HR Update

Phoenix Update

It’s Time to Learn About Your MOSERS Benefits

Member Spotlight: Benefits for Every Season in Your Career

Recently Updated Resources

As we approach the launch of MOSERS' new pension administration system, Phoenix, we want to share important updates and actions needed to ensure a smooth transition. Phoenix will improve accuracy, security, and efficiency, while sustaining and enhancing customer service. It will be the system used by MOSERS staff, HR, and payroll representatives to administer MOSERS’ pension, life insurance, and long-term disability benefits.

Timeline

We are currently targeting a spring 2025 go-live date. The deployment is right around the corner, and your participation is critical to the success of this transition.

HR Manager Webinar

Later this winter, we will host an online meeting for HR managers to provide:

• An overview of Phoenix and how agencies will interact with it.
• Key actions to prepare for the launch.

Details about the webinar will be shared soon, so please stay tuned.

Employer Training

We will offer online and in-person training sessions at MOSERS for HR and payroll representatives who currently interact with our system approximately one month before we go live. These sessions will ensure you are prepared to use Phoenix effectively.

Critical Pre-Cutover Actions

To facilitate the transition, we ask for your assistance with the following:

1. Submit Employee Status Change Forms: Ensure all Leave of Absence/Back to Work, Termination, and Transfer forms are submitted for every employee before cutover.
2. Enroll New Employees via SEBES: Complete new employee enrollments through SEBES prior to the system transition.
3. Address Aged Accounts Receivables (AAR): Resolve all outstanding items on your agency's monthly AAR reports to ensure data accuracy.

Accurate data is vital for processing the first payroll file in Phoenix and will make the transition smoother for everyone.

Looking Ahead

We will share more updates as we finalize preparations this winter and confirm readiness for the spring deployment.

Thank you for your cooperation and dedication during this transition. Your partnership ensures that your employees and our members receive timely and accurate benefits they can depend on.

If you have questions, please don't hesitate to contact us by email at employers@mosers.org or by calling an Employer Services analyst at (800) 827-1063, option 2.

The 2025 education schedule is here! Encourage your employees to register for one of our educational programs, as they are designed for every career stage. The schedule includes both in-person seminars and online webinars. We’ve got something for all career stages.

Newer Employees & MOSERS Webinars

• For new employees with up to five years of service (not yet vested).
• Learn about state benefits administered by MOSERS (pension plan, life insurance, & long-term disability) and saving options with MO Deferred Comp.
• Speakers include MOSERS and MO Deferred Comp.
• Webinars are approximately 2 hours, with daytime and evening sessions available.
• Register directly via GoTo Webinar.

Mid-Career Webinars

• For vested employees with at least five years of service and more than five years until retirement eligibility.
• Review the benefits administered by MOSERS and learn how different career and life events may affect retirement decisions and pension benefits.
• Speakers include MOSERS and MO Deferred Comp.
• Webinars are 2.5 hours, with daytime and evening sessions available.
• Register in two steps: First, log in to myMOSERS and select the Education Enrollment tab. Next, follow the step-by-step instructions to complete the enrollment process and register via GoTo Webinar.

Ready to Retire Seminars and Webinars

• For employees within five years of retirement eligibility, with two separate sessions for MSEP/MSEP 2000 members or MSEP 2011 members.
• In-person seminars for MSEP 2011 members will be held in Jefferson City, Kansas City, & St. Louis!
• Learn about the retirement process, deadlines, payment options, and decisions that may impact pension benefits.
• Speakers include MOSERS and MO Deferred Comp, with full-day sessions also featuring afternoon speakers from the Missouri Consolidated Health Care Plan (MCHCP) and the Social Security Administration (SSA).
• Ready to Retire sessions include in-person seminars and online webinars (full-day) or evening webinars (3.5 hours).
• University seminars are 3.5 hours and now include all members for a combined plan session (MSEP 2011 members should contact MOSERS to register).
• Webinars require a two-step enrollment. Follow the step-by-step instructions to complete the enrollment process and register via GoTo Webinar.

