Retirement plan required of most employees

• County employees are required to take part in the retirement savings plan
• The plan is managed by the Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA)
• Money comes out of your paycheck pre-tax
• The county also contributes a separate amount
• When you retire, you get a monthly payment for the rest of your life (pension)
• Your payment is based on your age, earnings and years of service
• You automatically become a member of PERA
• You don't have to do anything to create an account

Automatic paycheck deductions and county contributions

• Most employees: 6.5% gross salary plus a 7.5% county contribution (14% total)
• Correctional employees: 5.83% gross salary plus a 8.75% county contribution (14.58% total)
• Police and fire employees: 11.3% gross salary plus a 16.95% county contribution (27% total)

Withdrawal rules

• You can't withdraw money from the PERA account while still employed by the county
• If you leave the county before you retire, you can get a refund or leave the money in
• A refund includes your contributions plus interest
• A refund doesn't include the county's contribution

Exceptions to participation

• Some employees aren't allowed to take part in the PERA plan based on their job status

Retirement education

• PERA retirement conferences and workshops

Contact

651-296-7460
PERA website

Health care savings plan

Certain employee groups (union and nonunion) are required to enroll in the health care savings plan and enrollment is automatic. Money comes out of your paycheck pre-tax to pay for post-employment health care premiums and other costs. The money covers costs for you, your spouse, children up to age 26 and any dependents. 

Health care savings plan employee groups (as of July 1, 2019) (PDF)

Plan detail

Health care savings plan detail (PDF)

Health care savings plan contact

Minnesota State Retirement System
651-296-2761 or 1-800-657-5757
Minnesota State Retirement System

1% supplemental retirement plan (closed to new enrollees in 1982)

This plan only applies to employees hired or re-hired before April 14, 1982 who qualified and chose to take part in this plan. Enrollment closed April 14, 1982.

The plan administrator is Minnesota State Retirement System (MSRS). To request a hardship withdrawal, contact MSRS.

1% supplemental retirement plan web page

1% supplemental retirement plan contact

Minnesota State Retirement System
651-296-2761 or 1-800-657-5757
Minnesota State Retirement System

Overview of deferred compensation

• Like a 401(k) plan, deferred compensation is a way to save for retirement
• Deferred compensation lets you set aside money pre-tax, after-tax or both
• The county doesn't contribute separate money into your deferred compensation plan
• You can only withdraw the money if you retire, resign or need the money for a financial hardship
• Once you retire, you can leave the money in or withdraw it

Amount you can set aside

You can set aside as much money into deferred compensation as the IRS allows:

• Under age 50: yearly limit $19,000
• Over age 50: yearly limit $25,000
• Within three years of normal retirement age: each of the three years you can set aside up to $38,000. Contact your vendor for amount.
• One-minute video on deferred compensation (YouTube)

Enrolling in deferred compensation

1. Choose and contact a vendor to set up an account

• You can use more than one
• For example you can have after-tax contributions with one and pre-tax contributions with another
• You can change vendors and transfer money from one to another
• Meeting with vendors is on your own time

Vendors:

• Fidelity (Plan No. 93811): Call 1-800-343-0860. Fidelity website
• Minnesota Deferred Compensation Plan: To meet with staff member David Wrightsmith, call 612-964-8094. Plan website (Minnesota State Retirement System)
• VOYA (Plan No. 664372): To meet with a VOYA staff member, call Dana Stein at 612-342-3781 or Nic Romero at 612-342-3909. For advanced planning services from the Stein Group, call 612-492-0202. VOYA website

Vendor overview:

• Vendor investment performance (PDF)
• Vendor fees and compensation (PDF)
• Vendor services (PDF)

2. Use on-line form to start contribution after account is set up

• Complete and submit on-line form located on the APEX Benefits tile > Deferred Compensation > Enroll/Change Deferred Comp

Once you're enrolled in deferred compensation

• You can increase, decrease or stop your contributions any time
• Complete and submit on-line form located on the APEX Benefits tile > Deferred Compensation > Enroll/Change Deferred Comp

Rollovers from other employers

To roll money over:

1. Set up a deferred compensation account with a county vendor
2. Ask for rollover paperwork from the county vendor
3. Ask for rollover paperwork from your former employer’s vendor
4. Scan and email your paperwork to hr.benefits@hennepin.us
5. We’ll sign and return your paperwork to the county vendor
6. You can only withdraw rollover money when you retire, resign or need the money for a financial hardship

Withdrawals from your deferred compensation account

• You can only withdraw the money when you retire, resign or need the money for a financial hardship
• You must get approval for the hardship withdrawal

The approval process depends on the vendor:

• Fidelity or VOYA: email HR benefits at hr.benefits@hennepin.us to ask for a hardship withdrawal application. We’ll contact you about next steps.
• Minnesota Deferred Compensation Plan: call 651-296-2761
• 1% supplemental retirement fund (for employees hired before April 14, 1982): call the Minnesota State Retirement System at 651-296-2761

Choosing your retirement date

• Choose your retirement date six to 12 months ahead of time
• Everything you do to prepare for retiring depends on your retirement date

Using your remaining paid leave

• Check the balance of your paid leave in APEX
• You can take your remaining time off before you retire with your supervisor’s approval
• You can also divert the cash value of your remaining paid leave into your deferred compensation plan
• Health care savings plan members: all or part of any remaining paid leave automatically goes into your plan

Sick leave and vacation

Payouts depend on how long you've worked at the county:

• At least eight years: You receive pay for up to 800 unused hours (lifetime cap) of vacation and sick leave. Once you receive the 800 hour lifetime cap, vacation is always paid out.
• Less than eight years: You receive pay for up to 280 unused hours of vacation only. Sick leave is not paid out.

Paid time off (PTO)

• You receive pay for up to 480 unused hours
• If you converted to PTO from sick leave and vacation: You receive pay for up to 800 unused hours (lifetime cap) and up to 480 unused hours of PTO

County pre-retirement seminars

• You can attend a seminar on county time with your supervisor’s approval
• Spouses are welcome
• Register in APEX

2019 seminars

All seminars run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Minneapolis Central Library, Pohlad Auditorium:

• Thursday, March 7, 2019
• Thursday, June 6, 2019
• Thursday, September 5, 2019
• Thursday, December 5, 2019

Seminar materials

You can print or save these. We don’t hand these out at the seminar:

• Pre-retirement planning (PPTX)
• Public Employee Retirement Association (PERA) (PPTX 14MB)
• Introduction to financial planning (PPTX)
• Social Security and Medicare (PPTX)
• Estate planning (PPT)

Retirement education

• The Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA) offers individual or group retirement conferences and workshops
• Attendance is on your own time
• PERA retirement conferences and workshops

Retirement checklist: 2-3 months before you retire

Giving notice

• Complete the resignation/retirement form and give it to your supervisor
• Retirement notice (PDF)

Setting up PERA payments

• Complete PERA application. PERA application form (PDF)
• Complete Part A of PERA verification of termination form, scan and email HR benefits at hr.benefits@hennepin.us. PERA termination verification form (PDF)

Continuing insurance after you retire

• Submit completed benefits continuation form (PDF)
• You’ll get a letter describing the benefits and their cost
• Scan and email completed form to hr.benefits@hennepin.us or send to HR benefits at mail code 040

Using the health care savings plan and 1% Supplemental Retirement Plan

• Health care savings plan (Minnesota State Retirement System)
• 1% Supplemental Retirement Plan withdrawals (Minnesota State Retirement System)

Deciding how to use your deferred compensation

Choice 1: Withdraw the money:

• Ask your vendor for withdrawal paperwork
• Scan and email the completed paperwork to HR benefits at hr.benefits@hennepin.us
• We’ll sign and return the paperwork to your vendor
• We’ll return the paperwork to your vendor after we issue your check for unused vacation, sick and PTO

Choice 2: Leave the money in.

Choice 3: Contribute the cash value of your remaining paid leave (sick time, vacation and PTO) into your plan:

• If you don't have a deferred compensation plan you can set one up before you retire
• The cash value has a small amount of taxation before going into your deferred compensation plan

Before your retirement date, email HR benefits at hr.benefits@hennepin.us with:

• Your name and ID number
• Retirement date
• Amount of after-tax money going into the plan and which vendor
• Amount of pre-tax money going into the plan and which vendor

Applying for Medicare (employees 65 and older)

• If you’re applying for Part B of Medicare, you must bring a completed Request for Employment Information form to Social Security. To request a completed form, email HR benefits at hr.benefits@hennepin.us.
• Select a Medicare supplement plan. The county sponsors Medicare plans through HealthPartners. Call 952-883-7428 or visit HealthPartners. For information about other plans contact Senior Linkage Line at 1-800-333-2433.

