Your retirement eligibility depends on which retirement plan you participate in: the Public Employees’ Retirement System of Mississippi (PERS) or the Optional Retirement Plan (ORP). Review the requirements for your plan below before choosing a retirement date.
Jump to: PERS | ORP | Retiree Insurance Eligibility | Questions | Retirement Guides
PERS
Retirement Eligibility by Tier
Your tier is based on the date you first became a member of PERS. It is shown on the annual member statement PERS mails each October.
| Tier | Type of Plan | Hire/Entry Date | Vesting Period | Retirement Eligibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Defined Benefit | On or before June 30, 1992 | 4 years | 25 years of service at any age, or age 60 and vested |
| 2 | Defined Benefit | July 1, 1992 – June 30, 2007 | 4 years | 25 years of service at any age, or age 60 and vested |
| 3 | Defined Benefit | July 1, 2007 – June 30, 2011 | 8 years | 25 years of service at any age, or age 60 and vested |
| 4 | Defined Benefit | July 1, 2011 – February 28, 2026 | 8 years | 30 years of service at any age, or age 60 and vested |
| 5 | Hybrid | On or after March 1, 2026 | 8 years (defined benefit); immediate (defined contribution) | 30 years of service at any age, or age 62 and vested. For more information, visit PERS Tier 5 information. |
Reduced Benefits for Tiers 4 and 5
If you are a Tier 4 or Tier 5 member and retire before age 65 with fewer than 30 years of service, your benefit is permanently reduced.
ORP
Vesting
Vested immediately. You may withdraw your total funds at any time after separating from employment, even if you are not eligible for University retirement.
Retiree Insurance Eligibility
Health Insurance
To continue State and School Employees’ Health Insurance Plan coverage as a retiree, you must:
- Be enrolled in the Plan on the day before retirement; and
- Have been an active member with the Plan for at least four years preceding retirement (Miss. Code Ann. § 25-15-9).
Application Deadline
Your retiree health application must be received by HRM no later than 31 days after your active coverage ends. Late applications are not accepted, and the right to retiree coverage is permanently forfeited. Apply at least 31 days before your last day to avoid a gap in coverage.
See the retirement guide for your plan for full eligibility requirements, premium rates, and life insurance options.
Questions
Contact HRM Benefits at 662-325-3713 or benefits@hrm.msstate.edu to schedule a retirement meeting.
Retirement Guides
Retirement Guides for MSU Employees
Updated with 2027 retiree premium rates
Each guide walks you through the retirement process step by step, including timelines, deadlines, retiree health and life insurance, COBRA, Medicare, and a printable checklist.
PERS Members
- Retiring with PERS: A Step-by-Step Guide for MSU Employees (PDF)
- PERS Service Retirement: Six-Month Timeline (PDF)
ORP Participants
Need a guide in another format? Contact HRM Benefits at 662-325-3713 or benefits@hrm.msstate.edu.
Official PERS Publications
PERS publishes official handbooks and guides for members and retirees. If anything in the MSU guides differs from PERS publications, applicable law, or plan documents, those sources govern.
Planning and Applying
- PERS Pre-Retirement Guide (PDF)
- PERS Service Retirement Guide (PDF)
- PERS Retirement Tiers Overview (PDF)
- PERS Service Credit Overview (PDF)
Handbooks
- PERS Member Handbook (PDF)
- PERS Hybrid Retirement Plan Handbook (Tier 5) (PDF)
- PERS Retiree Handbook (PDF)
Other Situations
- PERS Return-to-Work Guide (PDF)
- PERS Disability Retirement Guide (PDF)
- PERS Survivor Retirement Guide (PDF)
See all handbooks, guides, and overviews on the PERS Publications page. ORP participants can find plan information on the PERS Optional Retirement Plan website.