Remind your employees to visit our Education page for more information.

We extend a warm welcome to our HR reps and invite you to attend any type of session. MOSERS looks forward to seeing you in 2025!

MOSERS member Nick Humphrey has dedicated over 30 years to the Missouri National Guard and is preparing for a new season in his career – retirement. He recently shared his experience attending a MOSERS Ready to Retire seminar to learn more about his retirement benefits.

“In anticipation of retiring in the not-too-distant future, I attended a MOSERS ‘Ready to Retire’ seminar and was reminded what great benefits we enjoy as state employees. The seminar was very informative and enlightening. This educational day-long program is offered at different times and locations throughout the state, as well as online.

Each person in attendance received a personalized packet that described what benefits the team member has earned and what they can expect to receive in retirement. I learned about a variety of MOSERS pension choices that can include disbursements to my spouse.

A representative from the Social Security Administration was there to talk about different options for Social Security. A representative from the state Deferred Compensation program provided a summary of the program, demonstrating what a difference it can make in an employee’s retirement income. And finally, I learned about retirement health insurance options – I hadn’t realized one can keep your state health insurance into retirement and how the cost is discounted by your total years of service.

The ‘Ready to Retire’ educational seminar was time well spent for me to take a deep dive into planning to make important retirement decisions, and they even feed you lunch!

Governor Parson championed an over 20% pay raise for state employees during his time in office. This was an amazing accomplishment for our benefit, and it makes it easy to overlook some of the fantastic benefits we have as state employees. Benefits like a dedicated pension and matched deferred compensation have become extremely rare in the private sector.

The state of Missouri has many educational opportunities for team members to learn about the benefits of state employment, no matter what ‘season’ you may be in with your state service.”

COLA memo - January 2025

History of COLAs flyer - January 2025

Pension Payment & Holiday Schedule - January 2025

Tax Withholding Authorization and IRS W-4P form - January 2025

Understanding Your 1099-R Form - January 2025

Destination Retirement Checklist (University Employees) - December 2024

Destination Retirement Checklist - December 2024

The 2025 Education Schedule is Here!

Travel Assistance and Mobile App

Happy Holidays from MOSERS!

Recently Updated Resources 

Encourage your employees to register for one of our educational programs in 2025! These sessions are designed to help them learn about their state employee benefits as they progress through their career and experience different life events along the way. The schedule includes both in-person seminars and online webinars.

As an HR rep, you have an open invitation to attend any type of session. If you are unable to enroll through myMOSERS, email us at MOSERSEducation@mosers.org.

Feel free to copy and paste the information below in an email to your employees: 

The 2025 Education Schedule is here!

Newer Employees & MOSERS Webinars – Learn about the state benefits administered by MOSERS, including pension plan features, life insurance, long-term disability insurance, and your personal retirement savings plan options with MO Deferred Comp.

Mid-Career Webinar – Find out how different career and life events may affect your pension benefit.

Ready to Retire Sessions – Learn about the retirement process and how different decisions may impact your pension benefit. If you are within five years of retirement eligibility, register to attend a Ready to Retire webinar or seminar!

Visit the Education page for more information!

BIG NEWS IN 2025 - New MSEP 2011 Seminar Locations!

St. Louis and Kansas City 

Remind your employees that they have access to free coverage with the Travel Assistance Program provided by The Standard Insurance Company. Travel Assistance is available to MOSERS members who have basic life insurance.

Travel Assistance includes:

• 24-hour phone support with registered nurses. 
• Emergency ticket, passport, and credit card replacement. 
• Emergency medical evacuation, plus return travel for companions or return of dependent children during prolonged hospitalization. 
• Connection to interpreters, consular office, and a local attorney. 
• Pre-trip services, such as passport and visa assistance. 
• And much more!

