Judges and elected officials first hired on or after March 31, 1997, are in the Defined Contribution (DC) Plan. DC Plan participants invest in the State of Michigan 401(k) and 457 Plans.
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The State of Michigan contributes an amount equal to 4% of pay into an account established for participants in the State of Michigan 401(k) Plan. In addition, the State matches dollar for dollar the first 3% of employee contributions each pay period.
Participants can make contributions to any combination of the pre-tax 401(k), Roth 401(k), or 457 Plans, receiving an employer match on the first 3% contributed to any or all plans. Participants may contribute any percentage to any or all plans up to the annual IRS contribution limits.
More details about the State of Michigan 401(k) and 457 Plans can be found in the Plan Highlights e-book: Defined Contribution (DC) – Judges and Select State Officials.
Eligibility
Health Insurance Subsidy Amount
Dental and Vision
All Judges Retirement System participants pay 100 percent of the premium.
Life Insurance
Probate judges are automatically sent a letter upon taking office giving them the opportunity to opt out of the State DC Plan; this decision is irrevocable. By electing to participate in the State DC Plan, the judge forfeits the right to participate in the local retirement system.
A judge may irrevocably elect to discontinue participation in the DC Plan. The judge must send such a request in writing to:
Office of Retirement Services
P.O. Box 30171
Lansing, MI 48909.
It is up to the local unit of government to determine if a judge who elects not to participate in the State DC Plan may participate in the local retirement plan.
Only the statutory judicial salary may be included when reporting salary and calculating contributions to the State DC Plan. Other compensation, such as any salary paid as part of the State Demonstration Project, other county-paid salary for services as a judge, or payments made in lieu of benefits cannot be included.
Because the salary for probate judges is channeled through the respective county, not paid directly from the State of Michigan, some local participation and assistance is necessary for a probate court judge to fully participate in the State DC Plan. The county is responsible for withholding the probate judge’s elective contributions (salary deferrals) and remitting them to the judge’s State DC account, and for reporting wage and elective contribution data to the State so that the system can calculate and make employer contributions. The State of Michigan and its third-party administrator, Voya Financial®, handle all other aspects of the State DC Plan.
Note: No local action is necessary for district and circuit court judges because deferrals are deducted from their State-paid salary.
The Finance Department of the Supreme Court is responsible for making employer contributions to the probate judge's State DC account. The State DC Plan requires a 4% employer contribution of the judge's gross salary for retirement purposes and up to an additional 3% employer match, for a total of up to 7%.
Supplemental compensation: Only the statutory judicial salary may be included when reporting salary and calculating contributions to the State DC Plan. Other compensation, such as any salary paid as part of the State Demonstration Project, other county-paid salary for services as a judge, or payments made in lieu of benefits cannot be included.
Loans: Probate judges are allowed to take out one loan at a time from their State DC account. The judge may initiate the loan via the Voya Voice Response telephone system or by logging in at StateOfMi.Voya.com. Voya will contact the county regarding the amount and duration of the payments, as well as when a loan is paid in full. Loan payments are a post-tax deduction and should be reported along with any salary deferrals to the State DC plan.
Contributions: Employee elective contributions are allowable up to the maximum amount specified under the Internal Revenue Code. IRS contribution limits change annually. Voya will track contributions made on behalf of the DC Plan, but the judge is responsible for tracking any contributions made to other plans to ensure IRS annual limits are not exceeded.
The county must deduct the probate judge’s elective deferrals to the State DC plan from the judge’s salary and remit the amount to Voya. If a probate judge receives a portion of his or her salary from multiple counties, the counties will need to coordinate with each other, so that only one county remits the necessary salary deferrals. To allow the Supreme Court Finance Department to remit the appropriate State matching contribution in a timely fashion, counties must remit the judge's salary deferral to Voya no later than the fifth business day after each pay date, using the process established by ORS and Voya. Contact ORS Employer Reporting for a copy of the appropriate Wage and Service Reporting Template and instructions.
Remit contributions to Voya by wire transfer. If a county is unable to wire the contributions, Voya will accept contributions by check.
Bank Name: State Street Bank
Account Number: 4684-0187
Routing Number: 011000028
Account Name: State of Michigan
(Regular Mail Address)
Voya Financial
Attn: State of Michigan 401(k) and 457 Plans
P.O. Box 990071
Hartford, CT 06199
(Overnight Mail Address)
Voya Financial
Attn: State of Michigan 401(k) and 457 Plans
One Orange Way
Windsor, CT 06095
If you have any questions about remitting funds to Voya, email Voya Plan Administration at MiPlanManagement@Voya.com
