Here's What's New!

Account security is always a top priority for the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS), and one of our biggest protections against fraud is our members' vigilance and safe practices.

One common way malicious actors attempt to gain access to your sensitive retirement information is through spoofed websites. These fake sites are designed to mimic real websites, tricking you into entering your username and password, which can then be stolen and used to compromise your account. 

Protecting yourself starts with careful observation and healthy online habits:

The ASRS has long been an advocate for members having retirement savings in addition to their future ASRS pension benefit.

Once we receive your application, we enter your information into our system, validate it for compliance, and place it in either a ‘hold’ queue (if we need additional information before calculating your benefit) or a ‘processing’ queue (if no further information is required to proceed.)  Please note that although the ASRS may receive your retirement application before your retirement date, we cannot begin calculating your benefits until the retirement date has passed.

If you’re the key point of contact for employee benefits, you know how crucial it is to be fully equipped to assist, especially with employees who are approaching retirement. A smooth transition into retirement benefits everyone, and the ASRS provides a wealth of information to facilitate this process.

As you contribute to your ASRS retirement account, you may find yourself wondering, “When can I Retire?” There are actually a number of different combinations of criteria that can be used to determine when you’re eligible for “normal” ASRS retirement. Due to changes in law over time, a primary factor is your ASRS membership date.

Members who began contributing to the ASRS prior to June 30, 2011

If you began contributing before June 30, 2011, you are able to utilize the 80 points system.

More and more senior citizens are choosing to remain in the workforce, and we are receiving more Age 65+ Membership Waiver forms than ever. Questions regarding the proper use of this waiver came up often during our recent ASRS Employer Conferences, which tells us some reminders are in order.. 

For those who attended our ASRS Employer Conference recently and selected the Compensation and Contribution Reporting breakout session, you were reminded about Termination Incentive Programs. This article serves to reinforce what you learned, just with less legalese and more layman's terms. 

Basically, Arizona Revised Statute 38-749 makes sure that employers do not create an unfunded liability when they offer special programs to employees to retire. These programs are called "termination incentive programs.”

The ASRS Employer Reference Materials webpage should be a go-to resource for all our ASRS employer partners. It puts all our manuals and guides in one place, has the handouts for recent Basics or Employer Conference sessions, and links to previous editions of this employer newsletter. Additionally, below are links and explanations of other important employer resources and webpages that provide helpful information.

What is the ACR this year, and how is it determined?

For Fiscal Year 2024-25, which began July 1, 2024, the ACR is 10.19%. The ACR is determined on an annual basis along with the regular contribution rates (pension and LTD) for eligible employees and employers. The rates are typically approved by the ASRS Board of Trustees in November for the following fiscal year (beginning July 1), following a presentation by the ASRS actuary on the annual actuarial valuation of the plan.