It's important to note that Travel Assistance is not a substitute for travel insurance. Travel Assistance provides specific support services while traveling.

The Standard has a free and easy-to-use mobile app for members to access a wide range of global emergency assistance services.

Encourage your employees to download the free app by following the simple steps below:

1. Visit Google Play or the App Store.
2. Find the Assist America Travel App.
3. Enter reference number 01-AA-STD-5201 and their name.

See the Travel Assistance Flyer and Service Overview in our Online Library to learn more. 

As the holiday season approaches, we want to express our sincere gratitude to all our HR representatives for your hard work and dedication. As the liaison between MOSERS and our members, we truly appreciate your efforts to educate your staff about the benefits we offer. You make a difference in people’s lives every single day.

Looking ahead, we are excited about the upcoming transition to our new pension administration system, Phoenix, in 2025. We can’t wait to share more information with you in the coming months. Stay tuned!

Thank you for everything you do, and Happy Holidays! 

Key Facts Regarding Funding - December 2024

New Employee Orientation brochure - December 2024

MOSERS Governance Manual - November 2024 

Coming Soon - The 2025 Education Schedule!

We are finalizing our 2025 education schedule and anticipate having registration for sessions open by mid-December. This schedule includes both in-person seminars and online webinars.

Newer Employees & MOSERS Webinars – Employees can start learning about the state benefits administered by MOSERS.

• 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.
• Daytime sessions run from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
• Evening sessions run from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Mid-Career Webinars – Employees can learn how different career and life events may affect their pension benefit.

• 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 2.5 hours.
• Daytime sessions are held from 9:30 a.m. to noon.
• Evening sessions are held from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Ready to Retire Sessions – Employees can learn about the retirement process and how different decisions may impact their pension benefit.

• For employees within five years of retirement eligibility.
• Speakers include MOSERS, MO Deferred Comp, the Missouri Consolidated Health Care Plan (MCHCP), and the Social Security Administration (SSA). 

For MSEP/MSEP 2000 members:

• Full-day webinars are from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. with a 30-minute lunch break.
• Full-day seminars are from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. and include a box lunch.
• Evening webinars are held from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Speakers include MOSERS and MO Deferred Comp only.

For MSEP 2011 members:

• Full-day webinars are from 9:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. with a 30-minute lunch break.
• Full-day seminars are from 9:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. and include a box lunch.

Universities – These 3-hour Ready to Retire sessions are designed for university employees who are within five years of retirement eligibility and are either MSEP or MSEP 2000 members.

• On-campus events.
• Speakers include MOSERS and MO Deferred Comp.

Stay up to date and visit our Education page to view the schedules and learn how to register.

Annual Life Insurance Review Reminder

Attention University Employers!

Recently Updated Resources

We’re halfway through the 2025 Annual Life Insurance Review period.

For employees who already have optional life insurance, October is their window of opportunity to increase their coverage without proving insurability (no medical history statement required).

Benefit-eligible employees actively employed before September 1, 2024, can increase coverage amounts (in increments of $10,000) by up to $20,000 without proving insurability, provided the coverage amount does not exceed six times their annual salary, or $800,000. Keep in mind that this opportunity does not apply to spouse and child(ren) coverage (see FAQs). If an employee wishes to maintain their current level of coverage, no action is required

If your employee wishes to increase their optional life insurance coverage amount, have them access their MOSERS Member Homepage through ESS or log in to myMOSERS between October 1 and October 31, 2024 (midnight). On the MOSERS Member Homepage, the employee must click the Update Now button and follow the steps to increase coverage.

Please encourage your employees to take advantage of this special opportunity to protect their loved ones from financial hardship. Don’t miss out!

Transferring CURP Members

An employee’s transfer from CURP to MOSERS takes effect the first day of the month following your receipt of the Transfer of CURP Membership form from the employee. The receipt date should be noted in Section C of the form. Make sure to send completed transfer forms to MOSERS and enroll the employee into SEBES.

