any remaining contributions and interest. This lump sum payment occurs only after your death and the death of your designated contingent annuitant, if applicable.
PLEASE NOTE:
If you elect Option D, at the time of your death not only do all pension payments stop, but health insurance as well as any reimbursement for Medicare Part B or Part D premiums for any qualified dependents you were covering through the State Employees Retirement System also ends. Those dependents would be offered the choice of assuming the full (100%) cost of the group health insurance for a limited period only (currently 3 years). Then all health insurance benefits available through the state would cease.
If you elect Option A, B, or C, the state sponsored health coverage and the
payment of any reimbursement of Medicare Part B or Part D premiums may be
extended at the time of your death to your designated contingent annuitant(s)
and his or her dependents for as long as the monthly benefit continues if they
meet certain eligibility requirements. Information on retiree health insurance
is available on the Office of the State Comptroller?s website at
osc.ct.gov under Retiree
Resources.
SURVIVOR BENEFITS
DEATH BENEFITS MAY BE PAYABLE TO YOUR SURVIVOR
Before You Retire
If you should die before you retire, death benefits may be due your survivors. It is important, therefore, for you to know that state employees can, in some instances, influence the type and amount of benefits which may be available to the survivor(s). Should you become seriously ill or injured, or have a life threatening condition, you or someone on your behalf should contact your employing agency Human Resources Office as soon as possible.
Important Note: The Retirement Services Division has a Pre-Retirement Limited Durable Power of Attorney form specifically for use with applications relating to SERS retirement benefits when you are unable to execute the documents yourself. This is the only Power of Attorney form accepted by the Division for retirement related activities. The form is available on the Office of the State Comptroller website at the following link: http://osc.ct.gov/agencies/forms/pdf/CO-1049.pdf
A Post-Retirement Limited Durable Power of Attorney form is also available on the Office of the State Comptroller website under Retiree Resources, Retiree Forms.
Spousal Benefits Before You Retire
Your spouse may receive monthly Tier III benefits if you die before retirement.
Should you die while actively employed or while on an approved leave of absence, your spouse will receive a monthly benefit if:
OR
For your spouse to receive benefits, you must have been married for at least the one year period immediately preceding your death. The agency where you were employed should be notified of your death as soon as possible.
Your spouse's benefits would begin on the first of the month on or after your death. Monthly payments would then continue for his or her lifetime. The amount would equal 50% of the payment you would have received under the Spouse option had payments started the day of your death. If you had not reached age 58 at the time of your death, the benefit would be figured as if you were 58.
Spousal Benefits If You Leave With 25 Years Of Vesting Service
Suppose you leave state employment with 25 years of vesting service, leave your contributions in the system and you die before receiving any retirement benefits. Your spouse will receive retirement benefits, provided you had been married to each other for at least the twelve months preceding your death. Benefits would be paid as described previously in the section entitled "Spousal Benefits Before You Retire."
If A Spousal Benefit Is Not Applicable
If you are not married or if your spouse is not eligible to receive monthly benefits, your designated beneficiary (who could be your spouse) will receive a lump-sum payment. The amount will equal your contributions plus 5% annual interest credited from the July 1st following commencement of contributions.
After You Apply For Retirement - But Before Benefits Begin - The 90 Day Protection Window
Suppose you apply for retirement and select Option B or Option C (refer to the section entitled "Benefit Payment Options"). If you die within 90 days after you first elect either one of these options, but prior to your date of retirement, your contingent annuitant may receive payments in accordance with your selection. But if your death occurs after this 90 day period and you have not yet retired, or if you die within 90 days after electing Option A or D but prior to your date of retirement, the benefit paid will be as described earlier in the subsection entitled "Spousal Benefits Before You Retire." Again, both the agency where you were employed and the Retirement Services Division should be immediately notified of your death.
After Retirement Benefits Have Started
If you die after benefits have started, your designated contingent annuitant or beneficiary will receive any benefits due under the option you chose before retirement. It is necessary to have the Retirement Services Division notified of your death as soon as possible, to facilitate the payment of benefits for your contingent annuitant or beneficiary.
Suppose you elect the Straight Life Annuity option and you die before your contributions and earned interest are depleted. In this case, your designated beneficiary will receive a lump sum benefit equal to the remaining portion of your contributions and interest.
If you provide for an income to continue to a contingent annuitant for life and that contingent annuitant dies before your contributions and earned interest are depleted, a similar refund will be made. If no beneficiary was designated, the lump sum benefit will be paid to the estate.
Job Related Death
The Tier III Plan may provide a benefit to your family if your death is a result of a job related injury. Death must not have been caused by an intentional or careless act on your part.
