If you participate in the State Retirement & Pension System (SRPS), this information will help you with steps you'll take as you're approaching retirement.
Your first step will be a meeting with the Benefits Specialist from Human Resources. The Benefits Specialist will be your best resource for guiding you through the retirement process. Your meeting is confidential.
The following topics are addressed on this page:
The information below is intended as a general guideline for those soon approaching retirement. Each person's situation is different; if you have questions about your personal situation as it relates to retirement requirements, please contact the Office of Human Resources.
3 Months Prior
If applicable, apply for Medicare.
1 Month Prior to Retirement
Submit a formal letter of retirement to your department.
Retirees have access to some of the same benefits available to active employees. Please see the sections for each benefit to read about eligibility requirements.
Some benefits offered to active employees are not available to retirees. They are:
If you meet the age and service requirements when you retire, you and your eligible dependents may continue to receive medical benefits under the State’s health plan. As a retiree, you are eligible for either partial or full subsidy of your State health benefits if you meet one of the following criteria:
NOTE: A State employee or faculty member who retires with less than five years of creditable service is not eligible for participation in the State health plan unless retiring directly from State service with a disability retirement benefit.
After retirement, you are subject to the same enrollment restrictions applied to active employees.
Dependent Eligibility - The surviving spouse of a deceased retiree with health benefits is eligible to receive continuing State health coverage provided the surviving spouse is receiving a monthly allowance under options 2,3,5,6. A surviving spouse can only cover dependents that would also be eligible dependents of the original State retiree.
Cost - The State subsidizes health premium costs for retired State employees. The amount is determined according to each retiree’s State credibility service. If you have 16 years or more of State creditable service you receive the same subsidy provided to an active employee. If you have at least five years, but less than 16 years of State creditable service, the subsidy will be prorated. You will be paying the uncovered portion of the prorated subsidy in addition to the normal retiree’s portion of the premium. The cost is deducted from your monthly pension check.
Medicare Eligibility - If you are 65 or older, or you have a disability entitling you to Medicare benefits, then you are eligible for Medicare. A retired State employee or a covered spouse who is 65 or older at retirement must enroll in Medicare parts A and B. The State health plan is, thereafter, supplemental to Medicare. Anyone covered under the State retiree’s health benefits program that does not have Medicare Parts A and B when eligible will become responsible for approximately 80% of claim amounts that would have been paid by Medicare. If applicable, apply to the local Social Security office three months prior to your retirement.
You can continue life insurance coverage with MetLife or UNUM if you were enrolled as an active employee. A retiree cannot start this benefit as a retiree. Your dependents may keep the same coverage, as long as you remain enrolled.
Long Term Disability with UNUM is not available to retirees.
You can continue your Long Term Care coverage if you were enrolled as an active employee. Call Prudential at 1-800-732-0416 to convert your coverage to an individual plan.
Retirees are eligible for tuition remission if they:
Your tuition remission benefit level is based on your FTE status at retirement. If you were full time when you retired, your tuition remission benefit would be equivalent to that of an active full time employees. If you were part time when you retired, your tuition benefit would be equivalent to an active part time employee. Spouse and dependent children of retirees are eligible for tuition remission benefits in accordance with the guidelines for that of spouse and dependents of regular active employees. Upon retirement tuition remission is not available for St. Mary’s College.
If you seek re-employment in any state agency or a USM institution after retiring, state law imposes a 45-day break minimum.
The Office of Human Resources is here to help. Contact us if you have questions about any of this information.