Winter 2024 PERAphrase

Articles included: 

• Survey Results: $425 Membership Salary Threshold
• Election Workers: Excluded from PERA Membership
• 2024 IRS Compensation and Contribution Limits
• PERA Reporting and Decimal Points
• Certifying Public Service Prior to July 1, 1989
• Ask PERA: Minnesota Earned Sick and Safe Time Law
• PERA Education: Next Employer Webinar April 25

Spring 2023 PERAphrase

Articles included: 

• 2023 Legislative Update
• PERA Board Welcomes Elected Trustees
• Troubleshooting ERIS
• NCPERS Life Insurance
• 2022 Financial Reports Now Available
• ERIS Enhancement: Edit Leave Report Data
• Employer Education

Fall 2023 PERAphrase

Articles included: 

• Employer Survey: $425 Membership Salary Threshold
• Changes with PERA Newsletter Distribution
• Consider Non-Salary Exclusions First
• On-Demand Legislative Webinar Now Available
• Upcoming Employer Webinars
• Virtual Benefit Fair
• ERIS Performance Update
• Ask PERA

Summer 2023 PERAphrase

Articles included: 

• 2023 Legislative Update
• Upcoming Employer Webinars
• ERIS Troubleshooting
• Farewell to Barb Bibeau
• Monthly Salary Threshold
• Designate a PERA Disability Contact
• Employer Survey
• Ask PERA

Winter 2022 PERAphrase

Articles included: 

• PERA Seeks Return to Monthly Salary Threshold
• 2023 IRS Compensation and Contribution Limits
• January Board Election
• Employer Initiated Electronic Verification of Termination (eVOT)
• No Change to Contribution Rates
• Employer Webinars

Fall 2022 PERAphrase

Articles included: 

• Annual Leave Reporting – Preparing for Year Two
• Election Workers
• New Leave Report Feature
• Phased Retirement Option (PRO) for Health Care Workers
• Employer Webinars
• Virtual Benefit Fair

Spring 2022 PERAphrase

Articles included: 

• Leave Report Update
• 2022 Legislative Update
• Upcoming Education Programs
• Employer Manual Feedback
• Ask PERA

Summer 2022 PERAphrase

Articles included: 

• Annual Leave Report
• 2022 Legislative Update
• Employer Education Opportunities
• Coming Soon: Board Election
• Election Workers

Spring 2021 PERAphrase

Articles included:

• 2021 Legislative Agenda
• 2021 IRS Compensation & Contribution Limits
• New! Free Educational Webinars for Employers
• Ask PERA! A FT employee who was on an unpaid medical leave has been cleared to work one day per week. Should PERA contributions be deducted?

Summer 2021 PERAphrase

Articles included: 

• 2021 Legislative Update
• Verification of Termination: Now Online
• Changes to Leave Reporting
• Upcoming Webinars: Legislative Update and More
• Ask PERA! Are employees who telework from their home in another state eligible to participate in PERA?

Fall 2021 PERAphrase

Articles included: 

• • Annual Leave Reporting
  • Welcome Employer Webinars
  • ERIS Security Overview
  • On-Demand Legislative Update & Virtual Benefit Fair
  • Ask PERA: I’ve heard people say, “Once in PERA, always in PERA.” What does this mean?

Winter 2021 PERAphrase

Articles included: 

• • Spotlight: Verification of Termination
  • On-Demand Training: New Reporting Leaves Process
  • 2022 IRS Contribution and Compensation Limits
  • ERIS Corner: Designate a Disability Contact
  • Live Training: Welcome to PERA Reporting
  • No Change to Contribution Rates
  • Ask PERA: Why would a member want to make a payment for their unpaid leave? 

Winter 2020 PERAphrase

Articles included:

• Employer Survey: Three Key Takeaways
• Election Workers
• Ask PERA! – PT Employee also serving as election worker
• Now in Development: Training Resources
• PERA Benefit Education for ALL!
• No Change to Contribution Rates

Correction: In the “Election Workers” article in the Winter 2020 edition of PERAphrase, we stated that election workers in Minnesota whose pay in a calendar year is less than $1,800 are not subject to Social Security and Medicare (FICA) coverage. The $1,800 threshold is incorrect; the correct threshold is $1,900. For more information, visit the Social Security Administration’s Election Workers web page.

Fall 2020 PERAphrase

Articles included:

• 2020 Legislative Session Update
• Spotlight on Seasonal Exclusions
• 2020 IRS Compensation and Contribution Limits
• NCPERS Decreasing Term Life Insurance Program
• Employer Feedback Survey 
• Ask PERA! – When an employee returns from a COVID-19 related absence, do they have an option to buy back their missed salary or service?

1st Quarter 2019 PERAphrase

2nd Quarter 2019 PERAphrase

3rd Quarter 2019 PERAphrase

1st Quarter 2018 PERAphrase

• Pension commission approves bill— includes proposed increased contributions for Police & Fire Plan
• Employer workshops around the state
• Webinar? Stay tuned!
• The ERIS Corner
• Attention schools — Summer earnings verification coming for certain employees
• Ask PERA: Several of our employees are excluded because they are full-time students under the age of 23. How should we document their student status?

