MHSP Retirement Plans & Benefits
The Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol Retirement System (MHSPRS) covers all of the sworn officers of the Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol who have completed a course of instruction in an authorized Highway Patrol Training School on general law enforcement. This includes members who serve as uniformed officers of the Highway Patrol in the enforcement of traffic laws of the state or in the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics. Mississippi Code Annotated §25-13-3 sets forth the provisions for membership eligibility in MHSPRS which was established July 1, 1958. For additional information, refer to Subject Index below.
Subject Index |
Section 1
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Section 2Section 3 |
Section 4Section 5 |
MHSP Coverage
MCA Section 25-13-3 sets forth the provisions for membership eligibility in the Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol Retirement System, established July 1, 1958.
The membership of the Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol Retirement System includes all of the officers of the Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol who have completed a course of instruction in an authorized Highway Patrol Training School on general law enforcement and who serve as uniformed officers of the highway patrol in the enforcement of traffic laws of the state or in the driver license division or in the MS Bureau of Narcotics.
MHSP Contribution Rate
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For the current contribution rate, see PERS Regulation 60, Contribution Rates. |
MHSP Service Retirement Benefit Eligibility
SERVICE RETIREMENT BENEFITS - A retirement allowance is payable at the age of 55 with five (5) years of contributing membership service; at any age with 25 years of creditable service, or at age 45 with at least 20 years of service reduced 3% for each year in age below 55 or 3% for each year of service under 25, whichever is less. Unused leave and military service can be applied toward the 20 or 25 year service credit requirement but CAN NOT be applied until after the five (5) years of contributing membership service credit is awarded.
When you become eligible to retire, but elect to continue working, you may file a PERS Form 16, Advanced Application for Optional Settlement Under Service Retirement, which would be processed in the event of your death prior to actual retirement. This Advanced Application process is helpful for members who wish to provide monthly benefit protection to someone other than a spouse.
MHSP Service Retirement Benefit Formula (Maxium Allowance)
2.5% of Average Compensation for each year of service credit up to a maximum of 100% of average compensation.
Average Compensation is calculated using the four (4) highest consecutive years of earned compensation preceding the date of retirement, plus up to 30 days of lump sum unused leave payment received at termination for purposes of retirement. The total is then divided by four (4) to arrive at the Average Compensation.
MHSP Disability Retirement Benefit
A duty-related disability retirement allowance is payable to any member, regardless of the years of service credit, who has not attained age 55 and who, as certified by the PERS Medical Board, becomes permanently physically or mentally incapacitated for duty due to sickness or injury caused or sustained as a direct result of duty. A regular, non-duty related disability benefit is payable to any member who is not eligible for service retirement benefits but has accumulated five (5) or more years of service, and is totally and permanently disabled from performing the duties of the MHSP position, as certified by the PERS Medical Board.
MHSP Disability Retirement Benefit Formula
The annual disability retirement allowance payable is equal to the greater of 50% of the average compensation for the two (2) years immediately preceding retirement, or the minimum benefit as follows:
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15 or more years of service |
$500/month |
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10 to 14-3/4 years of service |
$300/month |
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less than 10 years of service |
$250/month |
MHSP Survivor Allowance
The retirement benefit payable on the account of members who die prior to retirement, whether or not the death is considered a line of duty death, is determined based upon the statutory provisions in effect as of the date of the member's death. In the event of non-duty related death before retirement, the spouse and dependent children of any member with five (5) or more years of contributing membership service may be entitled to a monthly benefit. A dependent child is defined as one who is under the age of 19 and unmarried (or up to age 23 if in school on a full time basis and unmarried.) In the event of death in the line of performance of duty, the member's spouse and dependent children may be entitled to a monthly benefit, regardless of the number of years of membership service credit.
Duty-Related Death Benefits - The annual retirement allowance in the case of a member who is killed on the job is equal to 50% of the average compensation payable to the spouse and 25% of the average compensation payable to one (1) dependent child, with 50% of average compensation payable to two (2) or more dependent children until age 19, or 23, if a full time student and unmarried.
