University Newsletter
SURS Campus Counseling Sessions
A SURS representative will be on campus Tuesday, March 7 to conduct face to face retirement counseling sessions with eligible employees who schedule an appointment. To schedule a retirement counseling appointment or request a written estimate, members should be eligible to retire within 10 years, based on the following criteria:
Eligible members who are in the Traditional and Portable plans must complete a retirement estimate request form prior to scheduling an appointment or requesting a written estimate. Members who are in the Retirement Savings Plan, receiving disability benefits, or no longer contributing to the system do not need to complete the estimate request form. The accuracy of your estimate(s) is only as good as the information provided to SURS.
To access the retirement, estimate request form:
- Visit www.surs.org and click on Member Login to gain access to your member webpage, click on Retirement Counseling on the left menu and complete the retirement estimate request form for either a written estimate or a retirement counseling appointment. Once this form is completed and submitted electronically, you will be prompted to follow a link to schedule an appointment. Currently, we are offering Virtual (via Microsoft Teams), Office, On Campus, and Telephone Appointments.
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- Call SURS at (800) 275-7877 to request a form. SURS will send a retirement estimate request form via U.S. mail to the member’s home address or fax. Once the completed form is returned, SURS will immediately notify you via U.S. mail or electronic notification on your member web page that you can contact SURS to schedule an appointment. You will not have time to schedule a campus counseling session using this method.
Please have ready in advance:
- Anticipated retirement dates (you may choose 2 dates)
- If academic: length of base contract
- Salary: if academic, base salary, plus summer or any overloads, if applicable
- Salary: if staff, salary plus expected overtime
- Percentage of anticipated salary increases
- Sick leave balances (unused/unpaid sick leave earned prior to 01/01/84 or after 01/01/98)
- Vacation balance
- Information on other service such as eligible purchases or reciprocal service
Once a counseling appointment has been scheduled, you should receive an email confirmation. If you do not receive an email confirmation that day, please contact SURS to confirm that the appointment was scheduled correctly. The confirmation email includes a link to the scheduling site. If it is necessary to cancel or reschedule, this link can be used up until 48 hours prior to the scheduled appointment time. If the appointment needs to be rescheduled or cancelled within 48 hours prior to the appointment, you will need to contact a SURS representative at (800) 275-7877. If you requested a written estimate, you should receive your estimates in the mail within 45-60 days of your request. If you do not receive them within this timeframe, contact a SURS representative at (800) 275-7877.
Please note:
- Members are limited tone counseling appointment or written estimate every 12 months.
- While eligible employees are allowed to meet with a counselor every 12 months, it is not necessary unless the previous estimate information has changed significantly.
- Retirement Savings Plan (RSP) members meeting with a SURS counselor will receive illustrations from one of the RSP providers, as well an explanation of the options available at retirement.
- All members are encouraged to follow up with the RSP provider for more specific explanations or questions.
- Members will receive a copy of the illustrations prepared after their appointment.
- Online Benefit Estimator: An online benefit estimator is available at www.surs.org
- The estimator is a helpful tool that can be used by members in the Traditional and Portable Plans when they do not meet the criteria for a counseling appointment.
- Please keep in mind that the online estimator cannot accurately calculate estimates for members who have part-time service, reciprocal service, or police/fire service.
The schedule is now open and will close Friday, February 10, 2023. Sessions will begin at 9 a.m. and run through noon. Afternoon sessions will only be available if the morning sessions fill. Sessions will be held in the University MLK union, Shelbyville and Sullivan rooms. Appointment requests will be taken on a first come/first serve basis. Call early to reserve your desired time.
