Volume 32 | June 2023
The Pensioner: In the Moment
Welcome to the digital MPERS newsletter! The Pensioner: In the Moment contains news, updates, and important information for retirees of the Missouri Department of Transportation, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, and MPERS.
Legislative Update
Another legislative session in the books! Friday, May 12th marked the end of the 2023 Regular Session of the Missouri General Assembly. 
 
There were several pieces of legislation introduced this session and several passed after a number of years in the making. 
 
Senate Bills 20 and 75 were both omnibus retirement bills that each contained several retirement-related pieces of legislation. Most important for MPERS was the passage of the cleanup bill, which had been pending in the General Assembly during the past five sessions. The cleanup bill affects both MPERS and MOSERS, as both systems share many statutes and provisions, and is intended to simply clean up existing statutes by fixing typos, rewording unclear language, and modifying language where implementation was incomplete. It did not change any benefits just cleaned up the language to make it clearer.
 
In addition to the cleanup bill, Senate Bills 20 and 75 both provide for the staggering of the terms for MPERS’ four elected trustees. After the next regular election in 2026, the active trustees who are elected will serve for two years instead of four, then face reelection during the next regular election in 2028 for that group. Following that slight irregularity, the elections for the four elected trustees will be staggered – two in 2028 and two in 2030, serving four-year terms thereafter.

Currently, Senate Bills 20 and 75 are awaiting the Governor's signature.
Welcome, Commissioner Erdman!
MPERS would like to welcome Commissioner Warren K. Erdman to the Board of Trustees. 

Warren is executive vice president-administration and corporate affairs for Kansas City Southern (KCS). Prior to joining KCS in 1997, Erdman served as chief of staff to U.S. Senator Christopher S. Bond of Missouri. He also served former Governors John Ashcroft in 1985 and Kit Bond in 1981 and 1984. 

He is involved in numerous civic organizations. He is a former member of the University of Missouri Board of Curators from 2005 until 2012 and served as chairman of that board. He is a member of the UMKC Foundation board. He is a member of the Westminster College Board of Trustees and is also an alum. Erdman serves on the executive committee and board of directors of the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Kansas City Downtown Council. 

Erdman and his wife, Jenny, live in Kansas City and are the parents of August and Audrey.

Mr. Erdman was appointed to the Board on April 5, 2023, replacing Commissioner Terry Ecker.
What Happens if I Chose a Survivor Payment Option and My Spouse Passes Away Before Me?
If a joint and survivor payment option was chosen at retirement and the listed spouse passes away prior to the retiree, the benefit will pop-up to the unreduced, life income annuity amount. The effective date of the pop-up will be the first of the month following the spouse’s date of death. The pop-up is not automatic; you must complete the appropriate application and provide your spouse’s death certificate before your benefit can be adjusted.

There is an exception for when a survivor option is selected but there is no pop-up of the benefit and that is in the case of members who retired under the Closed Plan and chose the 50% joint & survivor payment option. This payment option for Closed Plan members is not reduced, and therefore, the benefit would not pop up to the unreduced amount because that is the amount already being paid. 

If the member remarries in the future, he/she will have one year from the date of marriage in which to change from life income annuity to a joint & survivor payment option if they so choose.

If a guaranteed payment option was chosen at retirement and the named beneficiary passes away prior to the retiree, the benefit will remain reduced and does not pop up; however, beneficiaries can be changed at any time. 
Upcoming Events
  • 15 - Deadline to submit direct deposit and/or tax withholding changes Complete changes here
  • 19 - Juneteenth holiday, office closed
  • 22 - Board meeting
  • 30 - Payday for benefit recipients
We value your feedback!
What would you like to see in The Pensioner: In the Moment?
Send comments and suggestions to Julie.West@mpers.org.