One of two employees in an employer agency who are authorized to manage ERIS access by other employees within in their agency. System Administrators are the only individuals who register for ERIS using the online process and submit an Access and Authorization form to PERA that has been signed by someone of authority within their employer agency.

Your organization must decide who it wants to serve as System Administrator. PERA does not determine who the System Administrator should be for your organization. The best choice for System Administrator is going to be dependent on your organizational structure. The System Administrator should be someone who is authorized to work with private information such as employees’ Social Security Numbers and payroll data, and has some level of authority regarding the employer’s policies and procedures.

Yes, an employer can have two System Administrators, but a minimum of one is required. It may be helpful to have a backup to the primary System Administrator for those occasions when your Administrator may be unavailable.

If you forgot your password (but still know your user name), select the ‘Forgot your password’ link from the ERIS registration page. Then enter your user name and your mother’s maiden name (as recorded in ERIS) to get a new temporary password. The first time you next enter ERIS, the system will require you to change your password from the temporary one to a password only you know. Passwords must be 8 to 30 characters in length with at least one capital letter and one number.

If you have forgotten both your user name and password, please call the Employer Response Line (1-888-892-7372 or 651-296-3636). PERA staff will then be able to provide your user name. You can get a new password by following the instruction above.

If you have not received an email from PERA confirming a change in password, call PERA (1-888-892-7372 or 651-296-3636) to verify that our system initiated the change. If PERA has no data on the password change, try changing it again. If PERA’s records show that the password was changed and that the email confirmation was not returned to PERA, the delivery may have been prevented from reaching you because of a filter on your email system. If this is the case, contact your IS department or the email provider to correct the problem.

Use the ‘Change Password’ module in ERIS to change your password. From the ERIS Home Page, click on ‘Account’ and then select ‘Change Password.’ The system will require you to enter your current password, the new password and then re-enter the new password to confirm it. Please make sure to follow the rules regarding passwords as listed on the page.

First, check to see if the "cap locks" button is selected. Passwords are case-sensitive and if the cap locks is on, the password will appear to be incorrect.

Second, did you recently change your password? If so, and you do not remember the new password, select the ‘Forgot your password’ link on the ERIS sign-on page.

Third, has your password expired? Passwords are valid for six months. If time has expired on a password, you will have to request a new temporary password through the ‘Forgot your password’ link.

Finally, if you requested a new temporary password but have not received an email with the new password, you should call PERA (1-888-892-7372 or 651-296-3636) to report the problem.

It is required that the ‘Mother’s Maiden Name’ field be completed as part of our security requirements. If for some reason you do not wish to provide your actual mother’s maiden name, you may record any word as an alternative. The key is to use a word that you will remember when asked for this information.

PERA tries to process the Authorization for Access form as quickly as possible. Generally, we are able to approve the authorization and email a temporary password within 3-5 business days from when you mail the form to PERA.

Access for other employees is granted by the System Administrator. Use the "Manage Access Rights" module of ERIS to complete this task and complete the following steps:

1. Select "Add New Account,"
2. Complete all required information (fields in bold font are required),
3. Use the drop-down menus to grant access rights
4. Left mouse-click the "Submit" button

Yes, ERIS will time-out after 10 minutes of inactivity. This is done to prevent unauthorized use of the system if a person steps away from his or her computer without logging out of ERIS.

The correct link to ERIS is https://employer.mnpera.org. Browsers use the current link to create a bookmark. In order for ERIS to be secure for your information we use a secure application that can only be logged into once. If you are on the Log In page you will create a link including the application. The ‘Bookmark This Page’ feature of a browser will use this application in its link https://employer.mnpera.org/EmpWeb.dll/EXEC You can create a link form the original page or edit your bookmark link to be https://employer.mnpera.org.

PERA uses address verification software to ensure that addresses are valid. This software is updated monthly with data from the U.S. Postal Service. Occasionally, addresses entered in ERIS have not yet been uploaded to our address verification software and this error message will occur.

Also, if the address has a direction attached to it (i.e. N, S, SE, NW, etc), please verify the correct directional indicator is used. Using the wrong direction or no direction will cause the verification software to interpret the address as being invalid.