Non-Duty Related Death Benefits - The annual retirement allowance in the event of non-duty related death of a member prior to retirement who has five (5) or more years of contributing membership service credit is equal to 2.5% of the average compensation for each year of service credit with 50% of the benefit payable to a spouse and 25% of such benefit payable to one (1) dependent child, or 50% of the benefit payable to two (2) or more dependent children.
MSHP Benefit Payment Options
Option 1 - This option is a prorated single life annuity which provides a monthly benefit to the retiree for life. This option allows the employee contributions to be used at a slower rate than under the Maximum Option. At the death of the retiree, unused employee contributions are refunded to the designated beneficiary. In the event of marriage after retirement, the retiree may apply for a benefit recalculation under option 2 or 4A, to provide protection to a new spouse.
Option 2 - The 100% Joint and Survivor Annuity option provides a reduced benefit payable to the retiree for life. At the death of the retiree, the joint annuitant receives a lifetime annuity equal to the monthly benefit being paid the retiree. In the event the joint annuitant predeceases the retiree or the retiree divorces, the retiree may apply for a benefit recalculation under the Maximum Option.
Option 3 - The 100% Joint and Survivor Annuity option for two (2) beneficiaries provides a reduced benefit payable to the retiree for life. The retiree may name two (2) beneficiaries at retirement. At the death of the retiree, the named beneficiaries will each receive one-half of the amount being paid to the retiree before death. The amount is payable throughout the lifetimes of the named beneficiaries. Upon the death of one (1) of the beneficiaries, the surviving beneficiary shall receive the full benefit amount.
Option 4A - The 50% Joint and Survivor Annuity option provides a reduced benefit payable to the retiree for life. Upon notification of the death of the retiree, the joint annuitant receives a lifetime annuity equal to one-half of the monthly benefit being paid the retiree prior to death. In the event the designated beneficiary predeceases the retiree or the retiree divorces, the retiree may apply for a benefit recalculation under the Maximum Option.
Option 4B 10, 15, or 20 Years Certain - Option 4B allows a retiree to select either the 10, 15, or 20 years certain provision. Payment is made to the retiree for life. Should the retiree die within 10, 15, or 20 years of the date of retirement, the named beneficiary(ies) will draw the same monthly benefits paid the retiree until the end of the elected period of coverage. The longer the period selected, the greater the reduction in monthly benefits.
Option 6 Partial Lump Sum ( Service Retirement Only ) - A member of MHSP who is eligible for an unreduced benefit , i.e., 25 years of service regardless of age or at least age 55 with five (5) or more years of service, may elect to receive a partial lump sum along with a reduced monthly benefit. The member may choose a lump sum equal to 12, 24 or 36 times the unreduced base maximum monthly retirement allowance. The maximum monthly retirement allowance is then reduced based on the member's age and the lump sum selected. The member may then choose any of the other options to provide income protection to a beneficiary except Option 1.
[FOR INFORMATION ON ROLLOVER TO AN ELIGIBLE RETIREMENT PLAN, CLICK HERE]
Option 9 - Allows the member to receive an amount equal to the Maximum Option, however, in the event of death after retirement, the surviving spouse of the retiree at the time of death would be entitled to receive a benefit equal to 50% of that amount paid to the retiree with an amount equal to 25% of the benefit paid to the retiree payable to one (1) dependent child until age 19, extended to age 23, if unmarried and a full time student or 50% of the benefit paid to the retiree prior to death payable to two (2) or more dependent children, until age 19 and extended to age 23 if a full time student and unmarried.
Benefit Effective Date (MHSP)
Service and Disability benefits are payable to eligible members effective the first of the month after receipt of the completed application and termination of covered employment, whichever is later. Death benefits are payable from the first of the month following the date of the member’s death but no sooner than the first of the month after receipt of an application for such survivor benefits.