ORSSCHOOLS

Welcome to the ORS website for members of the Michigan Public School Employees Retirement System who began public school employment before July 1, 2010.

Throughout your working career, your employer takes care of your pension plan deductions, wage and service records, and plan contributions. Regular reports are sent to ORS to become part of your personal pension record. When it's time to retire, your employer hands off all your final records to ORS, and we become your partner in retirement.

On June 20, the House passed Senate Bill 401, in the exact same form that the Senate passed it on Thursday.  The bill is now going to the Governor’s desk, and he is expected to sign it.  That process typically takes about a week.​ The bill passed by both the House and Senate is available here: http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2017-2018/billengrossed/Senate/pdf/2017-SEBH-0401.pdf.

Published on June 21, 2017

On June 15, both the House and the Senate passed identical MPSERS reform bills (HB4647 and SB401). The next step is for the House or the Senate to pass one of the two and advance it to the governor for signature. There is a 5-day waiting period before the next vote can happen. The bill passed by the House is available here: http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2017-2018/billengrossed/House/pdf/2017-HEBH-4647.pdf.

Published on June 16, 2017

On June 13, the governor and legislative leaders came to an agreement on changes to the public school employees’ retirement plan. Those changes are going through the normal legislative process. Today, the proposal was reviewed separately by both the House and Senate committees on Education. An analysis of the proposal is available on the Michigan Legislature website at this address: http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2017-2018/billanalysis/House/pdf/2017-HLA-4647-49170FA0.pdf. We will continue to keep this notice updated as to the progress of the bill.

Published on June 14, 2017

On June 1, the Michigan Supreme Court agreed to hear arguments regarding the member contributions of 3 percent toward their retiree healthcare. When a final determination is made, we will post the information here.

Published on June 5, 2017

Everyone enrolled in our retiree non-Medicare PPO health care plan (administered by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan) at any time in 2016 will receive Form 1095-B in the mail from the Office of Retirement Services. The statements will begin mailing this week and wrap up no later than January 30^th, 2017. You should receive the statement in 3-5 business days after it hits the mail. 

Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) and Medicare are responsible for providing Form 1095-B to anyone covered by either of those entities at any time during 2016.

Form 1095-B is a health coverage statement, required by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The form is used to report health coverage of individuals who meet minimum essential coverage standards to the IRS on income tax returns. It is your responsibility to make copies of the 1095-B form for your spouse and/or dependents. For specific guidance on information found on the 1095-B statement, contact your tax professional or the IRS.

The IRS has published some general questions and answers about the health care reporting forms, including what to do with them.

Published on January 25, 2017

You can use the Pension Impact Estimator to determine what effect, if any, working after retirement has on your pension. This tool is designed so that you answer a series of questions and, at the end, receive an answer as to how your pension is impacted by your work. Use this tool before returning to work, or while you’re planning your retirement strategy. 

Published November 14, 2016

On July 19, 2016, the state filed a formal request to the Supreme Court to hear an appeal of the Court of Appeals (COA) ruling on PA 75 and the 3 percent healthcare contributions for public school employees. In June 2016, the COA ruled that PA 75 was unconstitutional and ordered the refund of contributions that had been deducted from public school employees pay during the period the statute was in effect (2010 to 2012). In the meantime, the contributions at issue are being held in an escrow account pending a final decision of whether they should be applied to the healthcare trust, along with other member and employer contributions, to provide investment funding for retiree healthcare.

Originally published July 20, 2016

The operation of Michigan Public Schools Employees Retirement System is controlled by the Public School Employees Retirement Act, Public Act 300 of 1980, as amended.