HR Update is a way for MOSERS to communicate benefit news and updates with human resource and payroll representatives. Check back often and sign up to receive our emails. 

  • In This Edition

    Jun 15, 2022, 10:17 AM By MOSERS

    Phoenix Sneak Peek – Reporting Termination Dates

    Newer Employees & MOSERS Webinars – Register Now!

    Welcome Our New Education Supervisor! 

    Employer Retirement Contribution Rates

    Current Email Addresses

    Travel Assistance Mobile App


  • Phoenix Sneak Peek – Reporting Termination Dates

    Jun 15, 2022, 10:17 AM By MOSERS

    In last month’s edition, we reported that leave of absence forms will be a thing of the past when Phoenix launches in 2023. We are excited to announce the same applies to termination forms! Phoenix will streamline the process for reporting employment status changes and eliminate the extra work of submitting termination forms.

    For SAM II employers, Phoenix will capture terminations directly from SAM II based on the ESMT personnel action/reason code and employment status. With this, MOSERS will be notified automatically of the reason for a termination, kicking off critical behind-the-scenes processes. For example, terminations due to the death of an employee will initiate the process of contacting surviving beneficiaries to notify them of any benefits due. Therefore, it will be imperative that you enter the correct personnel action/reason code for terminations in SAM II.

    For non-SAM II employers, terminations will be captured when your payroll file is submitted. User-friendly errors or warnings during payroll submission will help you identify employees that might need to be terminated if no pay was received.

    Just like leaves of absence, capturing terminations is vital to administering an employee’s pension, life, and LTD benefits through MOSERS. When an employee separates, they may be eligible for future retirement benefits or could take a refund of the money they contributed to MOSERS. Capturing employment status changes automatically as they occur, rather than manually through a subsequent form submission, helps to ensure the accuracy of member records and the efficient delivery of important benefits employees rely on.

    For additional reference, check out this high-level process map of Reporting Termination Dates. Keep in mind that this is just a “sneak peek,” and we will provide you with training and resources before Phoenix goes live.


  • Welcome Our New Education Supervisor!

    Jun 15, 2022, 10:17 AM By MOSERS

    It is our pleasure to introduce Amber Arnold as our new education supervisor. As a former member of the Phoenix project team and the Benefits section, with more than eight years of service working for MOSERS, Amber is an expert regarding members' benefits and employer relations. You may remember Amber’s name from last September when she presented at Benefits U. Amber will be providing employer training, educational programs to communicate benefit information, and employer procedures simply and accurately as we navigate towards the new pension administration system, Phoenix. We are thrilled to have Amber continue her work with MOSERS in the education supervisor position.


  • Newer Employees & MOSERS Webinars – Register Now!

    Jun 15, 2022, 10:17 AM By MOSERS

    If you have employees who are newer to the state with at least six months but less than five years of service (not yet vested), encourage them to sign up for a webinar!

    We have redesigned our educational programs to help members learn information about their benefits as they progress through their careers and experience different life events along the way.

    Agenda

    They can join us to learn about the employee benefits administered by MOSERS, including pension plan features, life insurance, long-term disability, and their personal retirement savings plan options with MO Deferred Comp. Speakers include MOSERS & MO Deferred Comp and the webinar will last approximately 1 ½ hours.

    Register

    To accommodate different work schedules, we have both day and evening sessions. They can register to attend by clicking the link on the Daytime or Evening sessions below, select the date they would like to attend, complete the registration information, and they are ready to go!

    Daytime sessions:

    9:30 am – 11:00 am

    August 29

    October 31

    Evening session:

    5:30 pm – 7:00 pm

    June 27

    Confirmation/Reminder Emails

    Attendees will receive a confirmation and reminder email from GoTo Webinar with instructions and the link to join the webinar. These emails contain the MOSERS logo at the top and in some instances may end up in their spam folder.


