The following MSRS pension plans follow most provisions of the General Employees Retirement Plan; however, there are several unique plan features to be aware of.

Fire Marshals Retirement Plan


The State Fire Marshals Retirement Plan covers employees of the State Fire Marshal's Division employed as deputy state fire marshal fire/arson investigators. This plan began July 1, 1999.

The Fire Marshals Plan provides retirement, survivor and disability coverage. Once retired, 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 benefit upon your death.

The Fire Marshals Retirement Plan follows the same provisions as the General Employees Retirement Plan; however, unique plan features are described below.

Fire Marshals Retirement Plan - Unique Plan Features

Contribution rates are established by Minnesota law.

To become a member of the Fire Marshals Plan:

Age at which you can collect an unreduced (full) retirement benefit is age 55.

Monthly benefits are computed using a formula.

You receive 2% for each year of service.

You may be eligible for a disability benefit if you are unable to perform your duties and are disqualified from active duty.

The Fire Marshals Plan offers two types of disability: Job-related disability and non-job-related disability.

Military Affairs Retirement Plan


The Military Affairs Retirement Plan covers military affairs personnel on active duty. The plan provides retirement, survivor, and disability coverage.

Once retired, 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 benefit upon your death.

The Military Affairs Retirement Plan follows the same provisions as the General Employees Retirement Plan; however, unique plan features are described below.

Military Affairs Retirement Plan - Unique Plan Features

Contribution rates are established by Minnesota law.

To be a member of the Military Affairs Plan:

Age at which you can collect an unreduced (full) retirement benefit. Eligibility:

Earliest age you can retire; however, your retirement benefit will be reduced:

Transportation Dept Pilots Retirement Plan


Plan closed to new members effective January 1, 2008. There are no active members contributing to this plan.

The Transportation Department Pilots Plan (Pilots Plan) covers pilots and chief pilots employed by the Department of Transportation (DOT). The plan was established to meet the mandatory early retirement requirements of DOT pilots.

The Pilots Plan provides retirement, survivor and disability coverage. Once retired, 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 benefit upon your death.

The Transportation Pilots Retirement Plan follows the same provisions as the General Employees Retirement Plan; however, unique plan features are described below.

Transportation Pilots Retirement - Unique Plan Features

There are currently no active members contributing to this plan. For historical purposes, here were the contribution rates:

Age at which you can collect an unreduced (full) retirement benefit. Eligibility:

Earliest age you can retire; however, your retirement benefit will be reduced:

Age 65, per Commissioner of Transportation policy

  • Must be under age 62 to apply for disability benefit. After age 62, it's considered a retirement benefit.
     
  • FAA must determine you are ineligible to obtain a pilot's medical certification.
     
  • If under age 62 at time of disability, will receive 75% of pilot's salary for five year or until age 62, whichever is first. Salary is paid by the MNDOT.

Fairview Hospital & Clinics


Certain current and former Fairview employees are eligible to receive a monthly retirement benefit from Minnesota State Retirement System (MSRS) because they were employed by the University of Minnesota  when acquired by Fairview. Eligible employees include:

  • University of Minnesota Hospital & Clinics (UMHC) employees employed  prior to January 1, 1997

  • University of Minnesota Physicians (UMP) employees employed prior to January 1, 1998

Prior to the privatization, these U of M employees were Minnesota public employees and contributed to the General Employees Retirement Plan (General Plan) administered by MSRS.  Employees are eligible for a monthly pension benefit when they reach retirement age.

Fairview employees are covered by the General Employees Retirement Plan; however, unique plan features are described below.

Fairview - Unique Plan Features

While former UMHC / UMP employees may be eligible for a pension plan under the General Plan, state law provides a higher (enhanced) augmentation so that employees are able to maintain the value of their pension plan following privatization.

Think of augmentation like compounding interest that increases the value of your benefit every month that you wait to start collecting your benefit. When you apply for your pension, MSRS will calculate your benefit based on your current age and then increase (or augment) at the compounding annual rates in the table below. 

Enhanced augmentation schedule
Important! The 2018 Omnibus Retirement Bill removed deferred augmentation as a benefit for all public pension plans. As a result, the UMHC/UMP enhanced augmentation will gradually be phased out. Additional augmentation will not accrue after December 31, 2024. You will remain entitled to any augmentation accrued up to that point.

Year Augmentation up to age 55 Augmentation age 55 & older
1997-2018 5.50% 7.50%
2019 4.50% 4.50%
2020 3.75% 3.75%
2021 3.00% 3.00%
2022 2.25% 2.25%
2023 1.50% 1.50%
2024 0.75% 0.75%
2025 No additional augmentation will accrue after 12/31/2024

 

Eligibility for enhanced augmentation:

Subsequent public employment
Former UMHC / UMP employees who accepts a position covered by a Minnesota public pension plan will receive no less than the value of their enhanced augmentation pension upon retirement.

Vesting is the amount of time you need to work in public employment in order to qualify for a pension plan benefit. Former UMHC / UMP employees are vested with any amount of covered service. They do not require three years of service, which is the normal vesting period for those hired before July 1, 2010.

Normal (full) and early retirement age is the same as all other employees covered by the General Plan with the following exception: Former UMHC / UMP employees who started covered employment before July 1, 1989 are eligible for Rule of 90 (your age plus years of service equals 90). Time spent employed with Fairview counts toward Rule of 90 credit. Private employment with any other employer does not count toward Rule of 90 credit.

Retirement benefits are calculated under the law in effect on a member's last working day as a public employee. Your benefit calculation is based on the high-five salary, length of service, and benefit formula you qualified for at that time, plus the enhanced augmentation that has accrued on your account since then.

Last working date as public employee: