Your co-worker appears to be mixing up two different topics. We are glad you came to MOSERS for clarification! MOSERS retirees and surviving beneficiaries receive an annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) to help offset the effects of inflation on their retirement benefits. COLAs allow retirees to maintain their purchasing power as inflation increases the cost of various items they buy.

The COLA for retired general state employees is based on 80% of the percentage increase in the average CPI from one year to the next. The COLA can range from a minimum of 0% to a maximum of 5%.

However, MSEP retirees employed before August 28, 1997, receive a minimum 4% COLA (maximum 5%) until they reach their COLA cap. This happens when accumulated COLAs equal 65% of their initial base benefit. After reaching the cap, their COLA will be calculated like other retirees and will range from 0% to 5% each year, depending on the increase in the Consumer Price Index.

Example: $1,000 (Initial Base Benefit) x .65 (65%) = $650. The hypothetical member in this example would reach their COLA Cap when their monthly benefit equaled $1,650. Going forward, they would continue to receive an annual COLA between 0 and 5%.

The COLA section on your Annual Benefit Statement contains an estimated date you will reach the COLA cap. Typically, members reach the COLA cap around 12 to 13 years after retirement.

See our Cost-of-Living Adjustments page for more information.

To get back to your co-worker, the significance of 26 years of service has to do with the maximum subsidy members get toward their medical insurance premiums in retirement. It has nothing to do with COLAs from MOSERS.

Yes, in most cases, you can designate multiple beneficiaries on your MOSERS benefits. The number of beneficiaries you can name depends on the specific type of benefit. Here's a quick breakdown:

• Life Insurance Beneficiaries – You may name multiple primary and contingent beneficiaries for both your basic and optional life insurance coverage.
• Final Payment Beneficiaries – Once you retire, you can list multiple individuals to receive your final benefit payment. MOSERS will pay your beneficiaries if that payment is returned to MOSERS by your financial institution. The final payment is the payment that is due to you at the end of the month in which you pass away.
• Guaranteed Payment Option Beneficiaries – At retirement, if you elect a guaranteed payment option (5, 10, or 15 years), you may name multiple beneficiaries to receive any remaining payments if you pass away during the guarantee period.
• Joint & Survivor Beneficiary – At retirement, if you elect a Joint & 50% or Joint & 100% survivor benefit, your beneficiary is automatically your spouse.
• Contribution Beneficiaries (MSEP 2011 and Judicial Plan 2011 only) – If you are a member of MSEP 2011 or the Judicial Plan 2011 and are eligible for a refund of your contributions (in the event of death before retirement), you may name multiple beneficiaries to receive those funds.

If you’re unsure which beneficiaries you currently have listed or would like to update your designations, log in to myMOSERS to review or make changes. If you have an account with MO Deferred Comp, please ensure your beneficiary designations are up to date there as well.

If you are vested and leave state employment, you will still be eligible for a future pension benefit when you reach retirement age. A termination, whether voluntary or involuntary, marks the end of service accrual and impacts your MOSERS benefits.

Exceptions apply: You will forfeit all rights to a future pension benefit if you take a refund of your employee contributions (MSEP 2011 or Judicial Plan 2011) after leaving state employment or if you are convicted of a felony in connection with your duties as a state employee on or after August 28, 2014.

Retirement eligibility depends on your plan and is based on a combination of your age and service. Once MOSERS is notified of your termination, we will send you a letter outlining your eligibility for benefits.

Normal Retirement Eligibility Requirements:

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

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

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

See the What’s My Plan? tool for information about plan membership, retirement eligibility requirements, and more!

We are unable to see members’ pay stubs, so we can’t speak definitively about that information. Please speak with your employer regarding your pay stub details.

However, it sounds like you are referring to your employer’s contributions to MOSERS. As a member of MSEP 2011, you are part of the contributory defined benefit pension plan. By law, you contribute 4% of your pay toward your future pension benefits. Your employer also contributes a percentage of your payroll toward your future retirement benefits. Employee and employer contributions go into the MOSERS trust fund. The third and largest source of System funding is investment income. 