  • Employer Retirement Contribution Rates

    Jun 15, 2022, 10:16 AM By MOSERS

    The employer retirement contribution rate is calculated by MOSERS’ external actuary and is certified by the MOSERS Board of Trustees every year. As a reminder, the employer retirement contribution rates for MSEP, MSEP 2000, and MSEP 2011, as well as for the Judicial Plan and Judicial Plan 2011, are changing effective July 1, 2022.

    The changes to the employer retirement contribution rates for the respective plans, effective July 1, 2022, are as follows:

    Fiscal Year Effective DateMSEP, MSEP 2000, MSEP 2011Judicial Plan, Judicial Plan 2011
    FY2307/01/202226.33%60.17%
    FY2207/01/202123.51%61.94%

    There are no changes to the employer contribution rates for CURP, basic life insurance, and long-term disability benefits.   

    If you are a Non-SAM II employer, please take note and adjust retirement contributions, effective July 1, 2022, as needed.

    If you are a SAM II employer, contributions occur automatically as a percentage of payroll, and no additional action is required of you.

    For more information about Employer Contributions, please visit our website.  


  • Current Email Addresses

    Jun 15, 2022, 10:14 AM By MOSERS

    Please encourage your employees to provide us with their current email addresses.

    • In order to receive their benefits, it’s important that we have their current address on file!
    • Members must have a current email address on file to set up or to change their myMOSERS Online ID and password.
    • This will also be important for the upcoming MOSERS Board election in August.

    They can update their email and mailing address by logging in to myMOSERS, selecting Personal Information, then clicking Update Personal Information. Please note that updates to email or mailing addresses become effective by the next working day. If they are unable to do so online, please have them contact a MOSERS benefit counselor, who will be happy to assist.

    Or, as a pay rep, you can update employee email addresses directly through the Missing Email Report. Log in to the MOSERS Employer Login. Once logged in, navigate to the Error Reports dropdown and select Missing Email Report. Select an employee from the report and click Update Email. Enter a valid email address for the employee and click Update. The Missing Email Report refreshes daily. Updates submitted through the report become effective the next working day. View the Error Reports Tab video for a step-by-step demonstration of the Missing Email Report beginning at minute 1:36.


  • Travel Assistance Mobile App

    Jun 15, 2022, 10:13 AM By MOSERS

    The Standard has created an easy-to-use mobile app for travel assistance. This app lets members access a wide range of global emergency assistance services. This is replacing the previous wallet card.

    Mobile App Features:

    • Tap for Help. Use one-touch calling to reach Assist America's 24/7 Operations Center.
    • Voice over Internet Protocols (VoIP). Avoid international phone charges by calling Assist America for free using a Wi-Fi connection.
    • Pre-Trip Information. Access detailed country-specific information to prepare for your trip.
    • Travel Alerts. Receive alerts on urgent global situations that may impact travel.
    • Travel Status Indicator. Use the GPS feature to know when you're eligible for services.
    • Embassy & U.S. Pharmacy Locator. Locate the nearest embassy/consulate of 23 countries and pharmacies near you (U S. pharmacies only).
    • Mobile ID Card. Your Assist America ID card is conveniently stored within the app.
    • Available in Seven Languages. The app is available in English, Spanish, Arabic, Mandarin, Thai, Bahasa, and French.

    Please encourage your employees to download the app following the simple steps below.

    1) Visiting Google Play or the App Store

    2) Find the Assist America Mobile App

    3) Enter reference number 01-AA-STD-5201 and member name

    To learn more, see the Travel Assistance Flyer and Service Overview located in our online Library.


  • Recently Updated Resources

    Jun 15, 2022, 10:12 AM By MOSERS

  • In This Edition

    May 16, 2022, 3:22 PM By MOSERS

    Phoenix Sneak Peek – Capturing Leave Events

    Farewell Cindy

    Contacting Employer Services by Phone

    Two-Step Verification for the Employer Login

    Termination and Reemployment Rules

    Submit Terminations ASAP

    Proper LTD Submissions

    Thank YOU!


