As the coronavirus COVID-19 state of emergency continues to put a strain on the services offered by public employers, the Public Employees’ Retirement System of Mississippi (PERS) wants to remind covered employers of the return-to-work options available to retirees who could help with staffing needs.

Return-to-Work Options While Keeping Retirement Benefits
PERS recognizes that not all retirees can or should return to service, especially since some of them are among those most vulnerable to the virus. But for those who are healthy, able, and wanting to help, there are avenues to allow for them to return to service without penalty to their retirement benefits.

Under existing laws and regulations and assuming a retiree has had a bona fide 90-day break in service, PERS retirees may do the following without suspending their retirement benefits:

Work half time as determined by the employer, for half pay (For example, 20 hours a week or 80 hours a month) or
Work up to a maximum of 25 percent of the retiree’s average compensation used for calculating retirement benefits. This may mean the retiree could work practically full time for a short duration depending on his or her personal circumstances. This option could be the most helpful, as PERS operates on a fiscal year and workers could be on hand to help through the end of June.

For these two options, PERS needs a completed PERS Form 4B, Reemployment of PERS Service Retiree Certification/Acknowledgement, or a completed PERS Form 9C, County/Municipal Elected Official Reemployment Acknowledgement/Election.

Independent Contract Workers
Should an employer decide to engage a retiree as an independent contractor, a completed PERS Form EVI, Employee vs. Independent Contractor Determination Questionnaire, should be submitted and approved by PERS before any such engagement begins.

Volunteering
A retiree who has had a bona fide 90-day break in service may be allowed to volunteer in certain circumstances.

Working Full Time with Suspended Benefits
Mississippi statute also provides for retirees to suspend their retirement benefits and work full time for full pay. However, if that time exceeds six months, their benefit is recalculated to include the new service.

PERS Regulation 34, Reemployment after Retirement, details each of the provisions listed. Or, for more information, you may e-mail customerservice@pers.ms.gov with any questions.

Due to COVID-19 or the coronavirus, the 2020 Mississippi Legislative session has been suspended until April 1st with the flexibility in the resolution to not bring everyone back if they choose. The new date for Sine Die, or last day of 2020 session, is June 9th.

See the full resolution here.

Also due to social distancing and gathering restrictions, MRPEA regretfully cancels its Day at the Capitol that was set to be held this month. Also, MRPEA cancels its Annual Meeting set to be held in July with the hopes of rescheduling it for a later date.

We encourage all of our members to stay safe and healthy in this unprecedented global health emergency and understand that now more than ever we must safeguard Mississippians retirement. Stay tuned for ways YOU can help make sure PERS of Mississippi is not changed and remains the same level of security Mississippians were promised.

Mississippi Today | BY BOBBY HARRISON

During the 2019 election cycle, a staggering 77 of the 174 legislative candidates ran for office unopposed.

Perhaps, many of those unopposed candidates did not draw opposition because they were so well thought of in their communities. But perhaps some did not have opposition because there was no one else in their districts interested in being a legislator.

Granted, there are some good perks that go along with being a legislator, including lobbyists willing to provide expensive food and beverage, a sweetheart of an enhanced retirement system in addition to the normal state plan, and oh yeah, the ability to help set public policy for the state.

But serving in the Legislature can be an inconvenience. Most legislators have other jobs, ranging from attorney to farmer to business owner, that they must perform while being away from home during the week for at least three consecutive months every year in addition to being away for other sporadic days during the year.

Read the full article here.

Four freshmen lawmakers say speaker wants them to give up retirement pay or resign

The Public Employees’ Retirement System of Mississippi (PERS) has released its Facts & Figures and Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR) for fiscal year 2019.

Click the links below to view the documents from the PERS website.

2019 Facts & Figures
2019 PAFR

Mississippi Public Broadcasting’s Money Talks on Think Radio recently welcomed Public Employees’ Retirement System of Mississippi (PERS) Executive Director Ray Higgins to sit down and discuss the System.

Money Talks focuses on personal finance as it applies to Mississippians, from preparing taxes to saving for college or investing in the stock market. The show, which is hosted by Kevin Farrell, Nancy Lottridge-Anderson, and Ryder Taff, featured PERS in its December 17 episode, which is available now by clicking the link below.

Click here to listen to the episode.

Remember how you felt that day last March?

Legislators told us they were with us. Most agreed: more money for teacher pay; no more money for vouchers.

And then we got the word. Reeves and Gunn had killed the $4,000 teacher pay raise, and they sneaked in more money for private school vouchers. Without even telling our legislators – the people whose votes are supposed to matter.

Remember how you felt when state leaders defied us, and our legislators, and our democracy?

It’s November, and we remember. It’s our chance to cast a vote that really counts.

Please also reach out to a neighbor, friend, or family member who might not otherwise be able to vote. Remember to take an ID!

If each of us does a little something to get public school supporters to the polls, we will win the day for our children and our teachers. It’s November. Time to remember – and act!

Together, we’ve got this!

Gratefully,

Nancy

222 North President Street, Suite 102
Jackson, Mississippi 39201
Phone 601.961.4551
www.msparentscampaign.org

The Mississippi Retired Public Employees’ Association (MRPEA) has published its Fall 2019 Issue of The Guardian.

Catch up on current MRPEA-related news and events – as well as news related to the Public Employees’ Retirement System of Mississippi (PERS) – in this issue of The Guardian.

Democratic Candidate for Governor Jim Hood has written a letter to MRPEA stating his intentions when it comes to PERS and YOUR retirement. Please click on his logo below to see his letter.