When to Contact ORS

Below are the most common situations that would require contact with ORS after your pension payments begin. Please use it as a general guide only. Because we can't list every possible event that should be reported, it's best to contact ORS if you're not sure. You can use the Message Board in miAccount to contact a knowledgeable ORS representative.

Address Change

Be sure that ORS knows your current mailing address at all times so you receive your statements and other important notices. Address changes can be made online through miAccount, or you can send us a Name and Address Change (R0357X) form.  

We will notify your insurance carriers of your address change; however, it may take up to 30 days before the insurance carrier can take action. If you're insured by an HMO, ask to speak with an ORS insurance representative because an address change could affect your coverage. 

See EFT Change on this page if you are changing your EFT account.

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Birth

Ordinarily, the birth or adoption of a child after you retire will not affect your pension. However, if you wish to enroll your child in your insurance plans, you can do so by using miAccount or by submitting the Insurance Change Request (R0452C) form within 30 days of the event.

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Death

Death of retiree. Upon your death, your personal representative (family member, executor) should contact ORS as quickly as possible. We will need your social security number and a photocopy of the death certificate.  

Death of a survivor pension beneficiary. If you elected a survivor option and your pension beneficiary predeceases you, notify ORS and provide a photocopy of the death certificate so we can adjust your pension amount to the full (unreduced) straight life pension. If you elected the equated plan and your beneficiary dies before you, your benefit will revert to the straight life equated amount.

If any person receiving a survivor benefit dies, contact ORS immediately. We will need the social security number of the public school retiree as well as that of the beneficiary who was receiving benefits, along with a photocopy of the death certificate.

Death of insurance dependent. If anyone enrolled as a dependent in your health, dental, or vision insurance plan dies, report the death immediately using the Beneficiaries & Dependents section in miAccount. You must also submit a photocopy of the death certificate.

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Disability Retirement

If you are receiving a disability retirement, you should notify ORS if your condition improves. 

If you are thinking about working and are under age 60, you must first gain approval from the Michigan Public School Employees Retirement Board. If the board approves your return to work, you will be subject to an earnings limitation. This means that if your earnings exceed the limit set each year by statute, you will have to pay back any excess amount. Be sure to contact ORS in advance if you're a disability retiree under age 60 considering employment. We will give you more information about preapproval rules and the earnings limitation at that time. 

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Divorce

If you divorce after retirement, your pension will not be affected unless you elected a survivor option. To change your survivor option to a straight life pension, you must submit a court order, called a Domestic Relations Order (DRO). To assist you and your attorney, ORS provides instructions and downloadable, fillable DRO forms. These are the preferred DRO documents to file with the Office of Retirement Services. They are the fastest, most efficient way to complete your filing. Complete the form online, save it, print it, then take the printed copy to the court for the judge's signature.

If your former spouse is enrolled as a dependent in your health, dental, or vision insurance plan, his or her eligibility will cease. Report the divorce immediately using the Insurance Change Request (R0452C) form or miAccount. Include a copy of your divorce decree.

Since we cannot adjust your insurance premiums until we receive your Insurance Change Request (R0452C)  and because we cannot refund excess insurance premiums, be sure to send this form in as soon as possible.

A divorce could mean you need to change your address or name. Use miAccount or the Name and Address Change (R0357X) form to do so.  

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EFT Change 

The quickest way to sign up or change your EFT bank account is in miAccount. An alternative way is to complete an Electronic Funds Transfer (R0277X) Application . Ordinarily, if we receive your request by the first day of the month, your next payment should be deposited to your new account. Do not close your old account until your pension payment has been successfully deposited in your new account.

If you want to cancel your EFT authorization, submit a written request to ORS. Include your name, mailing address, social security number, and signature. Do not close your account until you receive your pension payment at your mailing address.

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Employment 

See Working After You Retire. 

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Marriage

Marriage of Retiree

If you marry after your retirement pension begins, there is no need to report the marriage because your payments will not be affected. You need to report the marriage if you want to add your new spouse to your insurances, change your address, or add your new spouse as a survivor pension beneficiary.