  • Phoenix Sneak Peek – Capturing Leave Events

    May 16, 2022, 3:21 PM By MOSERS

    Hello Phoenix, goodbye leave forms! You read that right, upon the launch of Phoenix in 2023, leave forms will be a thing of the past!

    For SAM II employers or non-SAM II employers using the expanded file format, Phoenix is designed to capture leave events and other status changes automatically from your payroll system. This efficiency in Phoenix will eliminate the need for you to do the double work of entering leave into your payroll system and then reporting the leave separately to MOSERS. In addition to saving you time, this feature will greatly benefit your employees' by significantly reducing the possibility of variance between your records and the employees' official MOSERS service record. Your employees' future pension is based on their total service credit and average salary. In other words, the greater their service credit, the greater their lifetime pension.

    Thus, it is essential that your employees experiencing valid leave events, such as leave due to illness, receive full service and salary credit towards their future pension. Capturing this information automatically, but still giving you the ability to make manual adjustments, if needed, will strengthen data reporting to MOSERS and help ensure the accuracy of employee benefits. For additional reference, check out this high-level overview of the process map of Capturing Leave Events in Phoenix. Keep in mind that this is just a “sneak peek,” and we will provide you with training and resources before Phoenix goes live.


  • Farewell Cindy!

    May 16, 2022, 3:16 PM By MOSERS

    Our data integrity specialist, Cindy Barbarick, is retiring on June 1st after 22 years and 7 months of service with MOSERS. Many of you have interacted with Cindy over the years in addressing new member records, transfers, leaves of absence, and terminations for your employees. Cindy was a delight to work with, and we will miss her dedicated service. We wish her the best in her retirement years!


  • Contacting Employer Services by Phone

    May 16, 2022, 3:15 PM By MOSERS

    In addition to emailing employers@mosers.org, you can now reach an employer services analyst directly by phone by calling MOSERS at (800) 827-1063 or (573) 632-6100 and press option 2. This option is for human resource and payroll representatives at MOSERS-covered employers who have questions specific to the administration of their employees' benefits through MOSERS. Individual members of MOSERS with questions about their own benefits should use option 1 to reach a benefit counselor.


  • Two-Step Verification for the Employer Login

    May 16, 2022, 3:14 PM By MOSERS

    If you have accessed the employer login recently, you may have noticed a warning message indicating that a two-step verification method to access the employer login is coming soon. This additional security feature, designed to increase the protection of sensitive member data, will take effect the week of May 23rd. Once in effect, you will be required to enter your password and a verification code to gain access. The verification code will be sent to the work email address associated with your MOSERS employer login. If preferred, there will also be an option to have the code sent to your mobile device. If you need any assistance logging in, please call an employer services analyst at (800) 827-1063 or (573) 632-6100 and press option 2, or email employers@mosers.org


  • Termination and Reemployment Rules

    May 16, 2022, 3:14 PM By MOSERS

    Please share with your employees!

    Before receiving a benefit payment from MOSERS, IRS rules require a “bona fide termination” of a member’s employment. For purposes of MOSERS Board Rules, a "bona fide termination" occurs when:

    • They have completely severed employment;
    • They have not entered into a prearranged agreement (written or oral), prior to retirement, with the State of Missouri or any MOSERS-covered employer for subsequent employment on any basis (full-time, part-time, or other); and
    • They are not subsequently employed with the State of Missouri or any MOSERS-covered employer on any basis (full-time, part-time, or other) within 30 days after their employment with their prior employer has ended.

    For more information please see our  FAQs on Termination and Reemployment Rules and our Termination and Reemployment Rules flyer

    Please note that if they do not have a bona fide separation of service, their retirement will be null and void, meaning they will not receive their pension payments.


