Pension Plan Enrollment Is Mandatory for New Employees

As a condition of employment with Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), all permanent full- and part-time employees are required to properly enroll in a pension plan. State law requires your enrollment to be completed within 30 days of employment.

New employees must complete enrollment forms for the Maryland State Teachers’ Pension/Reformed System (State core plan) or the MCPS Pension/Reformed System (MCPS core plan). The forms are provided to new employees at New Employee Orientation based on their plan membership.

State core plan members who do not complete the required enrollment forms are fined $100 each year until the forms are properly completed and submitted. If you are a State core plan member who has not submitted the required forms, do so now to avoid this recurring penalty.

Enrollment in the Maryland State Teachers Reformed Pension Plan is completed in three easy steps as provided below:

1. Complete MSRA Form 1, Application for Membership (no cross-outs, overwrites, or use of correction fluid).
2. Complete MSRA Form 4, Designation of Beneficiary (no cross-outs, overwrites, or use of correction fluid; form requires notarization)
3. Attach a legible copy of your valid driver's license, birth certificate, or passport as proof of your birth date.
4. Submit properly completed, original forms to the Employee and Retiree Service Center (ERSC), 45 West Gude Drive, Suite 1200, Rockville, MD 20850, via Pony, United States Postal Service, or hand delivery. Faxed and scanned copies will not be accepted. Please DO NOT send the forms directly to the Maryland State Retirement Agency (MSRA). ERSC staff will forward them to the MSRA after completing the MCPS section.