Do I have to be a member of the GERS?
Any person who becomes an employee of the Government of the U.S. Virgin Islands shall become a member as a condition of employment on the date of appointment.
Any person who re-enters Government service, may elect not to be a member of the System if the person is 60 years of age or older and is not receiving a retirement annuity from the System.
Do I have the option of becoming a member of the Retirement System?
No. The law requires that after 30 days of employment you begin paying contributions.
Am I required to complete a Membership Record?
Yes. This can be obtained from your Department/Agency Personnel Office.
Who are class 3 or safety/hazardous employees?
Tier I
Tier II
Can a member combine service from two (2) different classifications of work/service?
Yes. Service may be combined with another branch of Government service; ie: Legislative and Executive Branch service combined.
If I have service time that cannot be verified via my personnel records, how may I get credit for that time worked?
A member may submit a Detailed Earnings Statement from the Social Security Administration.
Who should I contact in reference to errors on my member’s annual statement?
If you are an active employee of the Government, you will need to contact the GERS customer service unit at (340) 693-3939 or customercare@usvigers.com with the changes and supporting documentation.
How much military time may be added to ones’ service time?
Tier I and II:
Had to be living in the Virgin Islands and a bona fide resident (3 years maximum)- DD214, and salary information or
Working for the Government while enlisted (active) under USERRA (5 years maximum) – USERAA must be noted on your personnel action along with the DD214 and salary information.
Is there a cost for adding military time?
Yes. There is a cost under both Tiers.
What does it mean to be a vested member?
An individual who has worked with the Government of the U.S. Virgin Islands and has paid contributions for 10 (ten) years to the Government Employees’ Retirement System (GERS) is considered a vested member of the System.
What is vested interest?
A member’s vested interest is their last salary plus the total amount of contributions paid to GERS.
How do I change my name?
Submit a Request for Name Change Form with the new information.
Should I notify GERS when I change my address?
Yes. Although GERS sends multiple mailings during the year to its members that are on file, you should promptly notify GERS of all address changes to ensure that you receive all required notifications distributed by GERS in a timely fashion.
Members can change their address by using a GERS Request for Address Change Form or by calling GERS directly.
Do employers notify GERS of address and name changes?
Although we ask that employers report any name and/or address changes for an active employee, GERS does not mandate that they do.
Employers, however, may alert GERS to name and/or address changes during its routine reporting of contributions to GERS.
Ultimately, it is still the member’s responsibility to notify GERS of any changes to his or her name or address.
I am living at a temporary address. How do I report this to GERS?
To report a temporary address change to GERS, you will need to complete a Request for Change of Address Form.
However, at the time of reporting this change, you must indicate to GERS that your address change is temporary and not permanent so that it could be properly noted on your file.
When is a member eligible to retire?
Hazardous Retirement: An individual may retire with a full service retirement when they have attained:
Hazardous Early Retirement: An individual may apply for early retirement when they have attained:
Regular Retirement: An individual may apply for early retirement when they have attained:
Early Retirement: An individual may apply for early retirement when they have attained:
Hazardous Retirement: An individual may retire with a full service retirement when they have attained:
Hazardous Early Retirement: An individual may apply for early retirement when they have attained:
Regular Retirement:
What happens to my excess annual leave and sick leave hours when I retire?
It may be credited toward your years of service provided that GERS receives the required employee and employer contributions.
What is the retirement process?
What documents are required for processing a retirement application?
For beneficiary purposes, provide person(s) name, SSN, date of birth, and mailing address.
Find additional information on the Pre-Requirement Planning.
What is a Tier?
A level of benefits provided to a member based on date of employment.
Who are Tier I employees?
Members hired prior to October 1, 2005.
Who are Tier II employees?
Members hired on or after October 1, 2005.
When will I receive my annuity checks?
Annuity checks are paid on the 15th and the last day of each month.
Must my annuity checks be issued via direct deposit?
Yes. It is the policy of the GERS to issue checks in the most efficient manner.
We at GERS believe that direct deposit is the most reliable and efficient way to issue such checks.
Why is a retiree required to pay taxes on his/her annuity?
It is required by law according to the IRS code which has been adopted by the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Must Federal Income tax be withheld from my retirement benefit?
No. You may choose not to have federal income tax withheld from your annuity payment by indicating such on the W4-p form and submitting the signed form to our office. Please note that if you choose not to have taxes withheld, you may be required to make other arrangements with the Internal Revenue Bureau to make payments. Please contact a tax advisor or the Internal Revenue Bureau for further information.
Note: If you do not complete Form W4-P, taxes must be withheld from your annuity as if you are married with 3 dependents.
What is an Optional Benefit?
An actuarial equivalent reduction of a members retirement annuity payable to a surviving beneficiary, if the member at the time of retirement elects a 50 % or 100% Joint Survivor Annuity.
Can an Optional Benefit be cancelled?
A member can revoke or change the election of optional benefits at any time before the effective date of retirement or after the effective date and prior to the making of the first payment on account of any retirement allowance.
What benefits are my beneficiaries entitled to after my death?
Beneficiaries are entitled to the difference between the member’s vested interest and the total amount of annuity payments received from the system.
How do I find out who I have listed as my beneficiary?
At any time, members can contact GERS for current beneficiary information.
How do I change a beneficiary?
Complete a Change of Beneficiary form and follow the instructions to mail the completed form to GERS.
Can I designate a minor child as my beneficiary?
Yes. However, a minor child cannot claim the benefits until age 18 or unless a court appointed guardian claims the benefits on behalf of the minor child.
If I should become disabled, is there a benefit that I may apply for?
Yes. GERS offers Duty Disability and Non-Duty Disability benefits for qualified members.
Are members who receive disability benefits eligible to receive an incremental increase?
Yes. Disabled members receive an 1.0% incremental increase after completing a full year on the Retirees’ Payroll regardless of their age. Upon attaining age 60, this benefit is adjusted to reflect a 1.5% increase.
How can I receive a copy of GERS’ latest Audited Financial Statements?
You may receive a copy of GERS’ Audited Financial Statements by contacting the Administrator’s Office or the Office of the Chief Financial Officer.
You can also access this information by visiting the Financial Reports page.
Who is the Board Chair?
Since March 2021, the Chairman of the Board is Dwane Callwood. His term will end on March of 2026.
For additional information about the Board of Trustees, visit the About the Board page.
What is Duty-Connected death?
Duty-Connected death is death in service as a direct result of the performance of duty, provided the death was not the consequence of willful misconduct of the member.
What benefits are my spouse and children entitled to receive as a result of a Duty-Connected death?
Tier I:
Annuity of 40% of salary in effect on date of death for the surviving spouse, plus 10% of salary for each child up to age 18 to a maximum family benefit of 60% of salary. If no surviving spouse, 10% of salary is payable on behalf of each child under age 18 to a maximum family of 50%. If no surviving spouse or children, each dependent parent is entitled to 25% of salary.
Tier II:
Annuity of 28% of salary in effect on date of death for the surviving spouse, 7% of salary for each child up to age 18 (or 23 if a college student) to a maximum family benefit of 42% of salary. If no surviving spouse, 7% of salary is payable on behalf of each child under age 18 to a maximum family of 35%. If no surviving spouse or children, each dependent parent is entitled to 17.5% of salary.
Can I work for the USVI Government after retirement and still collect my retirement checks?
Yes.
What is the Reform Act of 2005?
Legislation enacted to assist in reducing the System’s unfunded liability over time.