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State of Michigan Employee FAQ

Which State of Michigan Retirement Plan am I in? 

Short Answer

Short Answer

The retirement plan you're enrolled in depends primarily on when you were hired by the State of Michigan. Most employees hired before March 31, 1997 participate in a traditional Defined Benefit (pension) plan, while most employees hired after that date participate in one of the State's Defined Contribution plans, such as the Graded Premium or Personal Healthcare Fund (PHF) plan. You can confirm your plan through your ORS miAccount.

Detailed Explanation

One of the first questions every State employee should answer is: 'Which retirement plan do I actually have?' The answer affects your retirement income, healthcare, investment responsibilities, and retirement planning strategies.

State Retirement Plan Types

Defined Benefit (Pension)

Generally for employees hired before March 31, 1997. Provides a lifetime monthly pension based on a formula using years of service and compensation. Eligible employees may also qualify for retiree healthcare.

Defined Contribution (DC) – Graded Premium

Individual investment account with employee and employer contributions. Retiree healthcare premiums are based on years of service.

Defined Contribution (DC) – Personal Healthcare Fund (PHF)

Individual investment account plus a Personal Healthcare Fund to help pay qualified healthcare expenses during retirement.

How Can I Confirm My Retirement Plan?

Log into your ORS miAccount to review your retirement plan, years of service, beneficiaries, retirement estimates, and healthcare eligibility. If you participate in the State 401(k) or 457 Plan, you can also review your investment accounts through Voya.

GNZ Insight: Two employees working in the same office may have completely different retirement benefits simply because they were hired in different years. Understanding your specific plan is the foundation for making informed retirement decisions.

Next Steps

  1. Log into your ORS miAccount.
  2. Confirm your retirement plan type.
  3. Review your years of service and beneficiary designations.
  4. Begin learning how your specific plan works well before retirement.
  5. Have questions? GNZ Financial offers complimentary retirement planning meetings for State of Michigan employees. We're happy to help you better understand your benefits, answer your retirement questions, and build a personalized retirement strategy.

Related FAQs

  • FAQ-01-002: How do I know if I have a Pension or Defined Contribution plan?
  • FAQ-01-003: What benefits am I eligible for?
  • FAQ-01-004: Where do I find my ORS information?

Have Questions?
Schedule Your Complimentary Intro Meeting for State of Michigan Employees

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State of Michigan Retirement Webinars

State of Michigan Retirement Webinars

We frequently host, no-cost educational webinars focused on the State of Michigan Retirement System.

These sessions typically last 45-minutes and provide a great overview of your retirement benefits, including:

  • The State of Michigan Retirement Plans (covering both Defined Benefit and Defined Contribution Plans);
  • Social Security
  • Investment and Savings for your Retirement
  • Healthcare in Retirement.

Official Resources

Not endorsed by, or affiliated with, the State of Michigan or any other government agency.

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