HR Update

Understanding how to report the correct pay rate helps ensure accurate benefit calculations.

• Pay rate is the amount an employee earns for a unit of time, such as hourly or a pay period.
• Pensionable wages represent the amount of retirement-eligible pay the employee earned during the pay period.

These two amounts are not always the same. For example, if a member has other pay events such as unpaid leave, overtime, or a comp time payout, the pensionable wages reported for that pay period may be different from the amount that should be entered in the pay rate field.

Example: An employee earns $2,000 in regular pay and $250 in service retention pay per pay period, for a total pay rate of $2,250.

During the pay period, the employee may:

• Take unpaid leave, or
• Receive a comp time payout

These events may change the pensionable wages earned for that pay period. However, the pay rate remains $2,250 per pay period and should be reported as that amount in the Pay Rate field.

• Accurately reporting the pay rate helps ensure correct benefit calculations and premium billing.
• For employees with unpaid leave events, such as FMLA, that count toward salary and service credit, the pay rate helps determine the salary credited to the employee during the leave period.
• It is also used to calculate the correct long-term disability premium to collect when an employee is on a leave of absence.

When calculating the pay rate, include all recurring pay components listed under the Pay Parameters tab in the ESMT, such as:

• Regular pay
• Service or retention pay
• Shift differentials
• Security differentials

• Enter the employee’s rate of pay based on their pay cycle.
• Include all recurring pay components when calculating the pay rate
• Review the Pay Parameters tab in the ESMT to confirm recurring pay components.
• Pay rate and pensionable wages may differ.

Please remind employees that the nomination period for candidates interested in running for the MOSERS Board of Trustees is now open. Voting will take place in August. Two active members and one retired member will be elected to serve a four-year term starting in January 2027.

1. Declaration: To declare your interest as a Board candidate, fill out the Nominating Petition Part I form in the Active Board Member Candidate Information handbook. By providing the required personal information, you express your interest in serving on the MOSERS Board.
2. Signatures: You are required to obtain the signatures of at least 100 active or inactive-vested MOSERS members. You can submit signatures through the online signature platform or the Nominating Petition Part II form in the Active Board Member Candidate Information handbook, which is available to print and return with signatures to MOSERS by 4:30 p.m. CDT on June 17, 2026.
3. Background and Qualifications: The Nominating Petition Part I requests biographical information, including your qualifications for a position on the Board of Trustees. It must not exceed 300 words and should include information that is relevant to your candidacy for election.
4. All nominations are due to MOSERS by 4:30 p.m. CDT on June 17, 2026.

Are you in the KC area and have employees who want to attend a Ready to Retire seminar ASAP? If so, they will be happy to know we have seats available in Blue Springs on March 25 and March 26 – but they need to register by the close of business on Friday, March 20!

How? Log in to myMOSERS, call us at (800) 827-1063, or email MOSERSEducation@mosers.org.

Please remind your employees that we offer educational programs for everyone, whether they are new to MOSERS, mid-career, or getting ready to retire. Our seminars and webinars are designed to help employees learn about their state employee benefits as they progress through their careers and experience different life events along the way.

Employees can start learning about their state benefits administered by MOSERS, including pension plan features, life insurance, long-term disability benefits, and their personal retirement savings plan options with MO Deferred Comp.

• For employees who are newer to the state with less than five years of service (not yet vested).
• Sessions last approximately 2 hours, with daytime and evening sessions available.
• Speakers include MOSERS and MO Deferred Comp.

Employees can learn how different career and life events may affect their MOSERS pension benefit.

• For employees with at least five years of service (vested) and five or more years until retirement eligibility.
• Sessions last approximately 2 hours, with daytime and evening sessions available.
• Speakers include MOSERS and MO Deferred Comp.

Do you need copies of MOSERS publications? We can provide you with paper versions of the SEBES Enrollment Guide, New Employee Orientation brochures, handbooks, and more.

You can now order MOSERS publications through the Phoenix Employer Portal. Go to Tools in the left navigation and select Materials Request. You can order up to 200 copies at a time. If you don’t have access to the MOSERS Employer Portal, please ask the HR rep with access for your department to submit the request for you.

CURP Overview - March 2026

General Employees' Retirement Handbook (MSEP, MSEP 2000, MSEP 2011) - March 2026

MOSERS Board Member Candidate Information - Active Member Board Seat - March 2026

Your Guide to the Colleges & Universities Retirement Plan - March 2026

CURP Transfers to MOSERS flyer - February 2026

Judges' Retirement Handbook (Judicial Plan & Judicial Plan 2011) - February 2026

• Fully separate from employment. 
• Have no prearranged agreement to return (written or oral). 
• Not work for the state of Missouri or any MOSERS-covered employer in any capacity within 30 days after termination.

Employer representatives play an important role in supporting employees through the LTD claim process. Here is a quick overview:

The employee (or former employee) contacts The Standard at (844) 505-6026 to begin the claim.

After filing, the employee will be instructed to notify their HR representative that a claim has been submitted.

The designated HR representative must complete the Employer’s Statement and email it to ltdmosers@standard.com, including the employee’s name in the subject line.

The Standard will review the claim once all required information is received and will notify the employee in writing of the outcome.

• Employees and former employees cannot be prevented from filing an LTD claim.
• Please allow up to five business days after submitting the Employer’s Statement before contacting The Standard for a status update.

