The General Employees Retirement Plan (General Plan) provides retirement, survivor, and disability coverage for state employees as well as civil service employees of the University of Minnesota, and employees of the Metropolitan Council.

Once you retire, you receive a monthly retirement benefit for life with potential post-retirement increases. Depending on the option you select at retirement, your survivor(s) may be eligible to receive a lifetime survivor benefit upon your death.

To learn more, see the General Employees Retirement Plan Handbook (pdf).

Contribution Rates


Employee and employer contribution rates are established by Minnesota law. Contributions are a percentage of pay.

Employee Contribution Employer Contribution
6.00% 6.25%
5.50% (temporary reduction starting 7/1/2023 to 6/30/2025) 6.25%

Eligibility (Vesting)


Eligibility to collect a monthly retirement benefit (or what we call vesting) is based on years of service.

If membership in General Plan began:

  • Eligible (vested) after three years of service.
  • Full retirement benefit: Typically at age 66.
  • Reduced retirement benefit: age 55 or later, assuming you are vested.
  • Eligible (vested) after:
    • three years of service if an active employee on July 1, 2023; or
    • five years of service if not an active employee on July 1, 2023.
  • Full retirement benefit: Typically at age 66.
  • Reduced retirement benefit: age 55 or later, assuming you are vested.
  • Eligible (vested) after three years of service.
  • Full retirement benefit: Typically at age 66.
  • Reduced retirement benefit: age 55 or later, assuming you have 3 years of service.
  • Eligible (vested) after three years of service, assuming last day worked was after May 16, 1989.
  • Full retirement benefit - eligible when you meet one of the following criteria:
    • age 65; or
    • Rule of 90 (your age plus years of service equal 90 or more); or
    • age 62, with 30 or more years of service.
  • Reduced retirement benefit - eligible when you meet one of the following criteria:
    • age 55 or later, assuming you are vested; or
    • any age, with 30 or more years of service.

Calculating Your Retirement Benefit


Calculating your retirement benefit is a simple formula defined in Minnesota law. The first piece we consider is the length of service. Then we calculate the high-five average salary. We take these two pieces and apply it to a benefit multiplier to determine the retirement benefit.

Other factors that determine the monthly benefit are the retirement age and the survivor benefit option selected at retirement.

To learn more about how the retirement benefit is calculated, see:

Service Credit


Service credit -- or allowable service -- is the credit you earn each month retirement deductions are withheld from your salary. Service credit is important because it is used in a formula to determine your monthly retirement benefit. The more service you have and the higher your salary, the higher your monthly retirement benefit will be.

A number of factors may impact your service credit including:

Beneficiary & Survivor Benefit


Your status at the time of death (before or after you are collecting a monthly retirement/disability benefit), determines how your assets will be paid and to whom (a beneficiary or survivor).

It is important that you understand the difference between a beneficiary and survivor and the benefits they are eligible for upon your death. To learn more, see Beneficiary & Survivor Benefit.

Disability Benefit


As a member of the General Plan, you have total and permanent disability protection. This is an important benefit since it will pay you disability benefits for your lifetime, or until you are no longer disabled. Your age at the time of your disability is not a factor.

To learn more about how we calculate your disability benefit and how to apply, see Disability Benefit.