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ORS Judges' Retirement System - Defined Benefit

Front of Michigan Hall of Justice
Michigan Office of Retirement Services

ORS Judges' Retirement System - Defined Benefit

Welcome

Welcome to the Michigan Office of Retirement Services website for members of the Judges' Retirement System who are in the Defined Benefit Plan. 

You’re a member of the Defined Benefit Plan if:
  • You were hired before March 31, 1997, and
  • You did not elect to transfer to the 401(k) Defined Contribution Plan during the open enrollment window (Jan. 2, 1998, through April 30, 1998).
The retirement system provides competitive retirement benefits and encourages you to take full advantage of them to plan for your future retirement. ORS manages the retirement system carefully to preserve it for you and other future retirees.

During your career, details from your biweekly payroll are reported to ORS. Your pension plan contributions, wages earned, and hours paid become part of your personal pension record. 

You also can enroll in the State of Michigan 401(k) and 457 Plans (the Plans) to help supplement your pension with additional tax-deferred retirement savings. ORS administers the Plans while Voya Financial takes care of the daily management. 

When it's time to retire, you’ll apply for retirement with ORS before you terminate employment. Please apply 30 to 90 days before your retirement date. Your final wage information will be reported. ORS will become your partner in retirement. 

FAQs

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What's New

ORS named America Saves Savings Champion

The Michigan Office of Retirement Services (ORS) is a 2024 Savings Champion Award recipient from America Saves.

ORS was honored for effectively and actively promoting savings strategies during America Saves Week, which ran April 8-12, 2024, during Financial Literacy Month. ORS was 1 of 18 organizations recognized out of 4,600-plus participants.

During America Saves Week, ORS highlighted savings strategies that help with retirement savings and urged saving for what matters most. You can do that by saving automatically, for the unexpected, for major milestones, and at any age. Also, realize that paying down debt is saving.

ORS named 2024 Plan Sponsor of the Year

ORS is Plan Sponsor of the Year for Government DC plans with $1 billion or more in assets.

Among 10 winners of 2024 Plan Sponsor of the Year recognition announced in Chicago at the 2024 PlanSponsor National Conference June 4-7, ORS outperformed two other finalists in our category.

 The focal point for the ORS honor is Small Steps, the program that helps State of Michigan 401(k) and 457 Plan participants better prepare for retirement. Administered by Voya Financial for ORS, Small Steps is a program that increases participant contributions by 1% annually up to 15% unless they opt out. Small Steps is for Michigan public school, State of Michigan, and Michigan State Police employees eligible for the employer match as Defined Contribution (DC), Pension Plus, and Personal Healthcare Fund participants.

For the 2024 Small Steps program, 97.9% of eligible participants retained the 1% increase to their DC plan as of April 30, 2024. More than 2,000 increased their contributions to 15% or greater, according to Voya.

Changes to Insurance Eligibility for Children

Public Act (PA) 158 will take effect on Feb. 13, 2024. The new law allows for a child to remain on retiree insurance until the month in which that child turns 26, regardless of enrollment in post-secondary education or dependency status for tax purposes. For more information, please see Dependent Coverage.

If you wish to enroll a child who is now eligible as a result of this change, you may do so as soon as March 1, 2024, by completing and submitting an Insurance Enrollment/Change Request (R0452B) and all required proofs on or before Feb. 29, 2024. When ORS receives your enrollment request and required proofs, coverage will be effective the first of the following month, if your request is received prior to Sept. 1, 2024. If ORS receives your enrollment request and required proofs on or after Sept. 1, 2024, coverage will start the first of the sixth month after receipt.

Published on Feb. 2, 2024

Public Act 4 of 2023 — Retirement State Tax Changes

Public Act (PA) 4 of 2023, also known as the Lowering MI Costs Plan, took effect Feb. 13, 2024. It phases in an income tax reduction over the course of four years for retirees who receive a pension. For the 2025 tax year (filed in 2026), Michigan’s tax return, forms, and instructions (e-file and paper format) incorporate all retirement and pension benefit subtraction options – including those created by PA 4 of 2023. For more details, see the Michigan Department of Treasury website.

For joint returns, the birth year of the older spouse can be used.

Judges FAQs for Public Act 4 of 2023 - Retirement State Tax Changes

Retirement state tax changes

The Michigan Office of Retirement Services will continue to evaluate what the law means for our members as the phase-in continues. Please consult a tax professional regarding any questions you may have. To learn more about PA 4 of 2023, see the Michigan Legislature's page.

Published on March 7, 2023
Updated on April 18, 2025

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