Missouri Revised Statutes § 287.820 - Benefits, amount, how payable — exemption from execution, certain judgment claims to be unassignable, exception — contributions to health care plan — consultants appointment, compensation, annual increases, how computed
AI-assisted research summary: This section sets how retirement benefits are paid, protects them from most claims, lets some retirees request health-care premium withholding, and gives qualifying retirees and survivors annual benefit increases or consultant appointments.
287.820. Benefits, amount, how payable — exemption from execution, certain judgment claims to be unassignable, exception — contributions to health care plan — consultants appointment, compensation, annual increases, how computed. — 1. Retirement benefits shall be paid to the retired person in equal monthly installments during the remainder of the person's life. The annual amount of benefits paid shall be equal to fifty percent of the highest salary received during the person's period of service. 2. Except as provided in section 104.312, any annuity, benefits, funds, property or rights created by, or accruing to, any person under the provisions of sections 287.812 to 287.855 shall not be subject to execution, garnishment, attachment, writ of sequestration, or any other process or claim whatsoever, and shall be unassignable, except with regard to the collection of child support or maintenance. Any retired member of the system may request the executive director of the system, in writing, to withhold and pay on the retired member's behalf to the proper person, from each of the retired member's monthly retirement benefit payments, if the payment is large enough, the contribution due from the retired member to any group providing prepaid hospital care and any group providing prepaid medical and surgical care when such group is composed entirely of members of the system. 3. The executive director of the system shall, when requested in writing by a retired member, withhold and pay over the funds authorized in subsection 2 of this section until such time as the request to do so is revoked by the death or written revocation of the retired member. 4. Beginning January 1, 1989, any person who was employed prior to August 28, 1997, who is receiving or thereafter shall receive retirement benefits pursuant to sections 287.812 to 287.855 upon application to the board of trustees of the Missouri state employees' retirement system shall be made, constituted, appointed, and employed by the board as a special consultant on the problems of retirement, aging and other state matters for the remainder of the person's life. Upon request of the board or the court from which the person retired, the consultant shall give opinions or be available to give opinions in writing or orally in response to such requests. As compensation the consultant shall receive in addition to all other compensation provided by law a percentage increase in compensation each year computed upon the total amount that the consultant received in the previous year from state retirement benefits of eighty percent of the increase in the consumer price index calculated in the manner specified in section 104.415. Any such annual increase in compensation, however, shall not exceed five percent, nor be less than four percent. The total increase in compensation pursuant to the provisions of this subsection to each special consultant who also receives benefits pursuant to sections 287.812 to 287.855 shall not exceed sixty-five percent of the initial benefit that the person receives after August 31, 1987. The total increase in compensation pursuant to the provisions of this subsection to each special consultant who also receives benefits pursuant to sections 287.812 to 287.855 shall not exceed sixty-five percent of the initial benefit that the person receives after January 1, 1989. 5. As additional compensation for the services described in subsection 4 of this section, each special consultant shall receive an annual percentage increase in the retirement benefit payable equal to eighty percent of the increase in the consumer price index. Such benefit increase, however, shall not exceed five percent of the retirement benefit payable prior to the increase. The annual benefit increase described in this subsection shall not be effective until the year in which the special consultant reaches the limit on total annual increases provided by subsection 4 of this section. During that year on the anniversary date of the special consultant's retirement, the special consultant shall receive the benefit increase described in subsection 4 of this section or this subsection, whichever is greater. After that year, the special consultant shall receive the annual benefit increase described in this subsection. Any special consultant who reaches the limit on total annual benefit increases provided by subsection 4 of this section prior to October 1, 1996, shall receive the benefit increase described in this subsection on September 1, 1997. Any special consultant who reaches the limit on total annual benefit increases provided by subsection 4 of this section on or after October 1, 1996, but before September 1, 1997, shall receive the benefit increase described in this subsection beginning on the anniversary date of the special consultant's retirement following September 1, 1997. In no event shall any retroactive annual benefit increases be paid under this subsection to any special consultant who reached the limit provided in subsection 4 of this section prior to August 28, 1997. 6. Each person who is employed for the first time as an administrative law judge or a legal advisor on or after August 28, 1997, and retires shall be entitled annually to a percentage increase in the retirement benefit payable equal to eighty percent of the increase in the consumer price index. Such benefit increase, however, shall not exceed five percent of the retirement benefit payable prior to the increase. 7. Survivors of members described in subsection 6 of this section shall be entitled to the annual benefit increase described in subsection 6 of this section. 8. The compensation provided for in this section shall be payable in equal monthly installments and shall be consolidated with any retirement benefits. The compensation shall be paid from the retirement fund. The retirement fund shall be funded on an actuarial basis for such benefits as prescribed in section 287.845. (L. 1984 H.B. 1106, A.L. 1987 H.B. 564, A.L. 1995 H.B. 416, et al., A.L. 1997 H.B. 356, A.L. 1998 S.B. 910)