Retirement

Retirement from Iowa state government affects both the employee and the employer, the agency where they work. This section is intended primarily for the employee, because there are certain actions they will need to initiate, if they are eligible, when they decide to retire. These actions include such things as filing with their respective retirement system to begin receiving a pension or other retirement benefits.

Employees also need to notify their employer of their intent to retire and determine if they wish to take advantage of the benefits available to retiring employees such as the SLIP program (see next section for more details) and purchase of continuing health and dental insurance coverage through the State’s health and dental plans.

This is not an “official” retirement website for state employees but rather a collection of some of the basic information sites the employee contemplating retirement should check.

On the employer’s part, retirements are handled pretty much like other separations from employment discussed elsewhere on this website.

Retirement Systems in Iowa State Government

The Iowa Public Employees Retirement System (IPERS) covers most state employees. General IPERS provisions apply for most of its members; provisions for protected occupational positions from the Departments of Corrections, Natural Resources and Transportation are slightly different.

The Peace Officers Retirement System (PORS) covers peace officer employees of the Department of Public Safety.

Certain positions in the Department of Education are covered by the Regents’ TIAA-CREF provisions.

Judges in the Iowa Court System are covered by the Iowa Judicial Retirement System; other judicial branch employees are covered by IPERS.

Iowa Public Employees’ Retirement System (IPERS) website
Notification of Terminating Employees (IPERS form for employer)

To obtain a retirement benefit estimate for IPERS pension amounts, call (800) 622-3849. This information may also be requested on-line at: http://www.ipers.org/estreqintro.htm. A member may purchase service credit for a wide variety of types of public service. More information about the IPERS service purchase program can be found in the IPERS member handbook entitled "IPERS Retirement Planning Guidelines".

For employees covered by POR, check http://www.dps.state.ia.us/asd/por/por.shtml for more information.

Pertinent PDS courses: Ready, Set, Retire (1-3 years from retirement) and Long-Range Retirement Planning (+3 years from retirement).

State-sponsored Benefits

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