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Divorce and QDRO - QDRO Model - Maximum Benefit
The QDRO models listed below are for retirees who selected the maximum benefit form of payment.
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Here is an easy-to-use guide on how to read your 1099-R:
Box 1 - Gross Distribution. This is the sum of all benefits paid to you by ERSRI during the previous calendar year.
Box 2a - Taxable Amount. This box contains the sum of your benefit payments minus your non-taxable monthly exclusion amounts.
Box 2b - This box is not applicable to ERSRI.
Box 3 - This box is not applicable to ERSRI.
Box 4 - Federal Income Tax Withheld. This box shows any federal income tax withheld from your benefit payments during the year.
Box 5 - Employee Contributions. This box contains the sum of your non-taxable monthly exclusions for the tax year. The “monthly exclusion amount” or “monthly exclusion” is the part of your benefit on which you have already paid taxes. If you made any after-tax contributions to your ERSRI account — for example, regular contributions you made before 1986 or through a buyback of service time — then you do not have to pay taxes on that part of your benefit. The non-taxable portion of your benefit listed in Box 5 is calculated using the Simplified Method in IRS Publication 575 - Pension and Annuity Income.
Box 6 - This box is not applicable to ERSRI.
Box 7 - Distribution Code. IRS code identifying the distribution you received. These codes are explained on the back of the 1099-R Form.
Boxes 8, 9a, 9b, 10, 11, 12 and 13 - These boxes are not applicable to ERSRI.
Box 14 - State Income Tax Withheld. Any Rhode Island State income tax deducted from your checks is shown in this box. Note: ERSRI does not withhold state income taxes for any state other than Rhode Island.
Box 15 – State/Payer’s State No. ERSRI’s state tax ID number.
Box 16 – State Distribution. Rhode Island state taxable income.
Boxes 17 through 19 – These three boxes are left intentionally blank and are not applicable to ERSRI.
2025 COLA by Plan
- State Employees or Teachers who retired on or before 6/30/2012 are eligible for 2025 COLA*
- These retirees will receive 2.89% COLA on the first $30,622 of their benefit.
- State Employees or Teachers who retired on or after 7/1/2012 are eligible for COLA 3 years after retirement or upon reaching Social Security Normal Retirement Age (SSNRA), whichever is later.
- Those with retirement dates between 7/1/2012 and 6/30/2015 will receive 0.72% COLA on the first $36,746 of their benefit.
- Those with retirement dates on or after 7/1/2015 will receive 0.72% COLA on the first $30,622 of their benefit.
- Most eligible members receive their COLA the month following their 3-year retirement anniversary. However, for members who reach their COLA eligibility based on their Social Security Normal Retirement Age (SSNRA) - when this date is later than the 3-year anniversary - their COLA month will be the month following their SSNRA date.
- Note that for members with retirement dates in December who reach COLA eligibility on their 3-year retirement anniversary, COLA adjustments are paid the following January (2026).
- Teachers with retirement dates of July 1st who reach COLA eligibility on their 3-year retirement anniversary, COLA adjustments are paid in July.
*with the exception of retirees who were not receiving COLA by 6/30/2012 and who have not yet reached their Social Security Normal Retirement Age (SSNRA).
- Municipal Employees (General employees and Police & Fire employees) in plans offering COLA who retired on or before 6/30/2012 are eligible for 2025 COLA*
- These retirees will receive 2.89% COLA on the first $30,622 of their benefit.
- General Municipal Employees in plans offering COLA who retired on or after 7/1/2012 are eligible for COLA 3 years after retirement or reaching Social Security Normal Retirement Age (SSNRA), whichever is later.
- Those in plans 75% or more funded as of 6/30/2024 (see list of 93 MERS units) will receive 2.89% COLA on the first $30,622 of their benefit.
- Those in plans less than 75% funded as of 6/30/2024 with retirement dates between 7/1/2012 and 6/30/2015 will receive 0.72% COLA on the first $36,746 of their benefit.