If you are survived by a spouse and at least one dependent child under 18 years of age, the Plan pays your husband or wife $100,000. The money will be paid in equal monthly installments over a period of at least ten years. All payments to your spouse will end if he or she dies or remarries during this time. In addition, each dependent child will receive $50 a month until his or her 18th birthday.
If you are survived by your spouse only, the Plan pays $50,000 to that spouse in equal monthly installments. Payments will be made over a period of at least ten years. They will end if your spouse dies or remarries during this period.
Suppose you have no surviving spouse or children, but you leave one or both parents dependent upon you. In this case, your parent(s) will receive $50,000 in equal monthly installments over a ten-year period. If one parent dies, the other parent will continue to get the remaining payments. All benefits will end if both parents die within the ten-year period.
[file:///C:/Inetpub/wwwroot/rbsd/_private/tier3header.htm]
IF YOU LEAVE BEFORE RETIREMENT
YOU BECOME VESTED AFTER 10 YEARS OF VESTING SERVICE
Vested Rights
Your state employment may end before you retire. Under current plan provisions you will have earned a vested right to a retirement benefit if you have at least 10 years of vesting service at the time you leave.
How Your Benefit is Figured
If you leave with at least 10 years of vesting service, you may:
OR
Your benefits will depend on:
You should contact your last employing agency's Human Resources Office to request the preparation of an application for vested rights retirement benefits at time of your termination even though the effective date of your benefits may be years in the future. Your application, accompanied by a confirmation of active health insurance form and a copy of your birth certificate, should be directed to the Retirement Services Division. You should also advise the Retirement Services Division, in writing, of any address changes that follow your departure from state service.
Special Note: Current plan provisions are in effect until June 30, 2022 in accordance with the 2011 agreement between the State of Connecticut and the State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition. You should be aware however that these provisions are subject to change in accordance with any subsequent legislative, collective bargaining or court ordered actions.
Withdrawal of Contributions
If you are not eligible for any retirement benefits when you leave state service, you may withdraw your retirement contributions. This withdrawal will include interest at 5% per year credited from the July 1st following the commencement of contributions to the July 1st coincident with or preceding the date you leave state service. You should contact your last employing agency's Human Resources Office to complete the appropriate refund application form at the time of your termination.
If you do not withdraw your contributions and you do not return to state service within five years, we will assume that you want a refund and a refund application will be sent to you. After you complete the form and return it to us, we will send you your contributions and interest. If we cannot locate you within 10 years after your employment ends, your contributions will become part of the retirement fund.
Important Note: You should be aware that you may not elect to
withdraw your contributions in lieu of receiving retirement income payments at
such time as they are payable if you are eligible for vested or immediate
retirement when you leave state service.
REEMPLOYMENT AFTER RETIREMENT
AFTER YOU RETIRE YOU MAY RETURN TO EITHER FULL-TIME OR PART-TIME STATE SERVICE
Reemployment In A Temporary Position
If you are reemployed by the state in a temporary position, you can work no more than 120 days in any calendar year without impairing your pension rights. If the temporary position is considered a 7 hour full-time position, you may work a maximum of 840 hours; if the position is a 7.5 hour full-time position, you may work 900 hours; if the position is a 7.75 hour full-time position you may work 930 hours; and if the position is an 8 hour per day full-time position, you may work 960 hours in a calendar year.
A retiree reemployed in a state teaching position may work 45.97% of a full-time teaching schedule without impairing pension rights. This means that a reemployed State Employees Retirement System (SERS) retiree at a state university or the University of Connecticut may teach twelve load credits per calendar year. A reemployed SERS retiree at a state community-technical college may teach up to fourteen contact hours per calendar year. Reemployed SERS retirees at institutions which do not operate on a credit basis such as the Department of Correction and the state technical high schools are required to observe the 120 days per calendar year limitation.
Reemployment In A Permanent Position
If you are reemployed by the state in a permanent position either on a
part-time or full-time basis after you have retired, your pension payments and
benefits must cease. It is your responsibility to notify the Retirement Services
Division of your reemployment. You will resume membership in the Tier III Plan
and receive credit for service during such reemployment. When you next retire,
your retirement benefit will not be less than the amount you were receiving
prior to reemployment.
COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT (COLA)
BENEFITS ARE ADJUSTED TO OFFSET RISING COSTS OF LIVING
If you have at least 10 years of actual state service, you will be eligible for an annual cost of living adjustment (COLA) after you start receiving retirement benefits. The first increase will take place on the January 1st or July 1st (whichever comes first) after at least nine full months of retirement. Future increases will occur on either the January or July anniversary of your first increase.
The COLA will range from a minimum 2% to a maximum of 7.5% based on a formula which takes into account a portion of the increase in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) for the 12 months immediately preceding your COLA anniversary date.