For example, if you receive the transfer form on October 20, assuming the employee meets the eligibility requirements to transfer, their CURP membership will end on October 31, and their MSEP 2011 membership will start on November 1.

Entering Contract Employees

Contract employees who are paid over 9 or 10 months but receive service credit for 12 months of employment must be entered into SEBES as contract employees instead of regular employees. The distinction is important as it will allow us to grant these employees uninterrupted service credit and keep them off monthly error reports.

Remember to submit Leave of Absence forms for regular employees who do not work when the institution is closed for extended periods during the winter or summer breaks.

Retirement Guide - September 2024

Annual Life Insurance Review is Coming Soon!

Register for a University Ready to Retire Session this Fall!

Recently Updated Resources

It’s that time of year again!

For employees who already have optional life insurance, October is their window of opportunity to increase their coverage without proving insurability (no medical history statement required).

Benefit-eligible employees actively employed before September 1, 2024, can increase coverage amounts (in increments of $10,000) by up to $20,000 without proving insurability, provided the coverage amount does not exceed six times their annual salary, or $800,000. Keep in mind that this opportunity does not apply to spouse and child(ren) coverage (see FAQs). If an employee wishes to maintain their current level of coverage, no action is required.

Remind Employees to Check Their Email

In late September, MOSERS will email eligible employees instructions on how to increase coverage. If eligible, they will find a personalized letter in their Document Express online mailbox outlining their optional life insurance coverage options. Please encourage them to read it carefully. If no valid email address is on file, MOSERS will mail a letter.

All MOSERS members have access to Document Express. Employees may use ESS and go to MOSERS or log in to myMOSERS and follow the prompts. Remind your employees that they must have a valid email address on file with MOSERS to create an Online ID and password. If an employee cannot enroll online, they may contact a MOSERS benefit counselor for assistance.

Instructions for Increasing Coverage

If your employee wishes to increase their optional life insurance coverage amount, have them access their MOSERS Member Homepage through ESS or log in to myMOSERS between October 1 and October 31, 2024 (midnight). On the MOSERS Member Homepage, the employee must click the Update Now button and follow the steps to increase coverage.

Confirmation of Election

If an employee increases their coverage, we will post a confirmation letter to Document Express, which they can access by logging in to myMOSERS. We will send an email notification once it is posted and ready to be viewed. If the employee opted out of electronic delivery, we will send a confirmation letter in the mail reflecting any changes to their coverage.

Important Details

• We will provide eligible employees with their current 2024 coverage amount and monthly premiums, as well as their new 2025 premiums.
• Any new elections in October will go into effect on January 1, 2025, if they meet the “actively at work” requirement. More information is available in the Life Insurance Handbook.
• Term life insurance proceeds are paid to the designated beneficiary(ies) when the employee dies. There is no cash or loan value.
• Employees can use the Optional Life Insurance Calculator to research premiums on their own.

Life insurance through MOSERS is not available to Department of Conservation or university employees (except State Technical College of Missouri & Lincoln University) because those employers provide their own life insurance benefits.

Updating Beneficiaries

The Annual Benefit Statement employees receive from MOSERS includes their primary life insurance beneficiary designation. If an employee has had a life event that may affect this information, such as a marriage, divorce, or death, please encourage them to update their beneficiary designations as soon as possible. Beneficiary designations can be updated online by following these steps:

• Log in to myMOSERS.
• Select Forms, then Life Insurance Beneficiaries in the top menu.
• Follow the instructions for completing and submitting the online form.

The new beneficiary designations will become effective upon receipt by MOSERS.

Optional Life Insurance FAQs

Q: Can employees decrease or terminate their optional life insurance coverage?

A: Yes. They must complete an Enrollment/Change - Optional Life Insurance form and submit it to MOSERS. Employees can complete and submit the form electronically by logging in to myMOSERS at any time during the year. Remember, to be eligible for future annual review periods, they must maintain at least $10,000 of optional life insurance coverage.

