Phoenix Launches Next Week!

Recently Updated Resources

We are thrilled to confirm that Phoenix is going live next week, April 14–18! This marks a major milestone in our modernization journey, and we can’t wait for you to begin using the new system.

What to Expect the Week of Go-Live

• Most HR/payroll representatives will automatically migrate to Phoenix and will receive an email from MOSERS on or around April 14 with instructions on how to log in.
• Please log in as soon as possible during the first week to ensure your access is working before payroll reporting begins.
• A small number of HR/payroll reps will receive their login email later in the week as we finalize their organizational access and reporting group assignments. We will reach out directly to these employers if additional verification is needed.

Action Required for SAM II Employers

If you have non-benefit-eligible employees listed as 50% FTE or more in SAM II, you must take action to avoid payroll errors in Phoenix and potential retirement contribution withholding for non-benefit-eligible employees.

• Option 1 (preferred): Update the non-benefit-eligible employee’s FTE to 49% or less in SAM II.
• Option 2: If the non-benefit-eligible employee's FTE must remain at 50% or more, email us at employers@mosers.org so we can add them to the Upload Override Table in Phoenix.

SEBES Downtime This Weekend

The MOSERS portion of SEBES will be unavailable starting the evening of Friday, April 11, through Sunday, April 13. Please make sure to inform new employees of this downtime so they can plan accordingly when completing their benefit elections. During this time, SEBES will remain available for employees to enroll in other eligible benefits.

Training Materials Available in Phoenix

Training videos and reference materials will be available inside the Phoenix Employer Login. These will help guide you through common tasks and ensure you're set up for success.

Payroll Reporting Reminders

• Every time you pay your employees, you must submit your reporting group(s) payroll report in Phoenix.
• SAM II Employers: Follow the SAM II Payroll Reporting Calendar in Phoenix to meet deadlines and avoid disruptions.
• Local Employers: You cannot upload your next payroll file into Phoenix until the payroll report for the prior pay period has been submitted. For help with timing, refer to the Local Payroll Cycles in Phoenix flyer.

Post Go-Live Office Hours – Coming Soon

To support a smooth transition after Phoenix goes live, MOSERS will begin offering online office hours starting the week of April 21. These sessions will provide real-time support and an opportunity to ask questions. We will alternate between sessions geared toward SAM II and Local employers. The schedule and format will be announced next week.

Change to ESS for SAM II Employees

Please share the following with your team members:

The single sign-on option in the Employer Self-Service (ESS) portal at ess.mo.gov will no longer be available. If you have historically accessed myMOSERS through ESS, you will need to set up your login credentials the first time you log in at mymosers.mosers.org on or AFTER April 14, 2025. The ESS portal will have a link to myMOSERS that will direct you to the MOSERS website. See the ESS Login Flyer for directions.

IMPORTANT: The myMOSERS site will be unavailable from 4:30 p.m. on April 11 until 8 a.m. on April 14, as we update our system.

We're almost there! Thank you for your continued partnership and preparation as we enter this exciting new chapter with Phoenix.

Questions? Reach out anytime to employers@mosers.org or call (800) 827-1063, option 2.

Request for Refund of Employee Contributions - Beneficiary form - March 2025

Request for Refund of Employee Contributions - Member form - March 2025

Phoenix Go-Live Readiness & Critical Actions

As we approach the launch of our new pension administration system, Phoenix, we want to provide you with the latest updates and final action items to ensure a smooth transition

Phoenix Go-Live Timeline & System Access

We are going live with Phoenix the week of April 14–18, 2025.

• Authorized HR/payroll representatives will receive an email from MOSERS on or around April 14 with instructions on how to set up account access and log into Phoenix.
• It is critical that you log in to the new system as soon as possible during the first week (April 14–18) to resolve any access issues before payroll reporting begins.
• If your agency has newly hired or assigned HR/payroll representatives, they must complete the Access Authorization Form to gain access.

Special Message to SAM II Employers – Action Required Before Go-Live

ATTENTION SAM II EMPLOYERS:

As we prepare for the transition to our new pension administration system, Phoenix, we need to inform you of an important payroll update that requires your immediate attention.