If you get this message, either contact PERA or wait a few days before attempting to re-enter it. Once the address is entered or uploaded in the address verification software, our system will accept it as a legitimate address.

It is difficult to say exactly how often enhancements (or new modules) will be added to ERIS because it requires prioritizing our automation projects internally. Generally, we have been adding at least one new feature each year since ERIS was introduced during the summer of 2003. 

There are two easy ways to see if new features have been added.

First, we use the Broadcast Message field on the ERIS Home Page to inform uses of the latest features added. Each time you log-in to ERIS, scan that field to see if the information has changed.

Second, we include ERIS articles in the PERAphrase newsletter. The issue following any enhancements will always include information about the change.

You will find complete instructions on how to use the ERIS modules in an online help document. To access the help text, click the question mark (?) located at the top of each screen. Or, you can call PERA 651-296-3636 or 1-888-892-7372 to speak to a representative.

All governmental employers that have PERA-eligible employees can make payments to PERA using our EFT services. The payment options you may select from are:

• Using an Internet-based system that is accessed through the PERA Web site. To use this service, you need a connection to the Internet and a computer with Internet Explorer 5.0 or Netscape 4.7 or higher (excluding 6.0).
• Using an Interactive Voice Response System that is accessed through an established toll-free telephone number. All you need here is a touch-tone telephone. Before you may begin to use the telephone system, you will need to enroll in the PERA EFT program using either the "Make Payment" button (you can access the button from the Home Page, from the Online Services page or from the Electronic Funds Transfer page) on PERA's Web site or assistance from PERA staff. To get the IVR system telephone number, simply call PERA at 651-296-3636 or 1-888-892-7372 and select option 2.

The PERA Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) program uses the Automated Clearinghouse (ACH) Debit method of transferring funds. The process flow is as follows.

1. At least one business day before the payment due date you provide information about your agency and the payment that you wish to make to PERA. This information is entered through the Internet system or a touch-tone telephone, whichever you prefer. You may enter the payment data up to 45 days before the debit date and the information will be "warehoused" until the payment is due.
2. The night before your scheduled debit date, a file is sent from the National Clearinghouse Association (NACHA) to your bank to initiate the withdrawal of the funds you had designated.
3. The following morning a withdrawal is made from your bank account and a deposit is made into the PERA bank account. At the same time, a transaction containing identification information is forwarded to PERA so that we can credit your agency with the payment.

The two Electronic Funds Transfer methods, which are made available to you by PERA and US Bank, offer many benefits over traditional check remittances, such as:

• Reduced costs…eliminates costs to generate and mail checks. It may also help you to avoid late payment penalties caused by postal delays or lost checks.
• Secure…your account is set up with a Password for security and proper authorization. When you use either EFT method, you can be assured that your payment will be directed only to PERA. Further, both of PERA's electronic payment services use the Automated Clearinghouse (ACH) network.
• Accuracy...verification steps along the way allow you to check and review your information before it is sent.
• Convenience... all you need to do is make a phone call or visit the Internet site. The telephone system is available 24 hours 7 days a week. The Internet system is available to you 24 hours a day, Monday through Friday (closed from midnight to 6 a.m. on Friday and Saturday for maintenance).
• Cash flow control…if you currently send payments by check, you mail the check several days before the money is due and PERA deposits the check when we receive it. Using PERA's EFT Services, you set up a payment through your web visit or phone call and you control when your bank account is debited because you specify the date. This lets your agency retain its funds for a longer period without worrying about late or lost payments-as can happen with mail delivery.
• Free Service…PERA does not charge employers to use its EFT services. Employers should contact their bank, however, to learn if their bank charges a nominal fee for making payments through the ACH system.
• Easy to Use...the step-by-step process tells you what information you need to complete your payment.

You can make payments covering pay period Salary Deduction Reports (Regular Employee Deductions and Employer Contributions for all PERA-administered Defined Benefit and Defined Contribution Plans). Additionally, if you use the Internet system or submit an ACH Credit File you may make payments covering PERA Invoices on delinquency fees for late SDRs, omitted deductions, or use credit memos to reduce your payment. You cannot, however, use the telephone system to include an Invoice payment with your regular contribution payment.

