Staff Retirement Information

Retirement procedures

• Submit a Separation of Employment form: Staff employees electing to retire must first provide written notice to their supervisor at least 45 days prior to the date of termination.
• Payment for unused vacation: At the time of retirement, the university will pay the employee for any unused vacation days (up to two times annual accruals), minus applicable taxes, through a supplemental payment normally by the end of the following month. This payment is not included in the MOSERS retirement benefit calculation.
• Payment for unused sick leave: At the time of retirement, staff are paid for 40 percent (up to a maximum of 48 days) of their unused sick days with the remaining days reported to MOSERS for service credit. The amount paid is not included in the MOSERS retirement benefit calculation.

Working after retirement

Occasionally, staff employees who retire have the opportunity to work for the university in a part-time capacity. This is permissible and will not result in the loss of retirement benefits, provided the retiree does not work 1,000 hours or more in a 12-month period. If a retiree works 1,000 hours or more in a 12-month period, the university is required to notify MOSERS, and as a result of the notification, MOSERS will stop the retirement payments to the retiree. MOSERS does not specify how working under 1,000 hours can be scheduled.

In rare instances, a staff employee returns to work for Missouri State University on a full-time basis. When this happens, the university notifies MOSERS of the retiree’s re-employment as a full-time employee and MOSERS stops the payment of retirement benefits. As a full-time employee, the retiree is eligible for all insurance benefits as he/she had prior to retirement. When the person stops working full-time and returns to retirement status, the university notifies MOSERS of this change so that retirement payments can be re-started.

Before receiving a benefit payment from MOSERS, IRS rules require a "bona fide termination" of the member's employment.  For purposes of MOSERS, a "bona fide termination" occurs when:

• Member's employment has been completely severed.
• No prearranged agreement (written or oral) exists for reemployment (full, part-time, or other); retiring members must certify on the retirement application, under the penalty of fraud, that no prearrangement for employment exists; and
• Retiree has not been reemployed by the State of Missouri or any MOSERS-covered employer (ful, part-time, or other) within 30 days after their prior employment ended.

MOSERS Separation of Service awareness

Emeritus status

Emeritus faculty and staff are entitled to all benefits provided to university retirees and will receive invitations to special events, an email account and a president’s parking pass. Emeriti are entitled to enroll in one course per semester and have their required student fees paid by the university. This educational fee waiver benefit may be assigned to eligible dependent children.

Emeritus staff appointment

Emeritus status may be granted to retiring staff and administrative employees as a special recognition for exemplary work performance and outstanding, loyal and dedicated service to the university.

To be eligible for the title, staff members must also satisfy the following requirements:

• Completion of at least ten years of service in a full-time regular position.
• Retirement status or disability status at Missouri State University.
• Approval of the appropriate administrative officials and the Board of Governors.

Supervisors must nominate staff employees for emeritus by submitting a personnel action form.

Forms and publications

Forms

• Separation of Employment form
• Personal action form