Employer Reporting

During their employment, members receive salary for the service they render; and they and their employer pays contributions on the salary. Employers provide this salary, contributions, and service information to the system, which we system ultimately use to determine benefits and eligibility for benefits.

Member Contributions

Members of ASPRS are non-contributory, which means they do not make any member contributions to the system.

Employer Contributions

The state, as employer, contributes a statutory rate of twenty-six percent (26%) of the active member payroll to ASPRS.

The statutory employer contribution rate is different from the actuarially determined employer contribution rate. Annually, the difference between these two rates is transferred to the retirement system from a combination of sources including insurance premium taxes and drivers’ license reinstatement fees.

Service Credit

Members earn service credit on a monthly and annual basis as follows:

Monthly: Members who render fifteen (15) days of service in a month earn one month of service credit.
Annually: Tier One members who earn ten (10) months of service credit in a calendar year earn one year of service for the calendar year. There is no rolling up of service for Tier Two members.

Employer Responsibilities

Reporting consists of two primary functions: salary and service reporting and contributions remittance. Both functions must be completed for each payroll processed and are initiated either by an AASIS interface or ASPRS.

Salary and Service Reporting: Each pay period, we receive the AASIS Compensation and Service Import file from AASIS. This file provides compensation, service, and contribution information for all members enrolled in an ASPRS benefit plan.
Contributions Remittance: On each pay date, we receive a direct deposit for member and employer contributions for all state agencies. We then import a variant from AASIS, which distributes these contributions to the appropriate agency, including the division.

This information can be reviewed in myASPRS at any time. In both cases, we apply all the data – salary, service, and contributions – to each member’s retirement account, which accumulates until termination of employment or retirement.

Resources

Design Specification: Work Report Import-AASIS
Publication: MyAPERS Employer Roles and Functions
Quick Reference Guide: Enter Termination Information
Quick Reference Guide: Print a Work Report

Legal Disclaimer

Quicklinks

ASPRS Board

ASPRS Member Handbook

Qualified Domestic Relations Order

Retirement Benefits

Filing Deadlines

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Disclaimer on Benefits and Rights

Disclaimer Concerning Benefit Calculations, Benefit Projections, Counseling, and Certain Conditions Regarding APERS Benefits and Rights

The purpose of this Disclaimer is to summarize, in plain language, existing APERS policy concerning benefit calculations, benefit projections, counseling, and certain conditions regarding APERS benefits and rights. This Disclaimer does not reflect any alteration or amendment of existing APERS policy. This site includes general information about APERS programs and benefits and may not represent or include completely the law and/or rules that govern APERS. Arkansas law and/or administrative rules will supersede any information in conflict.

APERS strives to provide accurate information and assistance to plan participants who have questions regarding their APERS benefits. All information and calculations concerning benefits are based upon current law and policy, even though information often concerns future benefits. Likewise, laws and policies affecting plan participants are subject to change from time to time. The Arkansas General Assembly, U. S. Congress, federal agencies, and the APERS Board of Trustees may change how benefits are calculated and change other rights of plan participants. Any benefit projection or information provided by APERS is subject to future law or policy that is applicable to APERS.

APERS staff depends upon information provided by the plan participants and offers counseling and projects future benefit estimates based upon that information. Such estimates can vary materially from actual results. Calculations concerning benefits, as well as the information APERS provides during counseling, can be materially affected if the plan participant provides inaccurate or incomplete information, or omits material facts. Plan participants are presumed to have knowledge of all publicly available laws and policies that affect their APERS benefits and rights. APERS is under no duty to ensure that plan participants are specifically informed of a new law or policy unless required within the law or policy itself. If APERS attempts to notify plan participants who may be affected by a change of a law or policy, the failure to notify a specific plan participant does not create any right or cause of action for the plan participant.

APERS does not provide plan participants with specific recommendations regarding retirement options, tax advice, or legal advice. Each plan participant is solely responsible for determining whether benefit calculations, benefit projections, benefit estimates, and retirement plan options are suitable for the plan participant based upon his or her specific retirement objectives and personal and financial situation. APERS encourages plan participants to consult their own lawyer, accountant, tax professional, or other retirement adviser before making a decision that affects their benefits and rights regarding APERS.

Federal law and policy, state law and policy, APERS records and documents, and accurate data always govern the final determination of plan participant benefits and rights. An error by APERS does not create any common law rights on behalf of the plan participant. The rights of a plan participant are solely governed by the rights set forth in law and policy applicable to APERS.