To Our Members, Retirees, and Employers

The Public Employees’ Retirement System of Mississippi (PERS) hopes all of our constituents are staying well and continuing to take care of themselves during these unique times. Also important to us is letting you know that we are here to serve you.

Whether by phone, by videoconference, by email, or by appointment, PERS is working five days a week to help our more than 300,000 members and retirees, as well as our nearly 900 employers. We are dedicated to all of our operations, especially those most critical to you. Be it processing your retirement, answering your questions, or paying your monthly benefit, we are here to meet your needs when it comes to your retirement.

Our Customer Service representatives are taking calls at 601-359-3589 and 800-444-7377 every weekday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. We also welcome your emails at customerservice@pers.ms.gov. PERS Focus Sessions are presented virtually every week, and individuals wanting to meet one on one with a representative may call to schedule a virtual meeting or, for individuals who cannot meet virtually, to schedule an appointment to come to the office.

When visiting PERS, rest assured we are focused on your safety and that of our staff, which means we are mindful of the Mississippi State Department of Health’s (MSDH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) regulations and guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19. All staff follow guidelines and safety measures when in the office building, and PERS requires all guests to consider guidelines and safety measures, as well. (See box below.) 

Should you need assistance, please reach out to us. We are here and ready to assist you. Also, please continue to take care of yourself and stay well! Thank you.

Ray Higgins
PERS Executive Director

Health and Safety Guidelines for Guests Visiting the PERS Building

  • Guests should continue to make every effort to conduct PERS business by telephone or online. Our Call Center has remained open and available throughout the pandemic. Before coming to the building, please call to see if your needs can be handled telephonically or using videoconferencing. Our numbers are 800-444-7377 and 601-359-3589. And remember that our website provides a number of helpful resources. 

  • Visits to PERS will be by appointment only. Guests needing to discuss their accounts should call PERS to arrange a scheduled time to speak with a retirement counselor. If a teleconference or videoconference appointment is not feasible, guests will be scheduled for an appointment in person at PERS. Individuals who need to come to the PERS building should note that only a limited number of guests will be allowed at any given time to help maintain proper social distancing as prescribed by the MSDH and the CDC. 

  • Guest visits are for individuals only. While we prefer that members not be accompanied by other individuals, we understand that some individuals may require one additional person for physical assistance. In these cases, the additional person will be encouraged to return to his or her vehicle during the member’s appointment.

  • All guests will be asked to wear a mask while visiting PERS, and touchless temperature taking will be conducted on every guest by agency personnel upon arrival.

  • Any guest who is sick with any illness or who is displaying any symptoms of COVID-19, is asked to stay home and will not be allowed in the PERS building. Any guest who has been sick is required to have been fever- and symptom-free for 14 days prior to entering the building.

  • Finally, by entering the PERS building, each guest confirms that:

  • He or she has not had one or more of the following in the last 14 days:
  • A fever;
  • A cough that cannot be attributed to another health condition;
  • Shortness of breath that cannot be attributed to another health condition;
  • A sore throat that cannot be attributed to another heath condition;
  • Nasal congestion or runny nose that cannot be attributed to another health condition;
  • Body aches;
  • Loss of taste and/or smell;
  • Diarrhea;
  • Nausea;
  • Vomiting;
  • Sweats; or
  • Chills.

  • He or she does not care for or live with someone who has COVID-19 symptoms (fever and symptoms listed above) or who has tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 14 days.

  • He or she has not been exposed to someone with a positive COVID-19 test in the last 14 days.

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