Submitting expenses for trade time for fitness and flexible spending accounts

• Flexible spending accounts close the day you retire
• Send in any outstanding trade time for fitness expenses
• You can only use money in the account for expenses you had while actively working

Cancelling transit cards

• MetroPass: Submit completed MetroPass cancellation form (DOCX) and your card to HR benefits at mail code 040 by the 23rd of the month you retire
• Go-To card deduction: Cancel in APEX
• Mobility Fare card deduction: Cancel in APEX

Printable checklist

• Checklist for 2-3 months before you retire (PDF)

Final paychecks

Last regular paycheck:

• If you have direct deposit, the check goes into your bank
• Otherwise it goes to your home address listed in APEX
• Paycheck taxed normally
• Deductions also come out for charities, college savings plan and Minnesota Benefits Association.
• Paycheck comes on the normal pay schedule

Other final paychecks come two weeks after your regular paycheck and may be taxed:

• Unused sick leave, vacation and PTO
• Unused comp time, deferred holiday time and banked special leave without pay: PERA deductions also come out
• Retention pay: amount depends on how many pay periods you worked since the last payment
• Health care savings plan members: required contribution will automatically go into your account

To get a hard copy of your last paychecks:

• Ask your HR APEX contact to mail copies to your home

Approval required

If your department allows it and you qualify under PERA rules, you can take part in phased retirement.

Phased retirement allows eligible employees to receive PERA retirement benefits while working part time:

1. Talk to your supervisor to see if phased retirement is available to you.
2. To determine if you qualify under PERA rules, visit the phased retirement web page.
3. If you qualify, send the completed phased retirement agreement form to PERA with a copy to your HR APEX contact.
4. Scan and email a copy to HR benefits at hr.benefits@hennepin.us.
5. Qualified current employees can enroll through June 30, 2019.

Choice 1: Stay in your current position and cut your hours

Sick leave, vacation or paid time off

You keep your balances and continue to earn sick leave, vacation and paid time off at your current rate, based on your part time hours.

Short- and long-term disability

You lose these benefits.

Early retiree health insurance plan

Your original hire date and years of service determine if you qualify.

1% supplemental retirement

If you have this benefit, it continues.

Choice 2: Resign and get re-hired at fewer hours within six months

Payout of unused sick leave, vacation or paid time off

You get paid when you resign.

Sick leave, vacation or paid time off after rehire

You may ask your supervisor if you can earn these hours at the same rate you did before you resigned.

Short- and long-term disability

You lose these benefits.

Early retiree health insurance plan

Your original hire date and years of service determine if you qualify.

1% supplemental retirement

You still have your account but no longer make contributions.

Dental, vision, life and flexible spending account

Regardless of your age at retirement you can continue these benefits at your own expense:

• Dental insurance for as long as you want
• Vision insurance for up to 18 months
• Life insurance for up to 18 months
• Flexible spending account – health care expense account to the end of the plan year

Process

1. You’ll receive a packet from 121 Benefits, the county’s COBRA administrator
2. Mark the election form with your benefit choices
3. Sign the form
4. Send the signed form and a check for the first month’s cost to 121 Benefits
5. Continue to send monthly payments to 121 Benefits

Health insurance: retiring at age 65 or older

• If you retire at age 65 or older you can’t continue county health insurance

Medicare supplement plan

• You can buy a county-sponsored Medicare supplement plan from HealthPartners
• If you buy the county-sponsored HealthPartners plan, your spouse can also enroll if they're at least 65 and covered by county health insurance
• Call 952-883-7428 and mention Hennepin County
• For information about individual plans call Senior Linkage Line at 1-800-333-2433

Spouses under 65

• Can stay on county health insurance if they have it at the time you retire
• Can stay on it up to 36 months or until age 65 if you're enrolled in a county-sponsored Medicare plan

Cost to keep spouse on county health insurance is normal premium plus 2%:

• Standard: $844.35 per month
• Advantage: HealthPartners/Park Nicollet = $772.30 per month
• Advantage: Fairview/North Memorial/Health East = $768.48
• Advantage: HCMC/NorthPoint = $710.93 per month

Health insurance: retiring before age 65

• If you retire while under age 65 and meet other criteria, you can receive a county contribution toward the cost of your health insurance as if you are still working
• The county contribution applies to the employee-only portion, and not for the cost of any dependents
• The county contribution lasts until the end of the month you turn 65

To qualify for early retiree health insurance, you must meet all three of these:

1. You must be under age 65

2. You must belong to one of these groups with no break in service:

• Non-union regular employees hired or rehired on or before January 1, 2007
• Union regular employees hired or rehired on or before January 1, 2008 and did not opt-out of early retiree health coverage
• Unclassified employees hired or rehired on or before January 1, 2007
• Elected officials who took office on or before January 1, 2007

3. You must meet one of these:

1. You are:
   • At least age 55 with 20 years of service
   • At least age 62 with 15 years of service
   • At least age 63 with 14 years of service
   • At least age 64 with 13 years of service
2. You’ve been approved for a full retirement payment from a public retirement plan (like PERA) based on at least 10 years with the county. An example is the Rule of 90.
3. You’ve been approved for a retirement payment from a public retirement plan (like PERA) based on at least 25 years of pension credit (time that counts toward earning retirement benefits), at least 10 of those with the county

