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Member’s Guide to Retirement

This may be your most important LASERS resource. It contains detailed information about LASERS membership, including details defining all categories of our plans, information on the Initial Benefit Option (IBO) and Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP) plans, and clear answers to many of the questions you might have about planning for and enjoying your retirement.

Complete Handbook

Download complete handbook, full-color PDF (2 MB)

Individual Chapters

Order chapters here  Member’s Guide to Retirement

  1. Welcome to LASERS
  2. General Membership
  3. LASERS Website
  4. Service Credit
  5. Refund of Contribution
  6. Purchases of Service Credit
  7. Transfers and Reciprocals From Other Retirement Systems
  8. Retirement Eligibility and Final Average Compensation
  9. Unused Annual and Sick Leave
  10. Retirement Options and the Self-Funded COLA
  11. Estimates
  12. Regular Retirement
  13. Initial Benefit Option (IBO)
  14. Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP)
  15. DROP/IBO Account Withdrawals and the Self-Directed Plan
  16. Disability Retirement
  17. Survivor Benefits for Regular Members Hired Prior to January 1, 2011
  18. Survivor Benefits for Regular Members Hired on or After January 1, 2011
  19. Re-employed Retirees
  20. Community Property and Divorce
  21. Cost-of-Living Increases
  22. Medicare, Social Security Offsets, and Insurance
  23. Hazardous Duty Services Plan (HAZ PLAN)
  24. Transition to Hazardous Duty Services Plan (HAZ PLAN)
  25. Bridge Police Hired Prior to January 1, 2011
  26. Correctional Officers Hired Prior to January 1, 2011
  27. Peace Officers Hired Prior to January 1, 2011
  28. Alcohol and Tobacco Agents Hired Prior to January 1, 2011
  29. Wildlife Agents Hired Prior to January 1, 2011
  30. Legislative Plan Hired Prior to January 1, 2011
  31. Judges and Court Officers Elected or Hired Prior to January 1, 2011
  32. Judges Elected on or After January 1, 2011
  33. Appellate Law Clerks Hired Prior to January 1, 2011
  34. Your Rights and Duties as a LASERS Member

LASERS: Get the Facts

Take a look at this brief overview of LASERS for quick facts about legislative reforms, System assets, membership numbers, efficiencies, and more.

Download PDF (1.8 MB)

A Solid Foundation for the Future

By lowering the discount rate, adopting new strategic asset allocations annually, reducing the assumed inflation rate, improving efficiency, and reducing operational costs, the sustainability of the LASERS fund will continue to strengthen for decades to come.

Download PDF (230 KB)

Insurance Vendors and Credit Unions

This document contains a list of insurance vendors and credit unions that may be of interest to retirees.

Download PDF (723 KB)

Retirement Readiness Planner

This booklet contains LASERS benefit package information, a 12-month retirement planner, a checklist for state employees nearing retirement, direct deposit information, insurance vendor information, a personal data organizer, and more.

Download PDF (706 KB)

LASERS Strategic Plan

This is our “roadmap” that shows you what we intend to do to meet our goal of better serving you. It includes our Mission, Vision, Goals, and Core Values and is used at regular intervals to measure the progress of LASERS and its staff.

Download PDF (4.7MB)

LASERS Laws

The current laws and regulations that govern LASERS.

Download PDF (3 MB)

LASERS Supplemental Laws

The current supplemental laws and regulations that govern LASERS.

Download PDF (3 MB)

News & Notes for New Retirees

News and Notes is a guide for new retirees. It includes information about the advantages of Direct Deposit of your benefit check, how to handle a change of beneficiaries, tax and insurance information, and more.

Download PDF (460 KB)

Optional Retirement Plan (ORP) Booklet

Enrollment in this plan closed December 7, 2007. The ORP is a defined contribution plan, and an alternative retirement plan for eligible employees who made an election to participate in the ORP rather than the LASERS defined benefit plan. ORP members now have the option to rejoin the defined benefit plan.

Download PDF (60 KB)

Download Latest Performance Figures

RSEA Brochure

Interested in being involved in an organization designed specifically for you? RSEA is an organization that advocates for pension and healthcare benefits for active and retired Louisiana state employees. This brochure contains information about RSEA and how you can join.

Download PDF (287 KB)

Social Security: The Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset

Employees of the State of Louisiana who are members of LASERS are not required to pay Social Security tax (certain exceptions do apply). However, if you are entitled to a Social Security benefit (either your own from a previous employment or a spouse’s/widow(er)’s benefit), that benefit may be reduced because of the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) or the Government Pension Offset (GPO). Your LASERS benefit will not be reduced.  Read here to see if your Social Security benefit could be affected.

Download WEP Fact Sheet PDF (147 KB)

Download GPO Fact Sheet PDF (356 KB)

Welcome to LASERS

New members of LASERS receive this brochure when they begin state employment. It contains information about your benefits, PREP workshops, how to access your account information online, and other information of interest to state employees.

Download PDF (676 KB)

Pensions in the Parishes 2017

A report by the Louisiana Budget Project shows that Louisiana’s  state pension systems are critical to working families and retirees across the state, and also serve as key economic drivers in every city, town and parish in Louisiana.

Download PDF (1.2 MB)

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LASERS

MAILING ADDRESS:
P.O. Box 44213
Baton Rouge, LA 70804-4213

STREET ADDRESS:
8401 United Plaza Boulevard, 1st Floor
Baton Rouge, LA 70809

BENEFITS

Speak to a Retirement Benefits Analyst Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Local: 225.922.0600
Toll-free: 800.256.3000
Fax: 225.935.2856

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