Following these tips can help ensure that you are submitting accurate and complete wage reports for your defined benefit plan(s) each month.
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Know your benefit provisions.
Be sure to only report includable wages listed in your definition of compensation to MERS. This includes ensuring all reported “miscellaneous leave types” administered by your municipality (for example, administrative, unpaid, union, education, etc.) are defined in your adoption agreement.
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Select the most appropriate discrepancy code.
For example, for any type of leave, please select a wage discrepancy code that includes the word “leave.” This ensures MERS staff know when a month can be skipped for purposes of determining the employee’s highest final average compensation (FAC) period. It also helps MERS staff identify if service credit should be granted or not, and whether employee contributions are due based on your municipality’s adoption agreement.
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Provide sufficient details.
For example, for any retro wage adjustment, ensure to include the wage type issued, the amount, and the period of coverage. For more examples, please see the Wage, Service and Contribution Guide.
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Provide feedback.
Take the quick survey at the bottom of the Employer Portal or after you submit your monthly report to inform us about your experience.