Retirement at NC State – Benefits, Employee Wellness and Work Life (2024)

FAQs

Do NC state employees get health insurance at retirement? ›

Guidance on State Health Plan changes for Teachers' and State Employee's Retirement System (TSERS) When you retire under TSERS, you may be eligible for health coverage under the State Health Plan (Plan) if you have at least five years of TSERS membership service earned as a teacher or state employee.

TSERS is a Defined Benefit Plan, which means retirement benefits are based on salary, years of service and a retirement factor. The formula for TSERS is: Average salary based on the 48 highest consecutive months of earnings. Multiplied by a Retirement Factor of 1.82% (set by state statute)

You become vested in TSERS once you have completed a minimum of five years of membership service.

The Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System (TSERS) is a defined benefit plan. For TSERS members, eligible retirees receive a guaranteed lifetime monthly benefit, also known as a pension.

State employees are eligible for many valuable Benefits in addition to their regular pay. These benefits include the State Health Plan, DHHS Supplemental Benefits, NCFlex Benefits, Retirement, 401K/457 Prudential Savings Plans, Leave Benefits, EAP, Service Awards, and many other important Benefits options.

No. Under current law, there is no “rule of 85” (meaning your service plus age equals 85) to receive an unreduced, service retirement allowance. You must be at least age 60 and have at least 25 years of creditable service. You may, however, use your unused sick leave to complete your service requirement of 25 years.

Overview of North Carolina Retirement Tax Friendliness

North Carolina exempts all Social Security retirement benefits from income taxes. Other forms of retirement income are taxed at the North Carolina flat income tax rate of 4.75%. The state's property and sales taxes are both moderate.

The payments will not reduce the funded ratio of the State System. This one-time payment is equal to 4% of the annual retirement allowance. “Once paid, monthly benefit payments will return to the levels they would have been without the supplemental increase,” Folwell stated.

Learn more about credits at www.ssa.gov/planners/credits.html. Although you need at least 10 years of work (40 credits) to qualify for Social Security retirement benefits, we base the amount of your benefit on your highest 35 years of earnings.

You may retire early with a reduced benefit after: you reach age 50 and complete 20 years of creditable service, or. you reach age 60 and complete five years of creditable service.

Can you lose your pension if you are vested? ›

“Vesting” in a retirement plan means ownership. This means that each employee will vest, or own, a certain percentage of their account in the plan each year. An employee who is 100% vested in his or her account balance owns 100% of it and the employer cannot forfeit, or take it back, for any reason.

Employees might become vested in 20% of their employer's matching contributions after two years, 60% after four years and 100% after six years. Employers may choose this type of vesting schedule to encourage employees to stay with their company on a long-term basis.

State Health Plan Coverage for TSERS Retirees

North Carolina takes care of state employees and state retirees by offering health plan coverage to members of the Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement Systems (TSERS).

Your annual retirement benefit is based on this formula: 1.82% of your average final compensation TIMES your years and months of creditable service. If you are between birthdays when payments start, the reduction will be adjusted proportionately.

If you have five or more years of membership service, you are vested and may be entitled to a monthly retirement benefit (and health insurance, if applicable) once you reach an age that qualifies you. This potentially extends to your elected beneficiaries and survivors.

Yes. After you retire, you will still have the opportunity to change your enrollment from one plan to another during an annual open season. You cannot change to another plan simply because you retired.

The State Health Plan mails you a Medicare eligibility letter prior to your 65th birthday asking that you confirm your eligibility for Medicare benefits. If you are actively working for the State after turning 65, the Plan will continue to be your primary coverage and Medicare will be secondary.

Retiree health coverage is health insurance that some employers, unions and trusts may offer to retiring employees and their spouses. Typically, it is group health insurance similar to plans offered to active employees. Eligibility, enrollment, coverage and other rules are specific to each employer's retiree plan.

The State Health Plan offers freedom of choice among in-network and out-of-network providers, lower out-of-pocket costs and a strong emphasis on preventive health. There are two health plans available: 70/30 plan and a 80/20 plan.