Phoenix will determine employees’ eligibility for MOSERS retirement benefits based on their FTE status in SAM II. If an employee is listed as 50% FTE or more in SAM II, Phoenix will consider them eligible for MOSERS benefits, and retirement contributions will be taken from their payroll starting with the April 1-15 pay period.

Here is what you need to do to avoid errors and prevent unnecessary retirement contribution deductions for your employees:

1. Update Non-Benefit Eligible Employees: If you have employees who are not eligible for MOSERS benefits but are listed as 50% FTE or more in SAM II, please change their status to 49% FTE or less before Phoenix goes live.
2. If FTE Status Should Not Be Changed: If you need to keep a non-benefit-eligible employee’s FTE at 50% or more in SAM II, email employers@mosers.org to have the employee added to the Upload Override Table in Phoenix. This will prevent the error from appearing on payroll reports for that employee.

This is a new requirement, so make sure these steps are followed and take action as soon as possible to ensure a smooth transition to Phoenix. Thank you for your assistance with this important matter!

Final Pre-Cutover Action Items

To ensure a smooth transition, the following items must be completed before go-live:

Employee Status Changes Due by April 4

• Employee Status Change Forms for leaves of absence, returns from leave, transfers, and terminations effective March or earlier must be submitted by Friday, April 4.
• Employee status changes occurring in April will be processed directly in Phoenix.

Payroll Discrepancy Resolution

• Local Employers: Please continue addressing outstanding items on the Aged Accounts Receivables Report and Terminated Report.
• SAM II Employers: Promptly respond to any payroll discrepancy emails from MOSERS. Cleaning up payroll discrepancies now will help ensure a smooth first payroll report in Phoenix.

SEBES Enrollments

Please continue to make sure that new benefit-eligible employees are entered into SEBES on their hire date or as soon as possible to maintain data accuracy. However, note that the MOSERS portion of SEBES will not be accessible to employers or employees starting the evening of Friday, April 11, through Sunday, April 13.

Payroll Reporting in Phoenix – Key Reminders

• Payroll Report Review Required: HR/payroll representatives must review their reporting group’s payroll report in Phoenix each pay period to ensure accuracy.
• Timely Submission is Critical: Phoenix cannot accept a new payroll report until the report for the prior pay period has been submitted. Each pay cycle is a time-sensitive task that requires prompt action.
• LTD Contribution Shutoff for SAM II Employers: Employees eligible for normal retirement do not qualify for long-term disability (LTD) benefits through MOSERS. Phoenix will automatically stop LTD contributions for these employees. If an employee notices the employer-paid LTD contribution is missing, it is likely because they are eligible for normal retirement through MOSERS.
• LTD Contribution Shutoff for Local Employers: Local employers must continue to turn off LTD contributions for employees eligible for normal retirement.

Employer Training – Thank You & Next Steps

Employer training sessions are now complete. Thank you for your time and attention during these sessions. Training recordings and materials will be shared as soon as possible for those who need a refresher.

Post Go-Live Online Office Hours & Support

MOSERS will announce post-go-live online office hour dates and times to provide additional support and answer questions. More details will be shared at go-live. However, you can always contact employer services at employers@mosers.org or (800) 827-1063, option 2.

Thank you for your continued partnership and attention to these final steps as we transition to Phoenix!

Reminder: Phoenix System Launch - Preparing for Go-Live

Enroll in Phoenix Employer Training

Join Us for 2025 Benefits U

As we approach the launch of our new pension administration system, Phoenix, we want to ensure you have the necessary information to prepare for the transition.

Phoenix Go-Live Timeline

We are targeting April 14, 2025, for the launch of Phoenix. This remains our goal, and we are working diligently toward that date.

In the meantime, we encourage you to stay engaged with employer training and pre-cutover activities to ensure a smooth transition when Phoenix goes live.

Changes to Payroll Reporting in Phoenix

The move to Phoenix will modernize payroll reporting with enhanced data validation.

