As a state employee, you may be participating in both the MOSERS defined-benefit pension and the supplemental retirement savings program through MO Deferred Comp. Since we are not sure which one you are referring to, we’ve addressed both below.

Defined Benefit Pension: You cannot access your MOSERS defined benefit pension until retirement. However, if you no longer work in a MOSERS benefit-eligible position and are a member of MSEP 2011, you may request a refund of your employee contributions. Please see our Employee Contributions brochure for more information. Use the Request for Refund of Employee Contributions - Member form, have it notarized and return it to MOSERS by mail, bring it into our office during normal business hours, or put it in our 24/7 drop box near the front of our building. Our address is on the top of the form.

Missouri law requires MOSERS to pay your refund within an administratively reasonable period but no sooner than 90 days from the date your state employment ended.

By taking a refund, you will lose all your credited service and future rights to receive pension and LTD benefits from MOSERS.

MO Deferred Comp: If you are still employed with the state, you cannot access your MO Deferred Comp 457 retirement savings except for qualified unforeseen emergency withdrawals. However, upon separation of service and notification from your employer – either voluntary, by retirement, or otherwise – you may be eligible to withdraw money from your MO Deferred Comp Plan account.

Visit the MO Deferred Comp website for more information, or if you have any questions, please call (800) 392-0925.

All retired general state employees will receive a 3.293% COLA in 2024. MOSERS provides annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) to retired members and their surviving beneficiaries. A COLA increases your pay or pension benefits to help with inflation, allowing you to maintain your purchasing power as the cost of goods and services increases.

You will receive your COLA on the anniversary of your retirement date, with the following exceptions:

• If you converted from MSEP to MSEP 2000 during the conversion window in 2000, you would receive your COLA in July.
• If you elected BackDROP, you will receive your COLA on the anniversary of your BackDROP date.
• If you are a retired inactive-vested member of MSEP 2011, you will receive your first COLA on the second anniversary of your retirement (rather than the first anniversary).
• If you are a retired legislator who took office after July 1, 2000, your benefit will be adjusted according to the increase in pay for an active member of the general assembly. No other COLAs will be provided.
• If you are a retired statewide elected official who took office after July 1, 2000, your benefit will be adjusted according to the increase in pay for an active member in that office. No other COLAs will be provided.

After meeting the termination and reemployment rules, you may return to work and continue receiving your monthly pension payment, as long as your position is not a MOSERS or MoDOT and Patrol Employees’ Retirement System (MPERS) benefit-eligible position.

If you return to work for the state of Missouri in a MOSERS or MPERS benefit-eligible position:

• Your monthly pension payment will stop.
• Depending on various factors (your plan, how long you work, etc.), you may or may not earn additional credited service during reemployment.
• When you retire again, your monthly pension payment will equal the amount you were receiving when you returned to work plus any additional benefit you may have earned during reemployment.

As a member of MSEP 2011, you may request a refund of your employee contributions plus any credited interest after leaving state employment. You are not required to withdraw your employee contributions if you leave the state, but you may do so if you wish. 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, click on the Personal Information tab. Then, click on Contribution Calculator. Scroll all the way to the bottom for your accumulated balance.

If you decide to request a refund, complete the Member Request for Refund of Employee Contributions form. You must get it notarized and submit it to MOSERS before a refund will be processed.

A reason to NOT take a refund of your employee contributions is if you think you may return to state employment at any time in the future.

No. Since the sick leave was used in the calculation of the retirement benefit for the period of service in which it was earned, any remaining unused sick leave is removed from your employer’s payroll system after you retire.

Survivor benefits may be available to a member who marries after retirement under certain circumstances (see below). However, based on the information you provided, you and your spouse have missed the window of opportunity to add a potential survivor benefit for you.

In general, a retired member may re-elect the benefit payment option they chose at retirement:

• If they were single at retirement and elected the life income annuity, they may elect a survivor benefit for their new spouse if they marry after retirement.
• If a member elected a joint & survivor option at retirement and their spouse dies first, they may elect a survivor benefit for their new spouse if they remarry.