Employee-only monthly cost

Health insurance - with county contribution

• Standard: $91.06
• Advantage: HealthPartners/Park Nicollet = $53.00
• Advantage: Fairview/North Memorial/HealthEast = $52.74
• Advantage: HCMC/NorthPoint = $20.91

Health insurance - you pay full cost

• Standard: $827.79
• Advantage: HealthPartners/Park Nicollet = $757.16
• Advantage: Fairview/North Memorial/HealthEast = $753.41
• Advantage: HCMC/NorthPoint = $696.99

Other insurance costs

• Dental insurance: $41.08
• Vision insurance: $5.33
• Life insurance: $6.12 per month for a basic life plan of $50,000 coverage. For supplemental insurance, refer to your packet from 121 Benefits.
• Flexible spending account – health care expense account: You can continue with post-tax dollars

Employee and spouse monthly cost

If you’re already married and want to add your spouse to your insurance before you retire, you cannot do so unless it’s during open enrollment or if you have a life event before you retire.

Health insurance - with county contribution

• Standard: $1,208.52
• Advantage: HealthPartners/Park Nicollet = $1,075.14
• Advantage: Fairview/North Memorial/HealthEast = $1,069.82
• Advantage: HCMC/NorthPoint = $961.79

Health insurance - you pay full cost

• Standard: $1,945.25
• Advantage: HealthPartners/Park Nicollet = $1,779.30
• Advantage: Fairview/North Memorial/HealthEast = $1,770.49
• Advantage: HCMC/NorthPoint = $1,637.87

Other insurance costs

• Dental insurance: $91.91
• Vision insurance: $10.01
• Life insurance: $6.12 per month for a basic life plan of $50,000 coverage. For supplemental insurance, refer to your packet from 121 Benefits.
• Flexible spending account – health care expense account: You can continue with post-tax dollars

Employee and children monthly cost

Health insurance - with county contribution

• Standard: $753.29
• Advantage: HealthPartners/Park Nicollet = $658.72
• Advantage: Fairview/North Memorial/HealthEast = $655.46
• Advantage: HCMC/NorthPoint = $578.46

Health insurance - you pay full cost

• Standard: $1,490.02
• Advantage: HealthPartners/Park Nicollet = $1,362.88
• Advantage: Fairview/North Memorial/HealthEast = $1,356.13
• Advantage: HCMC/NorthPoint = $1,254.54

Other insurance costs

• Dental insurance: $91.91
• Vision insurance: $10.53
• Life insurance: $6.12 per month for a basic life plan of $50,000 coverage. For supplemental insurance, refer to your packet from 121 Benefits.
• Flexible spending account – health care expense account: You can continue with post-tax dollars

Family monthly cost

Health insurance - with county contribution

• Standard: $1,539.65
• Advantage: HealthPartners/Park Nicollet = $1,377.98
• Advantage: Fairview/North Memorial/HealthEast = $1,371.16
• Advantage: HCMC/NorthPoint = $1240.60

Health insurance - you pay full cost

• Standard: $2,276.38
• Advantage: HealthPartners/Park Nicollet = $2,082.14
• Advantage: Fairview/North Memorial/HealthEast = $2,071.83
• Advantage: HCMC/NorthPoint = $1,916.68

Other insurance costs

• Dental insurance: $91.91
• Vision insurance: $15.60
• Life insurance: $6.12 per month for a basic life plan of $50,000 coverage. For supplemental insurance, refer to your packet from 121 Benefits.
• Flexible spending account – health care expense account: You can continue with post-tax dollars

Insurance

Health, dental, vision and life insurance

121 Benefits
612-877-4321 or 1-800-300-1672
121 Benefits website

Dental insurance

HealthPartners
952-883-5000
HealthPartners website

Health incentive

Hennepin County HealthWorks
612-348-4628

If you’re under 65

PreferredOne
763-847-4477
PreferredOne website

Retirement savings plans

Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA)

651-296-7460 
PERA website

Health Care Savings Plan

651-296-2761
Minnesota State Retirement System website

1% Supplemental Retirement Plan

651-296-2761
Minnesota State Retirement System website

VOYA

612-492-0202
VOYA website

Fidelity

1-800-343-0860
Fidelity website

Minnesota Deferred Compensation Plan

651-296-2761
Minnesota Deferred Compensation Plan website

Flexible spending account

121 Benefits
612-877-4321 or 1-800-300-1672
121 Benefits website

Benefits staff help

15 minute phone consultations