- Those in plans less than 75% funded as of 6/30/2024 with retirement dates on or after 7/1/2015 will receive 0.72% COLA on the first $30,622 of their benefit.
- Police and Fire Municipal Employees in plans offering COLA who retired between 7/1/2012 and 6/30/2015 are eligible for COLA 3 years after retirement or age 55, whichever is later.
- Those in plans 75% or more funded as of 6/30/2024 (see list of 93 MERS units) will receive 2.89% COLA on the first $30,622 of their benefit.
- Those in plans less than 75% funded as of 6/30/2024 with retirement dates between 7/1/2012 and 6/30/2015 will receive 0.72% COLA on the first $36,746 of their benefit.
- Those in plans less than 75% funded as of 6/30/2024 with retirement dates on or after 7/1/2015 will receive 0.72% COLA on the first $30,622 of their benefit.
- Police and Fire Municipal Employees in plans offering COLA who retired after 7/1/2015 are eligible for COLA 3 years after retirement or age 50, whichever is later.
- Those in plans 75% or more funded as of 6/30/2024 (see list of 93 MERS units) will receive 2.89% COLA on the first $30,622 of their benefit.
- Those in plans less than 75% funded as of 6/30/2024 with retirement dates between 7/1/2012 and 6/30/2015 will receive 0.72% COLA on the first $36,746 of their benefit.
- Those in plans less than 75% funded as of 6/30/2024 with retirement dates on or after 7/1/2015 will receive 0.72% COLA on the first $30,622 of their benefit.
- Most eligible members receive their COLA the month following their 3-year retirement anniversary. However, for members who reach their COLA eligibility based on their on their AGE – either their Social Security Normal Retirement Age (SSNRA) or age 50 or 55 - when this date is later than the 3-year anniversary - their COLA month will be the month following their SSNRA or birthdate.
- Note that for members with retirement dates in December who reach COLA eligibility on their 3-year retirement anniversary, COLA adjustments are paid the following January (2026).
*with the exception of retirees who were not receiving COLA by 6/30/2012 and who have not yet reached their Social Security Normal Retirement Age (SSNRA).
- Retired Judges or State Police are eligible for COLA 3 years after retirement or upon reaching Social Security Normal Retirement Age (SSNRA), whichever is later. Eligible members will receive a 4-year COLA in 2025.
- Those with retirement dates on or before 6/30/2015 will receive 2.89% COLA on the first $36,746 of their benefit.
- Those with retirement dates on or after 7/1/2015 will receive 2.89% COLA on the first $30,622 of their benefit.
- Most eligible retirees will receive their COLA the month following their 3-year retirement anniversary. However, for members who reached their COLA eligibility based on their Social Security Normal Retirement Age (SSNRA) - when this date is later than the 3-year anniversary - their COLA month will be the month following their SSNRA date.
- For members with retirement dates in December who reached COLA eligibility on their 3-year retirement anniversary, COLA adjustments are paid the following January (2026).
- Teacher Survivors’ Benefit (TSB) payees who are age 60 or over and who are receiving spousal benefits with effective dates of 12/1/2024 or earlier are eligible to receive a 2.5% COLA on their full benefit amount. TSB COLA adjustments for all eligible payees will be applied to benefits in January 2025.
- Retired Central Falls Legacy or West Warwick Legacy Members: COLA eligibility rules and amounts are pursuant to individual plan documents.
Monthly Benefit Payments
ERSRI pays benefits on the last business day of each month. For members with direct deposit, when the last day of the month falls on a weekend or holiday, your monthly benefit will be deposited the previous business day. Click the link below to download a payment schedule for the current year.
Information and Training
Disability Pension Process –This presentation below provides a guide to understanding the overall process, the employer’s role, and best practices for facilitating the disability process
A guide to understanding the process and best practices for Municipal Officials.
Wage and Contribution Reporting
An at-a-glance reference guide for wage and contributions record specifications.
For rules and guidance governing retirement contributions for teacher positions.
An in-depth guide to loading wage and contribution records through the online portal.
