Providing Essential Services to our Members
Providing Essential Services to our Members
As the dynamics of the workplace change, PERA continues to provide essential services to our members. We are exploring new and innovative ways for you to get your questions answered. We want to keep you informed regarding a few operational updates to our day-to-day services.
Our offices
To protect our members and staff, our St. Paul lobby remains closed. We expect to re-open to the public in 2022, but the timing will be dependent on the state of COVID-19 next year. PERA staff is carrying on normal work processes via telecommuting. Minimal staff is in our St. Paul office, providing critical services to ensure our operations continue without interruption.
After much thought and consideration, we have permanently closed our regional offices in Mankato and Duluth. Moving forward, we will be shifting our focus from in-person counseling at these locations to meeting face-to-face in different regions throughout Minnesota. Member workshops and individual counseling sessions will allow PERA counselors to provide educational presentations to members across Minnesota.
Our continued member services
While PERA’s offices are closed to the public, we continue to serve our members. The PERA Member Services line remains open during our regular business hours. In-person counseling sessions are temporarily suspended; however, our benefit counselors provide over-the-phone counseling sessions and virtual education opportunities. Here is how to reach us:
Call Us. Member services counselors are available by phone Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (CST). Call us at 651.296.7460 or 1.800.652.9026.
Email Us. We are happy to answer general questions about your PERA benefit. Email us at Benefits@mnpera.org (Note – to protect your personal information when emailing PERA, please do not include private data in your email).
Attend a Webinar or Individual Phone Counseling Session. We have two member webinars: one that focuses on new and mid-career members who want to learn more about their PERA pension, and one that prepares members as they approach retirement. We also offer individual phone counseling sessions to meet with a PERA benefit counselor. Learn more at mnpera.org/education
New member services coming soon
We continue to improve our program and counseling offerings. We are excited to announce two upcoming member services. Check out our website later this year for more information.
In-person meetings across Minnesota. We are hopeful of hitting the road next summer and visiting you! We are planning visits to Duluth, Mankato, Roseau, Fairmont, St. Cloud, and Bemidji in 2022 (please note these member workshops will depend on the state of COVID-19 next year).
Video individual counseling. This winter, we are excited to roll out a new way to meet with a PERA benefit counselor. This virtual counseling session will allow you to hear and see the information being shared, along with seeing your PERA benefit counselor face-to-face.
How to send paperwork to PERA
PERA continues to receive and process mail daily. Here’s how you can send us your paperwork:
Mail. If you need to submit any paperwork to PERA, the simplest option is to mail your documents to: PERA, 60 Empire Drive Suite 200, Saint Paul, MN 55103
Drop off. If you prefer to drop off paperwork, you can insert the documents into the PERA dropbox on the first floor inside the Retirement Services Building at 60 Empire Drive in St. Paul. The dropbox is available between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. and is checked multiple times per day.
Upload to myPERA. We are able to accept some paperwork through your online myPERA account. Currently, five documents are accepted: birth certificate, identification (passport, enhanced Driver’s License, State Real ID), marriage certificate, Verification of Termination form, and the Annual Earnings form.
Fax. You can also fax us some PERA paperwork – if we have a fax number on the form, we can receive it by fax. Please note that we must receive the original of any notarized form, such as a retirement or refund application.