New Video Explains Social Security Offsets

If you are interested in learning about the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) or the Government Pension Offset (GPO), please watch our new video in the educational outreach series. This video explains how these federal offsets can affect your Social Security benefit if you receive a LASERS benefit. 

If you wish to be notified each time LASERS uploads a new video, we encourage you to subscribe to our channel by clicking the "subscribe" button located on the LASERS YouTube page.

Expedite Your LASERS Retirement Benefits

You can assist LASERS in promptly paying your monthly benefit upon your retirement by having all necessary documents on file. LASERS needs a copy of your birth certificate and social security card, to verify your eligibility. The same documents are needed for your beneficiaries.

If you have been married, and widowed or divorced, marriage certificates, death certificates, and judgments of divorce must be on file.

It is not necessary for you to wait until you are ready to retire to provide these necessary documents. They can be submitted to LASERS through the Human Resources personnel at your agency at any time. Please ensure that all documents submitted include your social security number so that they can be imaged into your member record.

When your retirement or DROP application is submitted, you may need to provide a Spousal Consent Form, depending on the option you choose, and an Authorization for Direct Deposit of your retirement benefits. If you are entering DROP, you must submit a form to authorize the rollover of your account.

You will not receive your retirement benefit until LASERS has received these documents.

As always, if you have questions about your benefits, please call our Member Services Division at 225.922.0600 or 1.800.256.3000.

LASERS-Did you know?

A LASERS member cannot use sick and annual leave credit to attain eligibility for any benefits provided by LASERS

Once retirement eligibility has been attained you may convert unused leave to service credit.

LASERS-Did you know?

Payments from LASERS, including benefits and refunds of accumulated contributions, are exempt from garnishment or seizure.

There are exceptions for child support, IRS levy and court-ordered community property divisions with former spouses of members.

LASERS-Did you know?

For purposes of computing your retirement benefit, creditable service includes years of eligible service credit, credit for unused sick and annual leave, and any eligible service credit you purchased.

In computing your retirement benefit, LASERS takes into account any fractional period of service and calculates a proportionate benefit amount. Please be reminded that credit for unused leave cannot be used to reach eligibility for retirement.

LASERS-Did you know?

In the event of your death while in active service, Survivor Benefits may be payable to your spouse and/or minor children.

The eligibility for survivor benefits is determined based on the number of years of service credit you had at the time of your death. In the event that no survivor benefits are payable, a lump-sum payment of your accumulated contributions will be paid to your named beneficiary.

LASERS-Did you know?

Pension benefits, including DROP funds received or accumulated during marriage are community property. A LASERS retiree should be aware that an ex-spouse might be entitled to a portion of the retirement benefit according to that spouse's community property interest.

LASERS requires that a certified true copy of the Court Order be on file before any community assets are divided.

LASERS-Did you know?

Every active LASERS member receives an annual statement issued each year stating creditable service earned.

A member may request a review of the file should there be questions about the amounts reflected on the statement.

LASERS-Did you know?

LASERS members do not pay Social Security Tax:

However, state employees hired after April 1, 1986 will pay Medicare tax.

LASERS-Did you know?

LASERS is a qualified defined benefit pension retirement plan under section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Employees contribute to LASERS at a percentage of their actual earnings. these contributions are tax sheltered until retirement.

LASERS-Did you know?

A member of the Louisiana State Employees Retirement System who is placed on or who voluntarily takes leave without pay is entitled to purchase service credit for each day that the member was on leave without pay.

The member must pay the system an amount, which on an actuarial basis, totally offsets the increased liability of the system, resulting from the service credit being purchased.

LASERS-Did you know?

Pension benefits, including DROP funds received or accumulated during marriage are community property. A LASERS retiree should be aware that an ex-spouse might be entitled to a portion of the retirement benefit according to that spouse's community property interest.

LASERS requires that a certified true copy of the Court Order be on file before any community assets are divided.

LASERS-Did you know?

Louisiana does not recognize common law marriages. Pension assets of a LASERS member remain the separate property of the member.

However, in the event of the member's death, minor children of the union may be entitled to certain benefits.

LASERS-Did you know?

Payments from LASERS, including benefits and refunds of accumulated contributions, are exempt from garnishment or seizure.

There are exceptions for child support, IRS levy and court-ordered community property divisions with former spouses of members.

LASERS-Did you know?

If a member selects the Maximum Plan as a retirement option, he/she will receive the basic benefit, paid monthly for the lifetime of the member.

It does not pay a monthly benefit to your spouse, or other dependents. Should you die before your member contribution is depleted, your beneficiary receives a lump sum payment of your remaining member contributions.

LASERS-Did you know?

Payments from LASERS, including benefits and refunds of accumulated contributions, are exempt from garnishment or seizure.

There are exceptions for child support, IRS levy, and court-ordered community property divisions with former spouses of members.

LASERS-Did you know?

Louisiana does not recognize common law marriages. Pension assets of a LASERS member remain the separate property of the member.

However, in the event of the member's death minor children of the union may be entitled to certain benefits.

LASERS-Did you know?

Payments from LASERS, including benefits and refunds of accumulated contributions, are exempt from garnishment or seizure.

There are exceptions for child support, IRS levy and court-ordered community property divisions with former spouses of members.