Due to MERS being a Defined Benefit Plan, no contributions are eligible for withdrawals or loans for any reason until termination of employment.
Active Members Frequently Asked Questions
Can I borrow money from my MERS contribution balance or make a hardship loan?
Category: Active Members
Can I work after retirement?
Any retiree from MERS may return to work with their prior employer or another employer participating in MERS.
The restrictions discussed in this response pertain to those retirees who retired under a normal retirement. If you retired under disability retirement, the restrictions differ and you should contact our office.
Different rules apply should you return to work PART-TIME or FULL-TIME for an employer participating in MERS. Both you and your employer are legally required to inform the retirement system of your re-employment and report your earnings each month you remain re-employed.
Retirees returning to work PART-TIME must contribute to the retirement system and are subject to earnings limits. If you exceed the amount allowed to earn in any month, your retirement benefit will be offset the following month, dollar for dollar. You will not earn any additional service credit during your re-employment. Once you terminate your re-employment, your employee contributions contributed during that period, will be refunded to you without interest, upon application.
Retirees returning to work FULL-TIME must contribute to the retirement system and will have their monthly retirement benefit suspended until termination. If you remain re-employed for 12 months or longer you will accrue an additional benefit to be added to your original retirement benefit.
If your re-employment period is less than 12 months, your employee contributions contributed during that period will be refunded to you without interest, upon application.
If you become employed with an employer that does not participate in MERS, you are not subject to earnings limits nor do you need to notify the retirement system's office.
Category: Active Members
Does MERS send out annual statements showing my employee contribution balance?
Yes, MERS mails member statements with contribution balances through June 30 by mid-August annually to your home address. Make sure your address is current.
You may immediately generate a copy of your annual statement on the Self Service Portal of the MERS website, if you have created an account. Click on the link to “Review your membership information.” You may then click on “Member Statement” and a printer friendly statement will be downloaded.
Or, you may submit the Contribution Balance Request Form.
Category: Active Members
How can I change my address or beneficiary?
Information changes can be made online through the Self Service Portal.
- Address, phone number, and email changes can be made on the “Review your contact information” link.
- Beneficiary changes can be made under the “Review your membership information” link.
Alternatively, submit your change of name, address, or marital status through a signed letter or using the Personal Information Change form. A beneficiary change can be made with the Beneficiary Change Form.
For security reasons, changes will not be made based on a phone call.
Category: Active Members
How can I find out my current contribution balance?
Contribution statements are mailed to your home address annually during the month of August. You may request a contribution statement with your current balance by mailing or faxing a completed a "Contribution Balance Request" form to our office.
Category: Active Members
How can I obtain an estimate of my retirement or DROP benefits?
The Self Service Portal, which can be found on the home page of the MERS website, allows you to create an account. Once your account is created, you may use the calculator in the Portal to create an estimate of benefits using your data in the MERS system.
Use the link to “Calculate a preliminary retirement benefit estimate.” You will be asked to specify a retirement or DROP entry date (you can perform multiple estimates with different dates) and the date of birth of your beneficiary. Please use the first of a month as your retirement date. You may enter a percentage of potential salary increase (from 1 to 3%) and your days of unused leave if your Employer allows you to convert leave to retirement credit.
When you are within three years of retirement or DROP eligibility, meeting both the age and service credit requirements for your plan, you may request that a retirement analyst at MERS calculate your estimate. Just submit the Retirement/DROP Estimate form to our office. Let us know if you want a copy sent to your employer. Estimates take two to four weeks.
Category: Active Members
Is my retirement account subject to community property laws?
Yes. Louisiana is a community property state, so all benefits accrued under MERS are subject to Louisiana's community property laws. Any member in the process of getting a divorce should have their attorney address the division of their retirement benefits in a property settlement issued by a court of law. A copy of suggested language for a Qualified Domestic Relations Order that addresses the retirement system may be obtained by calling our office.
Category: Active Members
What are the eligibility requirements to retire or enter DROP under PLAN A? PLAN B?
Plan A Eligibility Requirements for Members Enrolled Prior to 1/1/13 – TIER I
10 years at age 60
25 years at any age
*20 years at any age (Actuarially reduced benefits for early retirement)
Plan A Eligibility Requirements for Members Enrolled 1/1/13 and after – TIER II
7 years at age 67
10 years at age 62
30 years at age 55
*25 years at any age (Actuarially reduced benefits for early retirement)
Plan B Eligibility Requirements for Members Enrolled Prior to 1/1/13 – TIER I
10 years at age 60
30 years at any age
Plan B Eligibility Requirements for Active Members Enrolled 1/1/13 and after – TIER II
7 years at age 67
10 years at age 62
30 years at age 55
*25 years at any age (Actuarially reduced benefits for early retirement)
*Actuarially reduced retirement eligibility does not apply to DROP.
Category: Active Members
What happens if I become disabled and can no longer work?
Eligibility for a disability benefit under Plan A requires a member to have at least five years of creditable service and not be eligible for a normal retirement. Eligibility for a disability benefit under Plan B requires a member to have at least 10 years of creditable service and not be eligible for a normal retirement. All disability applicants must be certified to be totally and permanently disabled by a state board medical disability doctor and approved by the board of trustees. On average, disability applications take 2-3 months to process.
Category: Active Members
What is DROP?
DROP or Deferred Retirement Option Plan is a type of pre-retirement option which allows you to accumulate your retirement benefits while continuing your employment. Your DROP application will be completed as if you are retiring.
At the time of entry into DROP your monthly benefit is calculated and placed in a tax-deferred account each month. During your DROP participation, you will not contribute to MERS, but your employer will continue their contributions.
You can participate in the DROP only once and for a period of up to 36 months. DROP accounts will not accrue interest until the participation period has ended.
Category: Active Members
What is the process to retire or enter the DROP program?
You should request an estimate of your retirement/DROP benefit at least 3 – 6 months in advance (Request for Retirement/DROP Estimate). Call the retirement system's office to speak with a Retirement Analyst to ask any questions or schedule a meeting to discuss your options. You must go to your employer's office to speak with the MERS' contact to complete your retirement/DROP application.
Category: Active Members
When can I go into DROP?
You are eligible to enroll in DROP when you become eligible to retire, except for actuarially reduced retirement.
Category: Active Members
When will I receive my refund?
You must be terminated for thirty (30) days and our office must have your final contributions from your employer. Refunds are processed approximately on the 5th and 20th of each month. It may take between 45 – 60 day before your funds are deposited into your account.
Category: Active Members
Will I receive regular cost-of-living adjustments after I retire?
Not necessarily. When planning for your retirement you should be aware that Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLAs) are not guaranteed unless a self-funded COLA is selected at the time of retirement. A self-funded COLA reduces your monthly benefit to fund the adjustments.
COLAs granted by the system must be funded for the lifetime of all retirees who will receive the adjustment.
MERS has a Funding Deposit Account that may be used to fund COLAs. Monies are deposited into the account when the employer contribution rate is set at a rate higher than the rate necessary to fund the system.
When adequate funds are in the Funding Deposit Account, the recommended method to grant a COLA requires the system to have investment earnings at an actuarial rate higher than the expected rate of return. Also, the funded level of the system and the history of COLAs come into play.
Category: Active Members
