What's New at The Milwaukee Employes' Retirement System.

No Board Member Election

Since no active employees challenged John Barmore, he will retain his seat on the Annuity & Pension Board without an election.  His new term begins January 1, 2011 and runs to December 31, 2014.

Health Insurance Open Enrollment for 2011

The 2011 Open Enrollment period will be for only a three week period starting October 11, 2010 and ending October 29, 2010.  Packets will be mailed out to retirees (excluding MPS, MATC, MMSD, United Water Services, and Veolia retirees) in late September. The City will be offering its Basic Plan administered by Anthem and United Healthcare Choice (UHC) for all City retirees. In addition, the United Healthcare Group Medicare Advantage (PPO) Plan (formerly Secure Horizons Medicare Direct Retiree Plan Direct plan) will be offered to retirees who are single with Medicare or all family members on the plan who also have Medicare.  PLEASE REVIEW YOUR OPEN ENROLLMENT BOOKLET CAREFULLY. 

Tax Withholding

If you owe additional income tax this year or are getting a large refund, you might want to adjust the amount of your tax withholding.  You may download the tax withholding form from our website, here.  Mail the completed form to the address listed on the top of the first page.  If you have elected to have WI taxes withheld and are not having a flat dollar amount withheld from your check, the WI tax requirement is to withhold a minimum of $5.00.

Update Your Beneficiaries

Births, deaths and divorce are some of the reasons why you may want to change your designated beneficiary.  Active members are asked to review the current beneficiary information that was listed on their account statements.  Retired members are also allowed to change their beneficiary designation (but not their designated survivor.)  The needed forms are here for active or deferred members and here for retirees.  

Group Life Insurance Certificate is On-Line

If you are in the covered employee groups, (General City, Police, Fire, HACM, RACM or the WI Center District), and would like to know more about your life insurance coverage, including the features of your coverage and your rights, please read our group life insurance certificate, located here.

Investment Update

The financial markets fell during the second quarter as fears of a double-dip recession reemerged due to the European debt crisis, slowing consumer spending, and continued high unemployment.  During this period, the Fund returned -6.8%, gross of fees. The Fund’s total equity decreased 10.9% and fixed income increased 1.8%.  The Funds real estate allocation rose 0.6%.  Domestic equity was the largest detractor of the Fund’s performance.  The value of the fund on June 30, 2010 was $3.79 billion.

Pre-Retirement Seminar

Active general city employees only - (not MPS, MMSD, Sworn Police or Sworn Fire) - pondering retirement are invited to attend the pre-retirement seminar of their choice.  A seminar is scheduled for November 19th.  Members may enroll in this seminar, or any future seminar.  All seminars take place 8 a.m. to noon at the ERS office - 789 N. Water Street.  Parking is available for only $1.50 per hour at the Milwaukee Center if you bring your parking stub. 

See your department's training coordinator to sign up, or for more details. 

Member Self Service is Available

Members are able to create an account that allows them to update their personal information such as address and phone number, see their member account information, and calculate benefit estimates using their most recent service and wage information.

Last updated: September 7, 2010