2nd Quarter 2018 PERAphrase

3rd Quarter 2018 PERAphrase

• Six password tips to protect private member data
• The ERIS Corner: Security Tip
• Police & Fire rates effective for salary paid on or after 01/01/19
• New DCP withdrawal option for active DCP employees
• Webinar: Salary Spotlight — Register today!
• Ask PERA: We’ve hired a new person whose job duties include administering PERA for our agency employees. What resources are available to help this person understand PERA rules and reporting?

4th Quarter 2018 PERAphrase

1st Quarter 2017 PERAphrase

• New look and format — Same commitment to serve
• PERA releases Annual Report
• ERIS Corner
• We want YOU …to complete your Exclusion Report
• Enrollment of elected official not complete without their signature
• Meet Mike— PERA’s new Chief Financial Officer
• Governor Dayton appoints Two to PERA Board of Trustees
• 2017 Session PERA Bill Tracker
• Register now! Employer education opportunities through Live Webinars
• Tax exemptions for certain retired PERA members— we need your help!
• PERA update: Annual Threshold report for fiscal year 2016 delayed
• Ask PERA!

2nd Quarter 2017 PERAphrase

• Governor vetoes bill containing pension reforms
• Fiscal Year 2017 Exclusion Reports are due by August 31
• Exclusion Code Reminder
• Webinars at PERA
• The ERIS Corner: Test files
• Board appoints Police & Fire plan trustee
• Ask PERA: I’ve hired a college student for a permanent position starting June 15. Can I exclude him from PERA right away, or should I wait till he returns to school in the fall?

3rd Quarter 2017 PERAphrase

• Employer webinars continue to be a hit
• Credit memos and requests for a refund by check
• New employee video: The Value of Your Pension
• Phone tree options have been updated
• The ERIS Corner: Enrollment process gets a software update on ERIS
• Board appoints Police & Fire plan trustee
• Ask PERA: Our school district employs paraprofessionals who work only 174 student days per school year. Could they be excluded as seasonal employees??

4th Quarter 2017 PERAphrase

• Plan eligibility can be affected if member no longer in an eligible position
• Don’t worry—it’s legit!
• No changes to 2018 contribution rates
• Exclusion webinar video now available for viewing
• The ERIS Corner: ERIS administrators: New year resolution suggestion
• 2018 IRS contribution and compensation limit
• Ask PERA: Our agency is issuing back pay to current and former employees following a recent union contract agreement. Should we withhold PERA from the payment? What if the former employee has taken a refund or is already receiving a PERA benefit?

1st Quarter 2016 PERAphrase

• Board to Continue its Evaluation of the General PlanFunding Status
• Coming Soon to ERISPending Reports: Higher thanNormal Salary Report
• Ask PERA!
• ERIS Security is a SharedResponsibility
• Share Your Story to Celebrate PERA’s 85th Anniversary

2nd Quarter 2016 PERAphrase

• Getting ready for elections? We can help.
• Governor vetoes 2016 pension bill
• No contribution rate changes in 2017
• Quotes from our first newsletter
• Share Your Story to Celebrate PERA’s 85th Anniversary

3rd Quarter 2016 PERAphrase

• PERA Finance Director Retires
• Coaching on Coaches’ Pay
• GASB Gazette to Produce Final Edition!
• Meet Luis Argueta
• Webinar Topics Survey
• Ask PERA!

4th Quarter 2016 PERAphrase

• PERA Board of Trustees Sets Legislative Priorities
• The ERIS Higher than Normal Salary Report is Improving!
• Upcoming Governor appointments to PERA Board
• ERIS Down? You Can Still Make a Payment!
• Ask PERA!
• Employer Webinar Survey Recap — The Results are IN!

1st Quarter 2015 PERAphrase

• PERA Board of Trustees Votes to Recommend Rate Increase, Statutory Change
• From the Manager
• A Few Things To Remember About The New PERA Rules
• Ask PERA
• PERA Options For Election Officials
• 2015 IRS Contribution and Compensation Limits
• Have You Provided PERA with Requested Information About the Financial Statements You Prepare?

2nd Quarter 2015 PERAphrase

• Governor Signs 2015 Omnibus Pension Bill
• Facing Tough Employee Questions?
• From the Manager
• Ask PERA
• Reporting Leaves of Absence
• Process Improvements Ahead
• P&F Resolutions Leaving you Cold? Try a Blanket

3rd Quarter 2015 PERAphrase

• New to ERIS Pending Reports: Missing Enrollments
• From the Manager
• Ask PERA
• Reporting Intermittent Leaves
• Soley Seasonal or Temporary Positions
• No Contribution Rate Changes

4th Quarter 2015 PERAphrase

• Meet PERA’s New Director
• Annual Threshold Monitoring Available in ERIS
• Non-School Employers: Deadline for 2015 Exclusion Reports is Feb. 29, 2016
• Coming Soon to ERIS Pending Reports: Annual P & F Certification Report
• Inform Elected Officials About PERA Options
• 2016 IRS Contribution and Compensation Limits Announced
• Know Your Format to Avoid File Errors
• Ask PERA!