Types of Service Credit
Rounding Out Your Retirement Plans
When your retirement application is processed, we forward your insurance information to the health, prescription drug, dental, and vision insurance carriers. You should receive insurance identification cards and materials a few weeks after your pension begins.
As a retiree, your state-sponsored life insurance continues for you and your dependents at no charge to you. Your coverage is 25 percent of the coverage you carried when you left work; your dependents' policies are capped at $1,000 each.
To view Long-Term Care Insurance (LTC) plan details, visit the Employee Benefits Division of the Michigan Civil Service Commission under Retiree Eligibility. If you previously enrolled in a state-sponsored LTCI plan with LifeSecure, Prudential or MetLife, you can call the vendor directly. For the LifeSecure Indiv
Eligible dependents for health, dental, and vision insurance plans include your spouse (as long as he or she is not also separately enrolled as an eligible state employee or retiree) and your unmarried children by birth, legal adoption, or full legal guardianship.
The Benefits for Life, the retiree-paid, optional coverage program offered through the state of Michigan offers you the opportunity to apply for coverage in key benefit areas. These offerings do not replace your state-sponsored benefit plans. Instead, the program offers additional financial protection with premiums payable through the convenience of pension deduction. Because the plans are optiona
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| Apply for ret irement |
For most account changes, you don't need a paper form. Simply access your account online to name a beneficiary, change your address, view and apply for service credit, estimate your pension, apply for retirement, and much more. |
These documents require Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you experience difficulty in viewing these files, we recommend that you use the latest version of the software. Download a free copy of the software.
Name Change Request for Active Employees (R1131X)
Use this form to change your name if you are not receiving a pension benefit from the Michigan Office of Retirement Services (ORS) and are actively working for the State Employees' Retirement System.
Beneficiary Nomination (R0400G)
This form designates a beneficiary for a monthly pension benefit in the event of the death of an active state employee.
Eligible Domestic Relations Orders: Background and Instructions (R0911X)
Important instructions, background information, and examples for completing an Eligible Domestic Relations Order (EDRO) that complies with retirement statutes. This information will help you understand how an EDRO will affect your pension.
Eligible Domestic Relations Orders (R0259G)
An Eligible Domestic Relations Order (EDRO) is a specific type of court order that provides instructions for dividing a public pension as part of a divorce. It applies only to active and deferred members of a pension system. ORS developed this online fillable form to allow members of the State Employees' Retirement System to create accurate and complete EDROs that can be administered under the retirement statutes. It is the preferred document to file with ORS. Background information and instructions are provided separately in Eligible Domestic Relations Orders: Background and Instructions (R0911X).
Act 88 Application (R3571G)
Use this form to apply for Act 88, Reciprocal Retirement Act of 1961 service credit.
Military Service Credit Application (R0081G)
Use this form to apply for service credit for time you spent in active-duty military service.
Parental Leave Service Credit Application (R0126G)
If you reduced your hours or left state employment for parental leave — maternity, paternity, or child-rearing time — you may be eligible to buy up to 5 years of retirement credit for these time periods.
Other Governmental Employment Service Credit Application (R0127G)
If you were employed by a city, county, township, village in Michigan; another state government; or the federal government, you may be eligible to purchase this service.
Application to Transfer Michigan Public School Service (R0417G)
This application is used for transfer of eligible service and/or monies on deposit or for informational purposes only.
University Service Credit Application (R0447G)
If you previously worked for Grand Valley State University, Michigan State University, Oakland University, Saginaw Valley University, University of Michigan, or Wayne State University, you may be eligible to purchase or receive retirement credit for this employment. Work with your previous employer to complete this form and submit it to ORS to determine if you are eligible.
Service Credit Payment Options (R0648G)
This summarizes the ways you can pay for your service credit purchase.
Qualified Plan-to-Plan Transfer Certification (R0158X)
This form is used if you wish to transfer funds from a qualified retirement plan - 401(a), 401(k), 403(b), or 457 - to purchase service credit.
Paying Off a TDP Agreement (R0718G)
This document gives you information about how to pay off a current tax-deferred payment (TDP) agreement and includes a worksheet to help you project your TDP agreement balance at the time of your employment separation.
Payoff Payment Options for a TDP Agreement (R0518G)
You can use this form only if you are retiring or terminating employment and need to pay off a current tax-deferred payment agreement.
Supplemental TDP Agreement (R0654G)
Use this form if you have a current tax-deferred payment agreement and wish to increase your payroll deductions.
Name, Address, and Contact Information Change (R0357X)
Use this form to change your physical address, mailing address, email address, name, or phone number with ORS.
Deferred Service Retirement Beneficiary Designation (R0134G)
If you separate from state service after working at least 10 years, but before you're old enough to draw your pension, your beneficiary may be eligible for a pension benefit if you die. Use this form to keep your beneficiary designation up to date. You may change this beneficiary designation at any time prior to your actual date of retirement.
Refund Application (R0138GH)
Use this form if you have terminated employment and would like to withdraw your contributions on account with the State Employees' Retirement System.
Withholding Certificate Form W-4R (R2035X)
Use this form only if you wish to have more than 20% federal tax withheld from your refund payment. You will be required to complete a Withholding Certificate Form W-4R (R2035X) and submit it to ORS with your completed Refund Application (R0138GH).