You can log in to myMOSERS to find your total employee contributions plus any interest. Once logged in, you can view your accumulated balance listed under Employee Contributions on your Member Dashboard. If you are unable to log in, you may contact a MOSERS benefit counselor for your balance.

As a member of MSEP 2011, if you leave state employment, you may request a refund of your employee contributions plus any interest. By taking a refund, you forfeit your service and eligibility for future retirement benefits. Alternatively, when eligible, you can retire and receive a monthly pension benefit for life. Your monthly benefit is based on your final average pay and years of service.

Please see our Employee Contributions brochure (MSEP 2011 & Judicial Plan 2011) and the MSEP 2011 web page for more information. 

Log in to myMOSERS to find a replacement copy of your 1099-R form. Your most recent 1099-R is in your Document Express online mailbox. You may view, save, or print it.

In the future, you will be able to find your 1099-R in myMOSERS on your Member Dashboard in a card labeled Tax Documents. 1099-Rs from 2024 and prior years will remain in Document Express.

To update your direct deposit information, log in to myMOSERS and select Update Direct Deposit from the I want to… menu. From there, you can complete the Direct Deposit Authorization form online. You can also complete the paper Direct Deposit Authorization form and email, fax, or mail it to MOSERS.

If you need assistance, feel free to contact a MOSERS benefit counselor at (800) 827-1063 or (573) 632-6100.

1099-Rs will be available in your Document Express online mailbox by the end of January.

You can access your 1099-R by logging in to myMOSERS. Your most recent 1099-R is in your Document Express online mailbox. You may view, save, or print it. We will mail all forms by the end of January as well.

In the future, you will be able to find your 1099-R in myMOSERS on your Member Dashboard in a card labeled Tax Documents. 1099-Rs from 2024 and prior years will remain in Document Express.

This form lists your 2022 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.

Once you are vested (5 years of service for general state employees), you are eligible to receive a future pension benefit from MOSERS, even if you leave state employment. Once you reach retirement age and complete the retirement process, you will receive a monthly pension payment for your lifetime.

You cannot increase your 4% employee contributions that go into the MOSERS trust fund, but you can certainly increase the amount of supplemental savings that you put in MO Deferred Comp. For many state employees, income in retirement comes from three sources:

1. Your MOSERS defined benefit pension (based on your years of service and final average pay)
2. Social Security retirement benefits
3. Supplemental personal savings, such as with MO Deferred Comp

Another thing to consider is that, even if you aren’t vested, you may leave your employee contributions with the System if you think you might return to work for the state at some point in the future and would like for those years of service to count toward an eventual retirement benefit.  

However, if you leave state employment, you may request a refund of your employee contributions plus any credited interest. By law, there is a 90-day waiting period before we can issue a refund. By taking a refund, you forfeit all your credited service.

You can log in to myMOSERS to find your total employee contributions plus any interest. Once logged in, you can view your accumulated balance listed under Employee Contributions on your Member Dashboard. If you are unable to log in, you may contact a MOSERS benefit counselor for your balance. See our Employee Contributions brochure for more information.

Your W-2 form shows income you have earned from your employer and comes from your employer, not from MOSERS. You will need to reach out to your employer for your W-2.

MOSERS provides retirees and benefit recipients with a 1099-R tax form. We will mail your 1099-R forms by the end of January.

You can access your 1099-R by logging in to myMOSERS. Your most recent 1099-R is in your Document Express online mailbox. You may view, save, or print it.

In the future, you will be able to find your 1099-R in myMOSERS on your Member Dashboard in a card labeled Tax Documents. 1099-Rs from 2024 and prior years will remain in Document Express.

This form lists your 2022 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. If you are unable to log in to myMOSERS, call us at (800) 827-1063 or (573) 632-6100 and we can assist you. For security reasons, we cannot email it to you.