If applicable, all of the following deductions may be withheld from your MOSERS monthly pension benefit payment but they are all post-tax:

• Missouri income tax as specified on your W-4P (tax withholding form)

• Federal income tax as specified on your W-4P (Without this form, we are required to withhold federal taxes as if you are married claiming three allowances.)

• MOSERS optional life insurance premium

• Aflac insurance premium

• Missouri Consolidated Health Care Plan (MCHCP) premium

• Department of Conservation’s health and life insurance premium(s)

• Miscellaneous deductions such as vision and dental insurance and Missouri State Employees Charitable Campaign (MSECC) contributions

However, information from ASI/MO Café indicates that in the year that you retire, you are entitled to pre-pay for health, dental, and vision coverage through the end of that calendar year. If you can afford to have money deducted from your paycheck before you retire or from any payout for unused annual leave, you can authorize a pre-tax lump-sum insurance deduction. There is also some information about it on MCHCP’s Retirement – State Members page. 

The COLA rate for 2021 is 0.987%. We calculate it every year in mid-January. This COLA rate applies to: 

• All retired members of MSEP 2000 and MSEP 2011
• MSEP retirees who have reached their 65% COLA cap
• MSEP retirees first employed on or after August 28, 1997

If you were employed before August 28, 1997, and retired under the MSEP, you will get a COLA of at least 4% each year (maximum 5%) until you reach your COLA cap. You reach the COLA cap when the sum of your COLAs equals 65% of your initial base benefit amount. After reaching your COLA cap, your annual COLA will be equal to 80% of the percentage increase in the average Consumer Price Index (CPI) from one year to the next, which, as noted above, is 0.987% for 2021.

The purpose of a COLA for any type of pay or retirement benefit is to help you cope with inflation. COLAs help you maintain your purchasing power as inflation increases the cost of various items you buy. See the article, The 2021 COLA is Here, and the COLA page on our website for more information. 

No, we are not aware of any legislative proposals related to a “70 and out” retirement. MOSERS administers retirement benefits but we do not have the authority to change plan provisions. Any change to the Rule of 80/”80 & Out” (or any other state employee pension provisions) would require a change in the law. Anytime the Missouri General Assembly is in session, you can follow any bills affecting MOSERS on our Legislation page.

RETIREMENT ELIGIBILITY  REQUIREMENTS

MSEP Members

• Age 65 + 5 years of service
• Age 60 + 15 years of service
• “Rule of 80” – (at least age 48) when age + years of service = 80 or more

MSEP 2000 Members

• Age 62 + 5 years of service
• “Rule of 80” – (at least age 48) when age + years of service = 80 or more

MSEP 2011 Members

• Age 67 + 5 years of service
• “Rule of 90” – (at least age 55) when age + years of service = 90 or more at time of termination

When you log in to myMOSERS to generate a benefit estimate or to retire online, our system will display your “Next Available Retirement Date(s)”. This may be a future date, even if you were already eligible for retirement. This is because there is a deadline for getting your retirement application in. If you don’t submit an application by the deadline for a given month, the system automatically rolls forward to your NEXT available retirement date.

For example, if you were initially eligible to retire on January 1 but didn’t apply, then you logged in to myMOSERS, in February, you would see a retirement date of April 1. Again, the reason for this is to retire on April 1, you need to apply by February 28. See the chart showing deadlines on our Ready to Retire page. You may apply for retirement up to 120 days prior to your retirement date. Please see the Retirement Guide or contact us if you have any questions about the retirement process. 

The easiest and most convenient way to apply for retirement is online. Complete both steps in the two-step retirement process all at once or leave and come back later. Log in to myMOSERS. From there, select Retire Online. The step-by-step instructions will guide you through the online retirement process. For more information, please see our quick video, Retire Online, or our Applying for Retirement web page.

If you choose not to retire online, please contact a MOSERS benefit counselor to request a personalized paper Retirement Application.

We will mail your 1099-R tax form to you by the end of January. After we have mailed it, it will also be available for you to view and print or save from your Document Express online mailbox after you log in to myMOSERS.

This form lists your 2020 retirement benefit income from MOSERS. You will need this form to file your income tax return. If you receive more than one benefit from MOSERS, you may receive more than one 1099-R from us. For more information please see our latest news item regarding 1099-Rs.