PERS Member Guidebook - State

1 Pensions & Benefits public Employees'. retirement system ( pers ). Member Guidebook SP-0333-0718. public employee 's retirement system Table Of Contents Supplementing your Pension.. 23. pers General Information.. 3 Overview .. 24. Foreword .. 4 Retirements.. 25. The retirement system .. 4 Overview .. 26. Contacting the New Jersey Division of Types of retirement .. 26. Pensions & Benefits (NJDPB) .. 4 Optional Settlements at retirement .. 30. Plan Information.. 5 The retirement Process .. 31. Eligibility.. 6 Reduction or Suspension of Your Benefits.. 35. Membership.. 7 Employment After retirement .

2 35. Part-time Crossing Guards.. 8 Active and Retired Death Benefits.. 36. Elected or Appointed Officials .. 8 Overview .. 37. Enrollments .. 9 Choosing a Beneficiary .. 38. Overview .. 10 Payment of Group Life Insurance.. 38. Multiple and Dual Membership.. 11 Group Life Insurance and Transfers.. 12 Leave of Absence.. 38. Service Credit .. 13 Taxation of Group Life Insurance Premiums .. 39. Vesting.. 13. Waiving Noncontributory Group Purchasing Service Credit.. 14. Life Insurance over $50,000.. 39. Overview .. 15. Conversion of Group Life Insurance.. 40. Types of Service Eligible for Purchase.

3 15. Accidental Death Benefit.. 40. Important Purchase Notes.. 16. Withdrawal.. 42. Cost and Procedures for Overview .. 43. Purchasing Service Credit.. 16. Withdrawing Contributions.. 44. Applying to Purchase Service Credit.. 17. Workers' Compensation.. 44. Loans .. 19. Appeals.. 46. Overview .. 20. Overview .. 47. Applying for a Loan .. 20. Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Requirements.. 21. pers Member Guidebook July 2018 Page 2. pers General Information public employee 's retirement system FOREWORD New Jersey Division of Pensions & Benefits Health Benefits Program (SHBP) or School Employees'.

4 ATTN: Office of Communications Health Benefits Program (SEHBP) is also available. The New Jersey public Employees' retirement Sys- Box 295. tem ( pers ) Member Guidebook provides a summary Retirees may use MBOS to: view retirement account Trenton, NJ 08625-0295. description of the benefits of the plan and outlines the information; update an address; change direct deposit rules and regulations governing the plan. The pers THE retirement system information; change a beneficiary designation; or up- Member Guidebook should provide you with all the in- The State of New Jersey established the pers in 1955 date federal and/or New Jersey State income tax with- formation you need about your pers benefits.

5 How- to replace the former State Employees' retirement holding. ever, if there is a conflict with statutes governing the system . The NJDPB is assigned all administrative Before you can begin using MBOS, you must be reg- plan or regulations implementing the statutes, the functions of the retirement system except for invest- istered with MBOS and the MyNewJersey website. statutes and regulations will take precedence. Com- ment. Registration information can be found on the NJDPB. plete terms governing any employee benefit program The pers Board of Trustees has the responsibility website.

6 Are set forth in the New Jersey Statutes Annotated. for the proper operation of the retirement system . The Regulations, new or amended, are published in the If you need assistance registering for MBOS, call Board consists of six employee representatives, the New Jersey Register by the State Office of Adminis- the MBOS Help Line at (609) 292-7524 or send State Treasurer, and two individuals appointed by the trative Law supplementing the New Jersey Admin- an email with the subject line MBOS Email to: Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. istrative Code. This Guidebook , containing current The Board meets once per month.

7 A pers Member updates, is available for viewing on our website at: who wishes to be a candidate upon a vacancy for the Telephone Numbers While at the New Jer- pers Board of Trustees must be nominated by peti- sey Division of Pensions & Benefits (NJDPB) website, For computerized information about your individ- tions bearing the signatures of 500 active members. be sure to check for pers -related forms, fact sheets, ual pension account 24 hours a day, seven days Nominating petition forms, along with instructions and news affecting the pers . a week, call our Automated Information system at for filing, are available upon written request to the (609) 292-7524.

8 With Interactive Voice Response Addenda guidebooks have been created for the Law New Jersey Division of Pensions & Benefits, Secretary and added services, all you need is your Social Enforcement Officers, Legislative retirement system , of the pers Board of Trustees, Box 295, Trenton, Security number and membership number to hear Prosecutors Part, and Workers' Compensation Judges NJ 08625-0295. personalized benefits information on purchases, Part, which are components of the pers , but have sig- CONTACTING THE NEW JERSEY retirement benefits, and withdrawal. nificantly different benefits.

9 The addenda are available for viewing on our website. DIVISION OF PENSIONS & BENEFITS (NJDPB) To speak with a representative about your pers . account or health benefits account, call (609) 292- The purpose of this Guidebook is to provide you with Member Benefits Online system 7524 weekdays between 7:00 and 4:30 information about the retirement system to assist you The Member Benefits Online system (MBOS) allows (except State holidays); hours are extended until in making decisions concerning you and your family's registered pers members access to their pension 6:45 on Thursdays.

10 If you require the services future. If you have questions concerning your retire- and, if applicable, health benefits account information of a relay operator please dial 711 and provide the ment system benefits, please see the Contacting the online. Resources available through MBOS include: operator with the following phone number, (609). State of New Jersey Division of Pensions & Benefits Member account information; beneficiary designation; 292-6683. You will then be connected to a Client (NJDPB) section. pension loan; purchase of service credit; withdrawal Services phone representative for assistance.