Key changes include:

• Front-End Validation – Currently, payroll data is taken as-is, with employee status discrepancies identified and corrected later through status change forms and monthly error reports. With Phoenix, discrepancies will be identified and resolved before payroll data is accepted, reducing errors and minimizing hardship for impacted employees.
• Payroll Report Review Required – HR/payroll representatives must review the payroll report in Phoenix for their reporting group(s) every pay period to ensure accuracy.
• Timely Submission is Critical – Phoenix cannot accept the next payroll report until the report for the prior pay period has been submitted, making each pay cycle a time-sensitive task.
• Increased Efficiency – While this represents a process change, the automation built into Phoenix is expected to save time overall compared to the current manual submission of status change forms and error report resolution.
• LTD Contribution Shutoff for SAM II Employers – Employees eligible for normal retirement do not qualify for long-term disability (LTD) benefits. During the payroll reporting process in Phoenix, the system will automatically turn off employer-paid LTD contributions for employees eligible for normal retirement. For SAM II employers, this is a change from the current environment. If an employee notices that the employer-paid LTD contribution is missing after the transition, it is likely because they are eligible for normal retirement through MOSERS. Local employers will continue to turn off LTD contributions for employees eligible for normal retirement.

The payroll reporting process is covered in detail during HR and payroll representative training.

Critical Pre-Cutover Actions

To ensure a smooth transition, the following actions must be completed before Phoenix goes live:

• Employee Status Change Forms: All leaves of absence/back-to-work, terminations, and transfers effective in March or earlier must be submitted by Friday, April 4, 2025. No status change forms will be accepted after this date. Employee status changes occurring in April and beyond will be processed in Phoenix.
• SEBES Enrollments: There will be no interruption to SEBES processing. However, please ensure that new employees and newly benefit-eligible employees are entered into SEBES on their hire date or as soon as possible to maintain data accuracy.
• Error Resolution: Errors on the Aged Accounts Receivable (AAR) and Terminated reports must be resolved by March 31, 2025. To help streamline this process, MOSERS is contacting SAM II agency HR/pay reps directly when error resolution is needed. Local employer items will remain on the AAR report as usual. Your prompt attention to resolving errors through March 31 is critical to ensuring accurate employee data before the transition.

Additionally, we are working with HR managers to migrate existing HR/payroll representatives with secure access to our current system into Phoenix. Employer access templates were sent to HR managers on March 3 and 4, and completed templates are due by Friday, March 21. HR managers are responsible for submitting their online spreadsheets by this deadline.

Once this process is complete, authorized representatives will be added to Phoenix. They can expect to receive an email from MOSERS on or around April 14 with instructions on how to set up account access and log into Phoenix. HR/payroll representatives must log in between April 14 and April 18 to ensure they have access before payroll reporting begins in Phoenix.

Employer Training – March Sessions In Progress

We are conducting SAM II employer training sessions this week and next week. Local employer training has already taken place. Recordings of the training sessions and accompanying materials will be made available and shared with you as soon as possible.

Next Steps & Ongoing Communication

We will continue to share updates as we finalize preparations for the April 14, 2025, go-live date. Your participation in pre-cutover activities and training is essential to ensuring a successful transition.

If you have any questions, please get in touch with us at employers@mosers.org or call an employer services analyst at (800) 827-1063, option 2.

Thank you for your partnership during this transition. Your efforts help ensure your employees and our members receive accurate and timely benefits they can depend on.

SAM II Employers: If you have not already attended or enrolled in a MOSERS training session for employers, please do so today!

Phoenix is the NEW pension administration system at MOSERS. We are on track to go live in April 2025!

You will use Phoenix to interact with MOSERS about employee service and salary data related to retirement, life insurance, and long-term disability benefits.

Enrolling in training only takes a few minutes. Choose one half-day training, either an online webinar or an in-person seminar at MOSERS in Jefferson City.

How do I enroll?

1. Log in to myMOSERS (not Employer Portal).
2. Click on Education Enrollment and select MOSERS Training from the drop-down menu. Only employer reps who have MOSERS Employer Login access will see training options.
3. Select your session and click Enroll Now.

Remaining Dates for SAM II Employer Reps

• Online Webinars: March 20, March 26
• In-Person Seminar: (at MOSERS in Jefferson City): March 27

Benefits University is back this year! Mark your calendars for November 6, 2025!

