As an employer participating in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS), it's important to understand what information the ASRS is statutorily allowed to release and how to guide your employees with questions about their ASRS accounts. While the Employer Relations Team strives to provide you with the information you need to assist your employee through ASRS processes like withdrawing their contributions, retirement or purchasing service, we are limited by statute in what information we can share. This article outlines the types of information the ASRS can disclose, based on applicable statutes and policies, and emphasizes the importance of directing employees to contact the ASRS Member Advisory Center for personalized assistance.
What Information Can ASRS Disclose?
Arizona Revised Statute (A.R.S.). 38-755 governs the confidentiality of member information held by the ASRS. A.R.S 38-755(D) states that in order to protect a member's identity from fraud, abuse, theft, or civil or criminal activity, information about a member is not subject to inspection pursuant to title 39, chapter 1, article 2, except that the following information about a member is subject to inspection:
1. The member's name.
2. Whether the member is an active member as defined in section 38-711, an inactive member, as defined in section 38-711, or a retired member, as defined in section 38-711.
3. The member's current or most recent employer.
4. For a retired member, the average monthly compensation, as defined in section 38-711, used to calculate the member's retirement benefit.
5. The credited service, as defined in section 38-711 on account for an active or inactive member or the credited service used to calculate the retirement benefit for a retired member.
6. The gross pension amount actually paid to a retired member.
7. The most recent retirement date.
8. The current account balance for an active or inactive member.
9. The gross long-term disability program benefit actually paid to a member with a disability pursuant to article 2.1 of this chapter.
10. The amount paid to purchase credited service pursuant to section 38-743, 38-744 or 38-745.
11. The amount of credited service purchased pursuant to section 38-743, 38-744 or 38-745.
What Information is Confidential?
The ASRS maintains strict confidentiality regarding sensitive member information. This includes, but is not limited to:
● Personal Identifying Information: Social Security numbers, dates of birth, home addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses (except where specifically authorized by statute or policy).
● Medical Information: Any medical information related to disability or health conditions.
● Financial Information: Detailed financial information beyond what is necessary for benefit calculations, such as bank account numbers or investment details (except as required for direct deposit of benefits or as otherwise authorized by law).
● Designated Beneficiaries: Information about designated beneficiaries is generally considered confidential and is only released to the member or authorized individuals.
ASRS Public Records Requests:
The ASRS recognizes the importance of transparency and complies with Arizona's public records laws. The ASRS website provides information on how to submit a public records request on our Public Records Request webpage. However, it's crucial to understand that member-specific information protected by A.R.S 38-755 will not be released in response to a public records request. The ASRS Disclosure of Public Information policy further clarifies what information is considered public and what is protected.
Guiding Employees with ASRS Questions:
It is essential to instruct your employees to contact the ASRS Member Advisory Center with any questions regarding their individual ASRS accounts or benefits. This is the best way to ensure members receive accurate and personalized information. Here's why:
● Privacy: ASRS Member Advisory Center staff are trained to handle sensitive information with the utmost confidentiality. Direct contact ensures that employee information is protected.
● Accuracy: The ASRS Member Advisory Center has access to the most up-to-date information regarding members’ accounts. They can provide accurate information tailored to the member’s specific situation.
● Personalized Assistance: ASRS Member Advisory Center staff can answer specific member account questions and provide guidance on individual circumstances.
● MyASRS Secure Account: Encourage your employees to utilize their secure MyASRS accounts. Share this article “Getting the Most From Your myASRS Account Secure Account” with your employees as a helpful resource. This online portal provides secure access to personal account information and allows members to perform various self-service functions.
How to Direct Employees to the ASRS:
● ASRS Public Website: Direct employees to the ASRS website www.azasrs.gov for general information and contact details.
● ASRS Member Advisory Center: Provide employees with the ASRS Member Advisory Center phone number at the following numbers: o 602-240-2000 from within metropolitan Phoenix o 520-239-3100 from within metropolitan Tucson o 800-621-3778 from outside the Tucson and Phoenix areas
● MyASRS: Encourage employees to register for and use their secure online MyASRS accounts for personalized information and transactions.
By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your employees receive accurate and confidential information about their ASRS benefits, while enabling us to remain compliant with relevant statutes and policies. Remember, directing employees to the ASRS directly is the most effective way to safeguard their privacy and provide them with the most accurate, account-specific information