Q: Can employees continue their optional life insurance into retirement?

A: Yes. If they retire directly from active employment or within 65 days of leaving state employment, the state will continue to provide $5,000 in basic life insurance coverage at no cost to them. They may retain up to $60,000 in optional life insurance, provided they had at least that amount while actively employed. They may retain all their coverage until age 62 if they retire under the Rule of 80 in MSEP 2000 or under the Rule of 90 in MSEP 2011. At age 62, the coverage amount will automatically reduce to $60,000. They may reduce or terminate their optional life coverage amount after they retire, but they may not increase it.

Q: Can employees purchase (or increase) coverage for their spouse or dependent child in October?

A: They may increase or add coverage on a spouse at any time but must prove insurability. To do so, they must submit the following forms by logging in to myMOSERS:

• Enrollment/Change - Optional Life Insurance
• The Standard’s Medical History Statement

Eligible dependent child(ren) can be enrolled at any time without proof of insurability by submitting an Enrollment/Change - Optional Life Insurance form. Dependent changes can be requested at any time, not just during October. The coverage amount will remain $10,000 per child with a premium of $2 per month, regardless of the number of insured children.

For coverage purposes only, a child is defined as the member's child from live birth to age 26. This includes biological children, dependent stepchildren and grandchildren, adopted children, and children for whom the member is the court-appointed legal guardian, provided they live with the member. Full-time members of the armed forces of any country, regardless of age, are not included in the definition of an eligible child.

Disabled children older than age 26, who are continuously incapable of self-sustaining employment because of developmental, intellectual, or physical handicaps and are dependent on the member for support, are also eligible for dependent coverage. However, the member must provide proof that their child is disabled and be approved by The Standard Insurance Company for continued coverage. (The Continued Dependent Life Insurance for a Disabled Child form is available in our Online Library or can be requested from a MOSERS benefit counselor.)

Q: Can employees enroll in the Optional Life Insurance Plan if they are not currently enrolled?

A: If they have a family status change (including marriage, divorce, or legal separation; birth of a child; adoption of a child; or death of a spouse or child), they may be eligible to apply for up to $30,000 of optional life insurance coverage, in $10,000 increments, for themselves without proving insurability. They must complete an Enrollment/Change - Optional Life Insurance form within 31 days of the event and submit proof of family status change. Otherwise, the employee must submit the Medical History Statement along with the Enrollment/Change - Optional Life Insurance form and be approved by The Standard Insurance Company for the coverage to be effective.

Fall is almost here, and that means MOSERS will be on many campuses presenting Ready to Retire seminars designed for higher education institution employees who are within five years of retirement eligibility and are either MSEP or MSEP 2000

Seminar topics include pension plan features, the retirement process (due dates, etc.), benefit formula, cost-of-living adjustments, and the decisions employees will need to make during the retirement process, including benefit payment options, BackDROP, and termination and re-employment rules.

Encourage your university employees to register for an upcoming session by logging in to myMOSERS. Once they are registered, we will send confirmation and reminder emails to their Document Express online mailbox.

Registration closes one week before in-person seminars, so the sooner they register, the better! Remind your employees to check out our Education page for more details.

Please note: MOSERS may cancel any seminars with less than 15 enrollees at the time registration closes. If enrollment is low for any seminar, MOSERS will contact you at least a week before the registration closing date. 

Purchasing and Transferring Service Guide for MSEP (Closed Plan) Members - September 2024

Purchasing and Transferring Service Guide for MSEP 2000 Members - September 2024

Purchasing and Transferring Service Guide for MSEP 2011 Members - September 2024

Summary of Plan Benefits (All Plans) - September 2024

Summary of Plan Benefits (MSEP & MSEP 2000) - September 2024

BackDROP for General State Employees (MSEP & MSEP 2000) flyer - August 2024