  • Submit Terminations ASAP

    May 16, 2022, 3:13 PM By MOSERS

    We appreciate all the work that you do for your employees and know that your time is valuable! We want to remind you how important it is to submit termination forms on time. We need accurate and timely submissions to pay refunds of contributions to members. Additionally, we are unable to properly calculate a member’s Final Average Pay (FAP) without an accurate termination date. If submissions are not made on time, it can delay the retirement process for your employees and will create errors on your error reports. Thank you for your continued support in making these processes smooth and efficient for you and your employees.


  • Proper LTD Submissions

    May 16, 2022, 3:12 PM By MOSERS

    We need your help with LTD submissions!

    Please remember to submit the simplified and updated Long Term Disability Employer Statement to ltdmosers@standard.com when you know your employee is applying for long-term disability (LTD) benefits.

    Please advise your employee to provide their HR representative's contact information to The Standard when they call, (844) 505-6026, to initiate their LTD claim.

    On occasion, the employee neglects to provide the employer contact information to The Standard. This causes a delay in the review of the claim. To assist with this process, MOSERS is collecting the contact information for the individual(s) responsible for completing the Employer Statement at each covered employer. As such, please email the name, phone number, and email address of the person best suited to complete the Employer Statement at your agency to employers@mosers.org. Please also include the contact person's department, agency, and organization number.

    For more information on the LTD application process, please watch the LTD webinar put together by The Standard to illustrate the most effective way to file for LTD benefits.


  • Thank YOU!

    May 16, 2022, 3:11 PM By MOSERS

    Our 2nd annual MOSERS Month wrapped up at the end of April and it was a success! We truly could not have done it without the help from all of you! From all of us at MOSERS, thank you for spreading the word and encouraging your employees to participate! See you next year!


  • Recently Updated Resources

    May 16, 2022, 3:11 PM By MOSERS

  • In This Edition

    Apr 12, 2022, 10:09 AM By MOSERS

    Phoenix Sneak Peek – Payroll Reports

    April is MOSERS Month!

    Employer Training Webinar

    Termination and Reemployment Rules

    Proper LTD Submissions

    Board Election Nominations Now Open

    Recently Updated Resources


  • Phoenix Sneak Peek – Payroll Reports

    Apr 12, 2022, 10:06 AM By MOSERS

    You may be familiar with our Aged Accounts Receivable (AAR) error report. The AAR report is one of the ways we reconcile discrepancies in service, salary, and contribution data between MOSERS member records and payroll files received from employers.

    The most common discrepancy found is our records reflecting that a member is actively employed, but no pay was reported for that employee on the last payroll file. This likely means the employee is on a leave of absence or terminated, but we have not been notified of such. Another common discrepancy is our records reflecting that an employee has life insurance, but the premium was not deducted from their last paycheck. This could mean the employee recently added coverage and there wasn’t enough time to start the deduction before payroll was processed. These are just a couple of examples of how a discrepancy can occur, but many other examples can be noted.

    Fortunately, only 1% of member records require reconciliation after payroll uploads. However, when you consider that there are over 40,000 active state employees covered under MOSERS, this process requires a significant amount of attention each month. Although most state employees are paid twice per month, we currently receive payroll files only once per month. This lag in receiving data delays the process of resolving discrepancies. With the implementation of Phoenix, MOSERS will receive data more frequently. This will lead to increased efficiency and accuracy, and ultimately, better customer service.

    Phoenix will eliminate the need for the AAR report. Instead, payroll files will be uploaded to Phoenix as they occur. You, our valued partners, will be asked to reconcile any identified discrepancies before the final submission of payroll to us. Ultimately, Phoenix will facilitate a more efficient exchange of information between MOSERS and its covered employers, resulting in more timely corrections to member data and improved accuracy of member records.

    In this brief Prepare Payroll Report video, which applies to SAM II and non-SAM II employers alike, we demonstrate how Phoenix will alert you to potential discrepancies before payroll is finalized. Keep in mind that this is just a quick preview, and thorough training will be provided prior to the implementation of Phoenix.



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