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In general, vesting refers to a member’s ability to refund all of their contributions paid into a retirement plan. In ASRS terms, our members are ‘vested’ with their first contribution towards their retirement. This allows our members to take retirement even if they only have one month of service credit with the ASRS and would be eligible for ASRS health insurance. 

When an ASRS member terminates their employment, they would have the option to refund all of their contributions plus any applicable interest.

For many employees, retirement can be overwhelming and exciting all at the same time! Employees and employers alike are curious about what is required during this process. The ASRS has the following essential information to assist along the way. 

Resources for Retiring Employees

Welcome to your new monthly newsletter, ASRS In Focus!

We recognize the importance of connecting with you, our employer partners, and have rethought the best way to deliver meaningful content that fits your schedule best.

Contribution rates have been set for fiscal year 2026-27, which begins on July 1, 2026. The total contribution rate for FY 2026-27 will be 11.98%, a decrease from the current rate of 12.00%, which continues through June 30, 2026. 

When planning to retire with the ASRS, you may begin thinking about how early you can begin receiving your benefit. First, it's important to understand how the ASRS defines “normal” and “early” retirement, and how the criteria for each may change depending upon when you started making contributions to the ASRS.

If you are nearing retirement, have you thought about continuing to work after you retire? If the answer is yes, there are several key factors to consider if you plan to return to work, primarily whether you will work directly with an ASRS employer and our 20/20 Membership Criteria. 

Working after retiring from the ASRS allows our members to receive their monthly pension while also receiving a paycheck from their new employer. Please also note that you cannot actively contribute to the ASRS and receive your ASRS pension.

It came to our attention that, due to a technical issue, some members received an error message when submitting documents in their secure myASRS accounts for a short time between 11/18 - 11/20. Please know this issue has been resolved. For anyone who experienced issues, we encourage you to log into your account and resubmit your documents.

For retirees enrolling in health insurance, our Open Enrollment Period remains open, with the last day being Wednesday, November 30, 2022.

We apologize for any inconvenience.

ASRS recognized for Financial Reporting and Plan Funding & Administration

The Arizona State Retirement System recently received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for its 2022 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report.