University Newsletter
SURS Visit to Campus March 3
SURS representatives will be on campus Marh 3 to discuss retirment options with eligible employees. To schedule a retirement counseling appointment or request a written estimate, members in the Traditional or Portable plan should be eligible to retire within five years, and members in the Retirement Savings Plan (RSP) should be eligible to retire within four years, based on the following criteria:
Online Benefit Estimator:
An online benefit estimator is available on the member website, at www.surs.org. The estimator is a helpful tool that can be used by members in the Traditional and Portable Plans when they do not meet the criteria for a counseling appointment. However, please keep in mind that the online estimator has limitations. Therefore, please contact our office if you have service as police officer or firefighter, or if you have reciprocal service and SURS is the most recent system with which you’re employed.
Scheduling an Appointment:
Eligible members who are in the Traditional and Portable plans must complete a retirement estimate request form prior to scheduling an appointment or requesting a written estimate.
To access the retirement, estimate request form:
1. Visit www.surs.org and click on Member Login to gain access to your member webpage. After logging in to your secure member webpage, click on Retirement Counseling on the left menu and complete the retirement estimate request form for either a written estimate or a retirement counseling appointment. Once this form is completed and submitted electronically, you will be prompted to follow a link to schedule an appointment. Currently, we are offering Virtual (via Microsoft Teams), Office, or Telephone Appointments. Alternatively,
2. Call SURS at (800) 275-7877 to request a form. SURS will send a retirement estimate request form via U.S. Mail to the member’s home address or fax. Once the completed form is returned, SURS will immediately notify you via U.S. mail or electronic notification on your member web page that you can contact SURS to schedule an appointment.
3. IMPORTANT: The accuracy of your estimate(s) is only as good as the information provided to SURS. SURS does not have access to your current salary, vacation, or sick leave balances. Therefore, please collect the following information prior to logging in to complete the electronic form (or completing the paper version):
o Anticipated retirement dates (you may choose 2 dates, not further out than 5 years)
o If academic: length of base contract
o Salary: if academic, base salary, plus summer or any overloads, if applicable
o Salary: if staff, salary plus expected overtime
o Percentage of anticipated salary increases
o Sick leave balances (unused/unpaid sick leave earned prior to 01/01/84 or after 01/01/98)
o Vacation balance
o Information on other service such as eligible purchases or reciprocal service
4. Once a counseling appointment has been scheduled, you should receive an email confirmation. If you do not receive an email confirmation that day, please contact SURS to confirm that the appointment was scheduled correctly. The confirmation email includes a link to the scheduling site. If it is necessary to cancel or reschedule, this link can be used up until 48 hours prior to the scheduled appointment time. If the appointment needs to be rescheduled or cancelled within 48 hours prior to the appointment, you will need to contact a SURS representative at (800) 275-7877.
5. In a counseling appointment, you will receive benefit estimates based on information you provided. In addition. In addition, information will be provided on any eligible purchases, reciprocal service, the retirement application process, death and survivor benefits, insurance benefits and post-retirement employment restrictions. You will also have the opportunity to ask questions.
6. If you requested a written estimate, you should receive your estimates within 45-60 days of your request. If you do not receive them within this timeframe, contact a SURS representative at (800) 275-7877.
Please keep in mind that while SURS members are limited to only one counseling appointment or written estimates every 12 months, we are always happy to assist you! If after your appointment or written estimate, you still have questions, please feel free to call (800) 275-7877 to speak with a Member Service Representative. SURS hours are Monday-Wednesday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
www.surs.org