Specifically, the COLA will be determined in accordance with the following formula:
PLUS
WHEN YOU ARE READY TO RETIRE
The Application Process
You must contact the Human Resources or Payroll Office of your employing agency to request the preparation of your "Application for Retirement Benefits" and other related retirement forms. You should allow a reasonable amount of notice time for this process, which is generally considered to be 2 to 3 months prior to your intended date of retirement. Because of the 90-day protection window explained in the section entitled "Survivor Benefits," you should not execute your retirement forms prior to 90 days from your targeted retirement date. Your retirement application and all accompanying documentation must be received by the Retirement Services Division before the effective date of your retirement.
You will need to provide to your agency copies of:
You will need to make several elections including:
You are required to complete a form entitled "Spouse Waiver of Monthly Survivor Benefits" attesting to your marital status. If you have been married for at least one year as of your requested retirement date and elect an option that, following your death, will not provide your spouse with a guaranteed lifetime monthly benefit, your spouse must provide written consent, with proper witness certification, on this waiver form.
If you are making application for a disability retirement, you must provide in addition to the aforementioned items, a form entitled "Disability Retirement Application Medical Report" as completed by your treating physician, as well as the supporting documentation addressed in the section entitled "Disability Retirement."
You are also required to complete a "Retirement - Direct Deposit Authorization and Input Form." If you do not wish to have your retirement benefit check electronically deposited to your account at your financial institution, you will need to complete the section requesting an exemption from participation on the form.
Counseling Services
In addition to the Human Resources or Payroll Officer at your own agency or facility, the Office of the State Comptroller provides group retirement counseling services to all state employees through its Retirement Services Division, located at 55 Elm Street, Hartford, Connecticut 06106 (Telephone: (860) 702-3490). Appointments must be scheduled in advance.
The Division also provides retirement counseling workshops and benefit estimators on the Office of the State Comptroller (OSC) website. These workshops provide informative ?self-help? retirement counseling with the same information provided in traditional counseling sessions. These workshops are not meant to cover every retirement provision or detail, but rather are a general explanation of the most important retirement issues and considerations. Links are provided to relevant forms and outside vendors or entities as necessary. The workshops can be found on the OSC website under ?Employee Resources? at http://osc.ct.gov/empret/index.html.
Along with the workshops, on-line benefit estimators are available to help
you determine your estimated retirement benefit. You are responsible for
entering the relevant data (age, length of service, salary, etc.) and the
calculator will produce an estimated benefit by option factor. You may need help
from your agency Human Resources or Payroll Officer to determine ?high? salary
or service credit information. The benefit estimators can also be found on the
OSC website under ?Employee Resources? at
http://osc.ct.gov/empret/index.html.
OTHER INFORMATION
Assignment Of Benefits
You may not use your Tier III Plan interests as collateral or security for a loan. Any assignment by a member or beneficiary of any amount payable to any creditor shall be null and void. Retirement payments are for the support of the member or beneficiary and are exempt from the claims of creditors of such member and beneficiary except for court ordered plan approved domestic relations orders (divorce), the recovery of costs of incarceration, and recovery of damages by a victim of crime as specifically enumerated and described in Conn. Gen. Stat. Sec. 52-321a(b) and as determined or entered by a court of competent jurisdiction.
Divorce - Plan Approved Domestic Relations Order (PADRO)
The State Employees Retirement System (SERS) is a governmental retirement plan and, as such, is exempt under United States Code, Title 29, Section 1003 from the federal requirements of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) and the Retirement Equity Act. However, the State Employees Retirement Act does provide for the division of pension benefits when it is so ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction in recognition of marital assets or child support obligations, providing such order is not contrary to SERS plan provisions. Attachment of SERS retirement benefits for purposes of equitable marital distribution must be accomplished through the terms of a Plan Approved Domestic Relations Order (?PADRO?).
It is important for the Court, attorneys, and the parties to become familiar with some important SERS plan provisions before executing a pension division order. A copy of the PADRO Guidelines which contain the procedures and provisions with regard to such orders are available on-line at:http://osc.ct.gov/empret/drorder/REVISED QDRO SERS GUIDELINES MAY 2017.pdf
Reporting And Disclosure
The Retirement Services Division has published this Tier III SPD online. A hard copy may be obtained by selecting ?printable version? at the beginning of this SPD or by asking your employing agency Human Resources Office to provide you with a printed copy.
You will be advised of any significant changes or modifications to this plan either by on-line notification, through your employing agency or through a manner to be determined by the State Employees Retirement Commission as an appropriate means of dissemination.
Each year you will receive a personalized retirement benefits statement.
Back to State Employees and Retirees Benefits Information
Back to Comptroller's Home Page