You cannot access your pension from MOSERS until you are eligible for retirement. However, if you have money in the MO Deferred Comp 457 retirement savings plan, in-service withdrawals from your account are permitted under the following circumstances; you experience a qualifying, unforeseeable emergency that causes extreme financial hardship, or if your account balance is $5,000 or less – you may elect a one-time, in-service distribution provided you have not made a contribution during the prior two-year period. Please visit https://www.modeferredcomp.org for more information or, if you have any questions, please call (800) 392-0925.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act provides a new in-service distribution type from a plan or IRA called a “coronavirus-related distribution” (CRD). To be eligible for CRD treatment, the distribution must be made to an individual who is diagnosed with the disease, has a spouse or dependent who is diagnosed, or has experienced adverse financial consequences as a result of the disease. Employees may self-certify eligibility. More info on the CARES act, qualifications and provisions can be found here: https://www.modeferredcomp.org/news/2020-caresact.html

An early retirement incentive and/or another buyout would require legislative authorization. We are not aware of any legislative proposals that have been offered at this time to provide either for general state employees. You can follow any bills affecting MOSERS on our Legislation page. May 15, 2020 is the last day of the current legislative session.