The Municipal Employees’ Retirement System of Michigan (MERS) is committed to respecting and protecting the privacy of its members, retirees, beneficiaries and participating employers. MERS uses all the administrative, procedural, physical and electronic safeguards required to keep your valuable information safe from foreseeable threats and unauthorized use. MERS is constantly working to update and improve these safeguards to better serve you and provide you with security, now and in the future.

The Kind of Information MERS Collects

MERS collects only the information necessary to administer the system and its benefits for the exclusive benefit of its members, retirees, beneficiaries and participating employers. Some of the information required is personal. For example, to administer the defined benefit plan, MERS requires your name, address, phone number, marital status, social security number, and employer-reported service and wages. MERS is dedicated to protecting personal information from unauthorized use and takes every reasonable precaution to safeguard such information.

Most of the information collected by MERS is provided in writing, on standard forms and reports. MERS allows customers to make Benefit Estimate and Service Credit Purchase requests online. To process these requests, MERS requires your name, mailing address, e-mail address, estimated termination date, and the last four digits of your social security number (to confirm that you are the person making the request). The online requests are processed and then stored in your personal file. MERS considers your information confidential and will not release it, except as may be required under the law.

When visiting this Web site, information about your browser type, operating system, IP address and the domain from which you came are automatically collected. This information is used in aggregate to determine how MERS can improve its online services. The MERS Web site collects only the personally identifiable information you submit yourself, and the information is only used to process your requests. Your requests are processed, added to your file and securely stored by MERS.

If you do not wish to provide information online for a Service Credit Purchase or a Benefit Estimate, you may submit the request in writing to MERS Employee and Retiree Services Department, 1134 Municipal Way, Lansing, MI 48917; or call, 1-800-767-6377.

Disclosure of Public Records

MERS is a public body corporate, subject to the Michigan Freedom of Information Act, 1976 PA 442, MCL 15.231, et seq. MERS considers the information that it collects confidential, and holds itself to the highest standards of trust and fiduciary duty in its safekeeping and use. MERS shares information only to the extent necessary to conduct business, or where disclosure is required under the law. MERS may share your information with your current or former employer to the extent the information relates to your employee wages or benefits, or administration of your retiree or beneficiary benefits, provided by your employer.

Access

If you require copies of your personal records or other information not available online, you must submit a written request that includes the following information:

• Your full name;
• The last four digits of your Social Security Number;
• Your participating employer;
• Your current mailing address; and
• Your signature.

Mail your request to:
Municipal Employees’ Retirement System of Michigan
1134 Municipal Way
Lansing, MI 48917

If you discover any errors in your personal records, please contact the Employee and Retiree Services Department at the address above; or call 1-800-767-6377.

Information Security

In alignment with MERS IT Vision and Strategic Guidelines, the Information Security Team works in partnership with MERS business teams and customers to secure system and network resources, and protect the security and confidentiality of employer, member, and staff information.

To support this mission and to be consistent with MERS IT Vision, the Information Security Team goals are:

People

• Increase company awareness of information security through training and communication.
• Collaborate with business and technical staff to develop MERS’ information security strategy and architecture;
• Consult with MERS users and departments to investigate security issues and evaluate products and processes;

Process

• Develop and enforce processes, procedures, and policies required for the protection of confidential information;
• Identify risks to the security of information and systems. Mitigate these risks to levels acceptable to MERS;
• Define security requirements, establish baselines and measure compliance, based on applicable laws, regulations, and best practices;

Technology

• Ensure that MERS technology systems are securely designed, implemented and maintained at levels appropriate to maintain MERS IT security posture;
• Ensure incident response and disaster recovery plans are developed, implemented and periodically tested;
• Respond to and recover effectively and efficiently from disruptive and destructive information security events

Changes

This privacy policy is meant to help safeguard the personal and confidential information that MERS is required to collect in the conduct of business. Any information collected under this policy will remain bound by the terms of this policy. It may be necessary at times to update or modify this privacy policy to ensure its effectiveness. MERS will post any substantive changes to this policy at least 30 days before the change is to take effect. Information collected after a change takes effect, will be subject to the terms of the revised policy.

Contact Information

Municipal Employees’ Retirement System of Michigan
Attn: Communications
1134 Municipal Way
Lansing, MI 48917
Local Phone: (517) 703-9030
Toll Free: 1-800-767-6377
Web Address: https://www.mersofmich.com

Links to Other Web Sites

As a customer courtesy, MERS provides links to other Web sites that might be useful to you or provide relevant services. When you link to another site, you are no longer on our Web site and are subject to the privacy and security policies of the new Web site.

Please note that the privacy policies or statements of other sites linked to the MERS Web site may differ from our policies. MERS is not responsible for the privacy practices of those sites.

It is a good security practice to review the privacy, security, or conditions of use policies of any Web site you visit.

Links to other non-MERS Web sites are provided purely as a convenience to our customers. MERS does not endorse or make any representation about these sites, or any information, products, or materials found there or any results that may be obtained from using them. If you decide to access a Web site linked from MERS, you do so entirely at your own risk. MERS has no responsibility for the content of other Web sites and is not liable for any damages or injuries occurring from the use from these other Web sites.