BU will be hosted by MOSERS at the Capitol Plaza Hotel & Convention Center in Jefferson City. We will be covering various important topics during the conference including the new pension administration system, Phoenix.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Phoenix System Launch: Preparing for Go-Live

Recently Updated Resources

As we approach the launch of our new pension administration system, Phoenix, we want to ensure you have the necessary information to prepare for the transition. Phoenix will modernize payroll reporting, enhance data accuracy, and improve the administration of pension, life insurance, and long-term disability benefits. Please review the key updates below.

Phoenix Go-Live Timeline

We are targeting April 14, 2025, for the launch of Phoenix. This remains our goal, and we are working diligently toward that date.

Leading up to this transition, we will provide training, resources, and ongoing communication to support HR and payroll representatives in preparing for the change.

Given the complexity of the transition, we will continue to assess our readiness and communicate any updates if needed. In the meantime, we encourage you to stay engaged with the upcoming training and pre-cutover activities to ensure a smooth transition when Phoenix goes live.

Phoenix Overview with HR Leaders – February 27, 2025

To help HR leaders understand the transition, we will host a Phoenix Overview on Thursday, February 27, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. During this session, we will provide a high-level overview of payroll reporting processes in Phoenix and highlight key pre-cutover activities that must be completed to ensure a smooth transition. Invitations have been sent directly to HR leaders, and we strongly encourage attendance to understand the impact on your agency.

Changes to Payroll Reporting in Phoenix

The transition to Phoenix will change payroll reporting between MOSERS and its covered agencies. Phoenix will validate employee data on the front end, as it is transmitted through payroll and other methods, placing a stronger emphasis on data accuracy at the time of submission.

Key changes include:

Front-End Validation – Currently, payroll data is taken as-is, with employee status discrepancies identified and corrected later through status change forms and monthly error reports. With Phoenix, discrepancies will be caught and resolved before payroll data is accepted, reducing errors and minimizing hardship for impacted employees.

Payroll Report Review Required – HR/payroll representatives must review the payroll report in Phoenix for their reporting group(s) every pay period to ensure accuracy.

Timely Submission is Critical – Phoenix cannot accept the next payroll report until the report for the prior pay period has been submitted, making each pay cycle a time-sensitive task.

Increased Efficiency – While this represents a process change, the automation built into Phoenix is expected to save time overall compared to the current manual submission of status change forms and error report resolution.

The exact payroll reporting process will be covered in detail during HR and payroll representative training in March.

Critical Pre-Cutover Actions

To ensure a smooth transition, the following actions must be completed before Phoenix goes live:

Employee Status Change Forms: All leaves of absence/back-to-work, terminations, and transfers effective in March or earlier must be submitted by Friday, April 4, 2025. No status change forms will be accepted after this date. Employee status changes occurring in April and beyond will be processed in Phoenix.

SEBES Enrollments: There will be no interruption to SEBES processing. However, please ensure that new employees and newly benefit-eligible employees are entered into SEBES on their hire date or as soon as possible to maintain data accuracy.

Error Resolution: Errors on the Aged Accounts Receivable (AAR) and Terminated reports must be resolved by March 31, 2025. To help streamline this process, beginning with the February AAR report, MOSERS will contact SAM II agency HR/pay reps directly when error resolution is needed. Local (non-SAM II) employer items will remain on the AAR report as usual. Your prompt attention to resolving errors through March 31 is critical to ensuring accurate employee data before the transition.

Employer Training – Coming in March

We will provide online and in-person training sessions at MOSERS in March for HR and payroll representatives who currently interact with our system. These sessions will ensure you are prepared to use Phoenix effectively. Training invitations and registration details will be sent in late February.

Next Steps & Ongoing Communication

We will continue to share updates as we finalize preparations for the April 14, 2025, go-live date. Your participation in pre-cutover activities and training will be essential to ensuring a successful transition.

If you have any questions, please get in touch with us at employers@mosers.org or call an Employer Services analyst at (800) 827-1063, option 2

Thank you for your partnership during this transition. Your efforts help ensure your employees and our members receive accurate and timely benefits they can depend on.

Benefit Providers Table - January 2025

Smart Start Checklist - January 2025

Termination and Reemployment Rules flyer - January 2025

Total Compensation Calculator - January 2025

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.