employer news

The Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) is excited to introduce a new feature designed to provide enhanced support to our valued employers: Co-Browsing. This tool allows ASRS agents to assist you more effectively by viewing your screen and guiding you through your Employer Secure Account in real time.

As we approach retirement season at the ASRS, we wanted to take this opportunity to highlight the importance of the Ending Payroll Verification (EPV) form. There are four scenarios when an EPV form is required from an employer:

1. A member applied for a refund of their contributions and had contributions reported by your organization in the last 6 months, or

As an employer participating in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS), it's crucial to understand your responsibilities when implementing reduction in force (RIF) measures. This article outlines the necessary steps to notify ASRS and accurately complete Ending Payroll Verification forms for terminated employees seeking a refund of their ASRS account due to a RIF.

Notification to ASRS Regarding RIFs

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.

As an ASRS employer, you play a crucial role in securing your employees' financial future. Actively facilitating their enrollment in their Arizona State Retirement System’s online Secure Account isn't just a procedural task – it is a vital step that benefits both your employees and your organization.

Why is Online Enrollment Essential?

When it comes to the security of your Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) Employer Secure Account, one of the most important guidelines to follow is to never allow the sharing of login credentials. Sharing account access can lead to numerous unwanted security breaches from someone gaining access to information they should not see to one user making changes that are recorded under another user’s name. If ASRS identifies shared credentials, we will deactivate employer account access and require new user accounts to be created.

Two of the most popular retirement dates are July 1 and January 1, and both of these dates begin a busy retirement season filled with questions from retirees and employers. Many of these questions revolve around returning to work post-retirement and the ASRS Working After Retirement online smart form, also known as the Return to Work (RTW) form. As we approach the next retirement season, we want to revisit some frequently asked questions from employers and address some of the scenarios that can cause confusion when hiring retirees.

Now that the Live Chat feature has been in place for nearly a year, here are some helpful tips and reminders to make these chat interactions more beneficial to you.

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.

Understanding the rules around hiring an ASRS retiree is important. While it is the member’s responsibility to ensure compliance with the ASRS Return to Work rules and statutes, it is also the employer’s responsibility to help ensure compliance. Failure to do so can result in suspension of benefits and repayment of unlawfully paid benefits. Employers should check the retirement status of all their new hires using the Check Member Eligibility Tool.