Here's What's New!

The ASRS employs a number of safeguards to ensure final pension payments made to members are fair and accurate. Effective January 1, 2018, two rules that identify how A.R.S. §38-749 will be enforced will be implemented. Read on to learn more...

by Pamela Vozza, Communications Manager

by Nathaniel Brengle, Communications Specialist

By Sara Orozco, Strategic Planning & Analysis Manager

These days, it seems like every week brings a new story about a company whose systems have been breached, resulting in a loss of personal information for millions of customers. Whether you regularly conduct your business online or not, given the amount of information shared with third parties to conduct regular business in the digital age, we are all vulnerable to a loss of our personal information or financial data.

By David Cannella, Media Relations

This is the first in an occasional series on Defined Benefit Plans and your ASRS benefits.

New contribution rates are set to take effect July 1, 2017, the start of the new fiscal year. The contribution rate for the defined benefit pension plan paid by members and employers will remain at the current rate of 11.34 percent. The rate for the long-term disability program will increase slightly, from 0.14 percent to 0.16 percent.

Public schools constitute a large portion of ASRS membership, which is why our busiest season for new retirements is summer – right after the school year ends.  That leads to an increase in Ending Payroll Verification (EPV) forms for employers, so we thought now might be a good time for a few helpful reminders about this online application.

Please keep the ASRS informed about changes to your employer information.  Changes such as legal dissolutions, modifications to charter contracts, employee leasing, mergers, Joint Powers Authorities, and business name changes require documentation.  Updating your employer information on a regular basis is essential for the integrity of our data and to help us better serve our employer partners and members. 

The ASRS employs a number of safeguards to ensure final pension payments made to members are fair and accurate.  One of the final steps in the process is a full audit of a member’s account to ensure the correct figures were used in calculating the final benefit payment.