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Apply Early! |
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Since we cannot pay retroactively, you could end up losing benefits if you apply after the month you terminate employment. |
Application for Retirement — miAccount
miAccount is the fastest and easiest way to apply for retirement — five simple steps and you're done!
Preparing to Apply for Retirement (R0870G)
Print out this paper form to use as a reference when you apply online. You will be able to make notes that will be helpful as you apply, especially if you're not using your own computer to apply.
Life Insurance Beneficiary Designation (R0782GHB)
This form is used to designate your life insurance primary and secondary beneficiaries upon retirement.
Insurance Option Sheet (R0423GH)
This form provides you with basic information about the health, dental, and vision insurance coverage available to retirees.
Insurance Rates
Health, dental, and vision insurance rates for retirees are available on the Employee Benefits Michigan Civil Service Commission website.
Pension Election and Spousal Waiver (R0869G)
Use this form if you're married and name someone other than your spouse as your beneficiary, or you elect any option other than the 100% survivor option. The form — if needed in your situation — will be available in miAccount when you apply for retirement.
Publication: Pre-Retirement Orientation (R0613G)
For Defined Benefit Plan members who are within a few years of retiring. This book contains specifics on how pensions are calculated, the various payment options, how to prepare for retirement, and the application process.
Publication: Additional Retirement Planning Resources
For Defined Benefit Plan members who are within a few years of retiring. This info sheet contains planning details for Voya retirement savings, Social Security, and Medicare coverage.
Publication: Disability Protection (R0638G)
For Defined Benefit members who are facing an illness or injury that prevents them from working. This brochure defines the criteria to receive a disability benefit and gives an overview of the application process.
Name, Address, and Contact Information Change (R0357X)
Use this form to change your physical address, mailing address, email address, name, or phone number with ORS.
Income Tax Withholding Authorization (R0012X)
Use this to change either the federal or Michigan income tax withholding on your retirement pension.
Direct Deposit Application (R0277X)
You may update your direct deposit information by logging in to miAccount or by contacting us to have a form mailed to your home address.
Insurance Enrollment/Change Request (R0452G)
Use this form to enroll in one or more of the retirement system insurance plans, change from one health plan to another, or add, delete, or change a name for anyone on your existing insurance coverage. Also use this form to notify ORS if you, your spouse, or any of your covered dependents become eligible for Medicare or other health, dental, vision or prescription group insurance coverage.
Insurance Rates
Health, dental, and vision insurance rates for retirees are available on the Employee Benefits Civil Service website.
Insurance Option Sheet (R0423GH)
This form provides you with basic information about the health, dental, and vision insurance coverage available to retirees.
Domestic Relations Orders: Background and Instructions (R0912CGB)
Important instructions, background information, and examples for completing a Domestic Relations Order (DRO) that complies with retirement statutes. This information will help you understand how a DRO affects your pension.
Domestic Relations Order (DRO) (R0323G)
A DRO is a specific type of court order that provides instructions for dividing a public pension as part of a divorce. It applies only to retired members of a pension system. ORS has developed a downloadable, fillable form to allow you to create accurate and complete DROs that can be administered under the retirement statutes. This interactive PDF prevents errors by not allowing contradicting selections, by prefilling information, preventing typographical errors, and by offering pop-up help screens. It is the preferred document to file with ORS. This is the fastest, most efficient way to complete your filing. Complete it online, save it, print it, then take the printed copy to the court for the judge's signature. Background information, instructions, and examples are provided separately in Domestic Relations Orders: Background and Instructions (R0912CGB).
Domestic Relations Order to Void the Survivor Option Only (R0914G)
This downloadable, fillable form simplifies the voiding of a survivor option of a Domestic Relations Order (DRO) in circumstances when the void language is not included in the judgment of divorce. This interactive PDF prevents errors by prefilling information, preventing typographical errors, and by offering pop-up help screens. It is the preferred document to file with ORS. This is the fastest, most efficient way to complete your filing. Complete it online, save it, print it, then take the printed copy to the court for the judge's signature. Background information, instructions, and examples are provided separately in Domestic Relations Orders: Background and Instructions (R0912CGB).
Refund Beneficiary Designation (R0748X)
Use this form to change your retirement refund beneficiary.
Retiree Rehire Certification (R0792G)
Complete this form if you retired from the State of Michigan, receive a pension, and are subsequently rehired by the state either directly or indirectly with a third party.
Life Insurance Beneficiary Designation (R0782GHB)
This form is used to designate your life insurance primary and secondary beneficiaries upon retirement.
Publication: After Retirement (R0614G)
You will receive this pamphlet when you apply for your pension. It tells you what to expect, and how and when you should contact ORS after your retirement benefits begin.
Release of Information Authorization (R3488CGHBD)
If you need to request a copy of documents located in your account, please complete and submit this form.
Pre-Retirement Orientation (R0613G)
For Defined Benefit Plan members who are within a few years of retiring. This book contains specifics on how pensions are calculated, the various payment options, how to prepare for retirement, and the application process.
After Retirement (R0614G)
You will receive this pamphlet when you apply for your pension. It tells you what to expect, and how and when you should contact ORS after your retirement benefits begin.
Disability Protection (R0638G)
For Defined Benefit members who are facing an illness or injury that prevents them from working. This brochure defines the criteria to receive a disability benefit and gives an overview of the application process.
Annual Comprehensive Financial Report
The latest annual report presents the financial position and results of operations of the State Employees' Retirement System.
Proactive — Our e-newsletter for active members.
September 2024
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