High 36

MY FIVE YEAR BACKDROP PERIOD IS COMPLETE. I KNOW MY RETIREMENT CHECK IS BASED ON MY BEST 36 MONTHS. IF I DO NOT ELECT BACKDROP, CAN I USE MY BEST 36 MONTHS THROUGHOUT MY ENTIRE CAREER, OR ONLY THE PERIOD PRIOR TO MY ORIGINAL BACKDROP DATE?

Yes, if at retirement you do not elect BackDROP, we will review your entire pay history and find the 36-month period with your highest pay, which may be in your final years of employment, and will use that in calculating your monthly benefit.

Background for Other Readers: Any pay or service you get during your BackDROP period is not counted when calculating your monthly benefit payment.  If you become eligible for and elect the BackDROP upon retirement, your highest 36 consecutive months would be determined from your MOSERS-covered work history prior to your BackDROP date.

But keep in mind, you are not required to take BackDROP, regardless of how long you work beyond normal retirement eligibility, and you don’t have to notify MOSERS of any decisions about BackDROP until you retire. You may elect not to take BackDROP if you want all your service and pay to count and, likely, increase your monthly benefit.

This graphic may help explain the big picture, or you can read the BackDROP brochure on our website for more information. BackDROP can be complicated to understand, so MOSERS benefit counselors are available to help by phone or in person by appointment. Call (800) 827-1063 to discuss your options. Counselor can also provide you with benefit estimates, with and without the BackDROP included, so you can compare.