October 4, 2016 - Executive Director Update: Member Annual Statements 2015-2016
I know all schools and ATRS members are very busy at this time in October. I hope all ATRS members are having a great school year. For all active members who worked at least 40 days in the fiscal year that ended on June 30, 2016, this is a very important executive director update about the member annual statement that over 70,000 of you will receive in the next few weeks. Some member annual statements may be received as early as next week.This update also highlights ATRS disability, the 2016 retirement season, and a trust fund update. ATRS respectfully requests that to the extent possible, ATRS employers distribute this executive director update email with attachments as a broadcast email to all employees. This email contains important information to assist members in reading and understanding the member annual statements that will be mailed to over 70,000 members in the coming few weeks.
This email has two (2) attachments: 1. A seven (7) page executive director update on member annual statements, disability retirement, survivor benefits, noncontributory to contributory service, report on retirement season, and a status update; and 2. A nine (9) page frequently asked questions (FAQs) on ATRS disability retirement.
Remember that ATRS has a new website that allows members to have direct access to specific member account information. Now approximately 9,000 members have direct account access to individualized account information. Here is the link to the instructions to sign up: https://www.artrs.gov/general/director-updates/716-08-15-2014-executive-director-update-the-new-atrs-website.
You can sign up to obtain these executive director updates through your private email address. Updates are made throughout the year such as at retirement season and other times when information needs to be shared. Now, over 8,000 people have signed up to receive this executive director by listserve email. You can find the link to sign up for listserve delivery to these updates here: https://www.artrs.gov/login.
In addition, over 13,000 people have access to the ATRS executive director updates via direct email delivery. It is always a great pleasure for ATRS staff to learn of more ways to provide information to ATRS members, employers, and beneficiaries. The ATRS Board is committed to providing a system that is member friendly and transparent.
You can also get helpful ATRS information on the ATRS Facebook page under the name of Arkansas Teacher Retirement System. Over 2,900 Facebook users get updates via the ATRS Facebook page. Go to the Facebook page and "like" ATRS to get daily updates. I try to go to the Facebook page every day to post information and answer member questions about ATRS. In addition, if you use Twitter, you can join over 750 others by following events at ATRS and issues of interest on the ATRS Twitter page. Remember that ATRS is here to serve you!
Respectfully,
George Hopkins
Click on the following document(s) for more information:
May 16, 2016 - Executive Director Update: ATRS Open Memorial Day & Deadlines
On July 1st, many ATRS members will enter a new phase of life as a retiree or a T-DROP participant. ATRS has had several staff members volunteer to work on Monday, May 30, 2016, Memorial Day. The office hours will be from 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Please know that ATRS staff is willing and ready to help you by a telephone call or in office visit if you wish. I have again provided some summaries on retirement and T-DROP.
May 31, 2016 is the deadline to enter the T-DROP plan for the 2016-2017 fiscal year. If you miss the T-DROP deadline, then the next time to enter T-DROP is July 1,2017 with a May 31, 2017 deadline. If T-DROP is what you intend to begin on July 1, 2016, year, please don't miss the May 31, 2016 deadline.
Most school employees retire on a July 1. That means if you intend to stop work after the 2015-2016 fiscal year and retire, ATRS must have your retirement application in by May 31, 2016, in order to be a July 1, 2016 retiree.
Both retirement applications and T-DROP applications may be delivered to ATRS by:
- fax at 501-682-2359;
- as a scanned document attached to an email to info@artrs.gov; or
- by personal delivery to the ATRS office at 1400 West Third Street, Little Rock, AR; or
- by courier such as Federal Express (there is no delivery of Federal Express and other courier services on weekends) ; or
- by the U. S. Postal Service. ATRS will treat the postmark date as the date of receipt by ATRS, so please make sure the postmark date is stamped legibly so it can be read.
ATRS must have actual possession of the application by May 31, 2016 in order to become a July 1, 2016, retiree or T-DROP participant.
IMPORTANT: Please call ATRS at 501-682-1517 locally or 1-800-666-2877 toll free to confirm receipt of your retirement application or T-DROP application, regardless of the type of delivery.
ATRS Employers: Please send this executive director update email to all your staff via a broadcast email to all employees.
You can sign up to obtain these executive director updates through your private email address. Updates are made throughout the year such as at retirement season and other times when information should to be shared. Now, over 11,000 people have signed up to receive this executive director update and other ATRS information by email. You can find the link to register for email delivery to these updates here: https://www.artrs.gov/login.
You can also get helpful ATRS information on the ATRS Facebook page under the name of Arkansas Teacher Retirement System. Over 2,700 Facebook users get updates via the ATRS Facebook page. Go to the Facebook page and "like" ATRS to get daily updates. I try to go to the Facebook page every day to post information and answer member questions about ATRS. In addition, if you use Twitter, you can join over 750 others by following events at ATRS and issues of interest on the ATRS Twitter page. Remember that ATRS is here to serve you!
Respectfully,
George Hopkins
Click on the following document(s) for more information:
1. Retirement Planner (PDF)
3. T-DROP FAQs
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