The following information is needed for Internet or telephone payments:

• Employer ID number
• Password
• Amount of Payment*
• Payroll Paid Date**
• Bank Account Debit Date

*This must reflect the total of all employee and employer contributions. If you make your payment using the Internet tool, this amount may include payments you are making for invoices. In this instance, you must add your contribution amount and the invoice amount(s) and enter the total as the Payment Amount-the system will not automatically calculate this total. You must also include the individual Invoice Amount(s) and Invoice/Credit Memo Number(s) in your transaction.

**The Paid Date is the day you paid your employees, not the day you want the payment to be credited to PERA's account. This date must be in the MMDDYYYY format (example: 07152004 represents the paid date of 7-15-2004). This Paid Date should match the Paid Date on the corresponding SDR. If you are submitting payments for multiple Paid Dates, you must submit separate payments for each Paid Date.

Note: When you initiate your first electronic payment through the Internet or telephone, you will be also required to provide your bank account information.

The User (or Employer) ID is assigned by PERA to uniquely identify the reporting employer agency. The 6-digit number is assigned by PERA when a local governmental agency is approved for submitting employee and employer contributions to PERA. You use this ID number (without the dash) for web-based and telephone payments.

The EFT telephone system is available 24 hours 7 days a week. The Internet payment system is available 24 hours a day, Monday through Friday (closed from midnight to 6 a.m. Friday and Saturday for maintenance).

You will need a computer with Internet access and a computer with either Internet Explorer 5.0 or Netscape 4.7 or higher (excluding Netscape 6.0).

Making a payment using the PERA Internet Electronic Payment System takes only minutes.

1. From the Electronic Funds Transfer window of the PERA Web site (you can access EFT from the PERA Home Page, the Online Services page or the Electronic Funds Transfer page), click the "Make Payment" button to access the Internet tool provided by US Bank.
2. On the Welcome screen, enter your PERA 6-digit Employer Identification Number (without dashes) and your Password. Select Log In.
3. If you are making your first payment, select Manage Accounts and the Add New eCheck Account screen will display. Enter the appropriate values in the displayed fields. Select Submit.
4. Select the Make a Payment screen and enter the total Payment Amount and the Scheduled Payment Date. If you wish to make a payment for a PERA Invoice, enter the Invoice/Credit Memo number(s) and the associated amount(s). Press Continue.
5. The Verify Payment informational screen will be displayed. Review the information to insure accuracy. If it is correct, enter your Password and click the blank field next to the "I accept the Terms and Conditions" box by left clicking your mouse. If you have provided an email address, you will be asked if you wish to receive email confirmation. Press Confirm. If the information displayed is incorrect, press the Edit Payment button to make changes.
6. Your payment will be issued a confirmation number. You are able to view a pending payment using the Pending Payments button. If you wish, print this page as a receipt for your payment.
7. Select the Exit button in the right-hand corner to log off. You will return to the Employer Home Page of the PERA Web site. Note: If you need to initiate another payment, you must sign in again and repeat steps 3-6. A sign-in is required for each payment because the system allows only one payment per session transfer.

At any time you may select the Help button to view the online instructions and guidelines.

This system utilizes the most advanced security available to ensure the privacy of your payment information. All transactions are conducted over a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) connection secured with 128-bit encryption. SSL is a communications protocol for transmitting private information over the Internet.

Yes, Your Employer ID Number and Password give you the ability to make a payment or view payment information through either the Internet or telephone. The information that is required for an electronic payment using the web is the same data needed for the telephone payment. Therefore, if your computer is ever down, you could use the EFT telephone services to make your payment to PERA.

Your payment will be issued a confirmation number. You will be able to get information about a pending payment via the Internet system using the Pending Payments button or the prompts provided in the telephone system. If you wish, you may choose to have a confirmation email sent to you each time that you make an online payment.

Yes, the payment history record shows your posted payments and cancelled payments.

If the payment is for a future settlement date, you may use the Internet or telephone system to cancel it. If using the Internet, select the Cancel a Payment screen and following the instructions on the screen. For the telephone, follow the prompts.

From the Internet system, you may select the Help button to view online instructions and guidelines. Additionally, if you are having problems with either the Internet or telephone payment systems, you may contact a member of the PERA staff at 651-296-3636 or toll-free at 1-888-892-PERA (7372).