For additional details, review The Standard’s Frequently Asked Questions About Filing a Long-Term Disability Claim or MOSERS' Long-Term Disability Insurance Handbook.

Did you know there are educational opportunities for your new and mid-career employees? Members don’t have to be ready to retire to learn more about their benefits!

Encourage them to register for one of our educational programs, specifically designed for each career stage.

Newer Employees & MOSERS Webinars – Employees can start learning about the state benefits administered by MOSERS, including pension plan features, life insurance, long-term disability insurance, and their personal retirement savings plan options with MO Deferred Comp. Sessions are hosted on GoTo Webinar and last approximately 2 hours.

Mid-Career Webinars – Employees can learn how different career and life events may affect their pension benefit. Sessions are hosted on GoTo Webinar and last approximately 2 hours.

Ready to Retire Sessions – Employees can learn about the retirement process and how different decisions may impact their pension benefit. Hear from speakers with MOSERS, MO Deferred Comp, the Missouri Consolidated Health Care Plan (MCHCP), and the Social Security Administration (SSA).

Remind your employees to visit the Education page for more information!

Understanding when compensatory time should be moved to a prior pay period is critical to ensuring accurate benefit calculations.

Accrued federal, holiday, and state compensatory time is paid out when an employee leaves state employment or transitions to a non-benefit-eligible position. These payouts typically occur in the pay period following the termination or status change.

Because these payouts are issued in a pay period when the employee is no longer active or benefit eligible, the following payoff events must be moved to the last pay period in which the employee was active with the agency to ensure they are included in benefit calculations:

• Federal Comp Time Payoff (FCPO)
• Holiday Comp Time Payoff (HCPO)
• State Comp Time Payoff (SCPO)

Federal, holiday, and state compensation paid for working overtime during an active pay period should not be moved.

The following pay events should remain in the pay period in which they are paid, as they occur while the employee is actively employed and benefit eligible:

• Federal Comp Time Paid (FCPP)
• Holiday Comp Time Paid (HCPP)
• State Comp Time Paid (SCPP)

• Move comp time payoffs related to separation or a transition to non-benefit eligibility to the last active pay period.
• Do not move comp time paid for overtime worked during an active employment period.

If you are hiring a retiree who is receiving a MOSERS pension benefit, please ensure that they have properly terminated employment before returning to work. IRS rules require a “bona fide termination,” meaning the retiree must:

1. Fully separate from employment,
2. Have no prearranged agreement to return to work (written or oral), and
3. Not work for the state of Missouri or any MOSERS-covered employer in any capacity within 30 days after termination.

After meeting these requirements, a retiree may be hired into a non-benefit-eligible position without affecting their MOSERS pension benefit. If hired into a benefit-eligible position, the retiree’s monthly pension benefit will stop* and any retiree life insurance retained through MOSERS will end (the employee may re-elect coverage through SEBES within 31 days).

*Effective August 28, 2023, a retiree serving as a legislator or statewide elected official will not have their pension payment stopped.

See our Working After Retirement page to learn more.

• Learn about state benefits administered by MOSERS (pension plan, life insurance, & long-term disability insurance) and saving options with MO Deferred Comp.  
• For employees who are newer to the state with less than five years of service (not yet vested). 
• Speakers include MOSERS and MO Deferred Comp. 
• Sessions last approximately 2 hours, with daytime and evening sessions available.

• Learn how different career and life events may affect retirement decisions and pension benefits.  
• For employees with at least five years of service (vested) and five or more years until retirement eligibility. 
• Speakers include MOSERS and MO Deferred Comp. 
• Sessions last approximately 2 hours, with daytime and evening sessions available.

• Learn about the retirement process, deadlines, payment options, and decisions that may impact pension benefits.   
• For employees within five years of retirement eligibility. 
• All sessions now include information for all three retirement plans (MSEP, MSEP 2000, and MSEP 2011). 
• Speakers include MOSERS and MO Deferred Comp. Full-day sessions also feature speakers from the Missouri Consolidated Health Care Plan (MCHCP) and the Social Security Administration (SSA).  
• Ready to Retire sessions include in-person seminars & online webinars (full-day) or evening webinars (3.5 hours).   
• University seminars are 3.5 hours and are designed for university employees in any plan (MSEP, MSEP 2000, or MSEP 2011 members).

Meet Tiffany Clapp: We are happy to introduce Tiffany Clapp as the newest member of the Employer Services team. Tiffany has been with MOSERS for two years, serving as a benefit specialist and a benefit counselor. Tiffany’s experience educating members on their pension benefits makes her a valuable resource for our employers. She looks forward to assisting employers with service and salary submissions and MOSERS benefit-related questions.

COLA memo - January 2026

History of COLAs flyer - January 2026

Pension Payment & Holiday Schedule - January 2026

Tax Withholding Authorization and IRS W-4P form - January 2026

Understanding Your 1099-R Form - January 2026

Destination Retirement Checklist (University Employees) - December 2025

Destination Retirement Checklist - December 2025

Leaves of Absence Impact on Your MOSERS Benefits flyer - December 2025

Purchasing and Transferring Service Guide for MSEP (Closed Plan) Members - December 2025

Purchasing and Transferring Service Guide for MSEP 2000 Members - December 2025

Purchasing and Transferring Service Guide for MSEP 2011 Members - December 2025