Adding your new spouse to your insurances. If you wish to enroll your new spouse in your insurances, you can do so in miAccount or by completing the Insurance Enrollment/Change Request (R0452C) form. If you submit the form and a copy of your marriage certificate to ORS within 30 days of the event, coverage can begin the first day of the month after we receive the completed enrollment forms (the ordinary 6-month waiting period is waived).

Changing your address. Log into miAccount to change your address, or use the Name and Address Change (R0357X) form.

Naming a spouse as a beneficiary after retirement. You may name a new spouse as a survivor pension beneficiary under the following conditions:

• If you were married at the time of retirement and have since been widowed and remarried, you can name a new spouse as pension beneficiary as long as you elected a survivor option (100, 75, or 50 percent-not straight life) for your spouse at the time of retirement. Your new spouse will receive the same survivor option you elected for your spouse at the time of retirement.
• If you were single at the time of retirement and subsequently married, you can name a new spouse if you elected the straight life option at retirement.

Note: If you name your spouse as a pension beneficiary your pension will be reduced because we will recalculate it using the standard actuarial formula. To learn the reduced value of your pension log into miAccount and run a pension estimate.

When and How to Apply. You may name your spouse as a survivor pension beneficiary after 179 days of marriage but no later than 12 months after marriage.

If you meet all of the conditions listed above and wish to see how much your pension will be reduced by naming your new spouse as a beneficiary, log into miAccount or  contact ORS to receive an estimate.

Upon Your Death. Upon your death, the pension payment will be paid for your spouse's lifetime, provided your death does not occur within 12 months of naming your new spouse as a survivor pension beneficiary. If your death does occur within 12 months of the election, pension payments to your surviving spouse will end 12 months after your death.

Regardless of when your death occurs, your new spouse will remain eligible for insurance coverage but must pay the full, unsubsidized monthly premiums. This person will be automatically enrolled in the unsubsidized insurance provided by the retirement system to provide continuity of coverage. The full monthly premiums will be deducted from the pension. If the pension does not cover the entire cost of the monthly premium a bill will be sent to your spouse for the remaining balance.

Marriage of Survivor Pension Beneficiary

If you are receiving a survivor pension on the account of a deceased public school retiree, you don't need to report your marriage because your pension will continue as usual. Your new spouse can receive insurance coverage. 

However, the retirement system will not subsidize the insurance premium for the new spouse as it does for the survivor. 

Marriage of Insurance Dependent

Only unmarried dependents are eligible for insurance coverage. If anyone enrolled on your contract as an insurance dependent marries, you must notify ORS immediately. Use miAccount or the Insurance Enrollment/Change Request (R0452C) form.

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Medicare 

A few months before you're eligible for Medicare, the Social Security Administration will send you a Medicare card and automatically enroll you in Part A-Hospital Insurance and Part B-Medical Insurance. However, because Part B has a premium, you'll be given the option of turning it down. Do not turn it down.

Click here to learn how Medicare eligibility affects your health insurance coverage.

Once your Medicare insurance begins you should see a significant decrease in the amount of your health insurance premiums. Because you cannot be reimbursed retroactively for any premiums deducted, be sure to notify ORS immediately if you believe your premium amount was not adjusted properly.

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Missing Payment

Notify ORS after three days if your regular EFT payment is not deposited to your account. If your pension check is sent by mail and doesn't arrive by the seventh day of the month after its due date (ordinarily the 25th of each month), contact ORS. 

If you receive your check and then it is lost, stolen, or destroyed, contact ORS immediately. We will issue a stop payment on the check and send you an affidavit for your signature. When you return the affidavit, the Department of Treasury will cancel the original check and issue a replacement.

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Social Security

You don't need to notify ORS when your social security payments begin because it will not affect your pension. If you chose the equated plan, remember that your pension will be reduced when you turn age 62 regardless of how much your social security benefit is, or when it begins. The reduction in your pension is based on the social security estimate you provided when you applied for your pension. 

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Taxes

You can change your federal or Michigan tax withholding rate at any time in miAccount or by sending ORS an updated Pension Recipient's Federal Income Tax Withholding Authorization (R0012X) . 

Each January, ORS will send you a federal 1099-R form so you can file your income tax returns. This statement shows how much was paid to you during the year in pension benefits, as well as how much was withheld in taxes. Log into miAccount any time after January 1 to view and print your 1099-R.

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