ATRS now can provide each member of ATRS with access via the internet to the member's information whether active/inactive, retired, or in T-DROP. This means an active/inactive member can use internet access to check on current high salary, number of years of contributory service, number of years of non-contributory service, and current beneficiaries. T-DROP members have access to named beneficiaries, T-DROP balances, amount of T-DROP in each year, interest amounts, and the monthly benefit if the member were retired and not in T-DROP. Retirees will have access to lifetime benefit provided, current benefits paid monthly, all withholdings, and named beneficiaries. ATRS will continue building out more member information as time goes by based upon member input and resources. The ATRS Board and staff are pleased to begin providing this enhanced service to members on the new ATRS website.
The first attachment to this executive director update shows a sample of account information that an active/inactive member, retired member, and T-DROP member can access using the internet at this time. The second attachment contains step by step instructions for new users to register for internet access on your ATRS account. The third attachment contains step by step instructions for existing users to login for internet access. ATRS has also created a YouTube channel with video tutorials for registering and logging into the website. The written instructions and videos can be accessed from our welcome page at www.artrs.gov/welcome.
The ATRS Board and staff are committed to working with members to make internet access safe, secure, and meaningful. The member access portal is on a separate server from the ATRS member database. This separation prevents social security number and confidential information totally separate to provide greater security and protection. ATRS will continue providing security and protection to ensure that even the more limited information available on the internet accessible server is secure. If you lose your password or forget your user ID, ATRS provides assistance to obtain and reset these as needed. For most members, you will be able to find your member ID and reset your password using the login screen on the ATRS website.
By the way, ATRS has a brand new website that has been a long time in the making that incorporates all the best features that ATRS could find to provide members, employers, Arkansas officials, potential members, and the public information that is easy to find and access. Any input that you have would be appreciated since ATRS staff continues to work to enhance and improve the website. As with all websites, you may encounter an initial problem as ATRS continues to add functionality over time.
I will be sending a second executive director update in the near future that highlights the new website and information that will be available through the website. In a few weeks, ATRS will send its annual back to school update to remind members of important issues to consider as the new school year begins. Information such as disability retirement, survivor benefits, upcoming workshops, how to sign up for pre-retirement counseling, naming beneficiaries, and deadlines for those considering T-DROP and retirement in this year will be included with plenty of additional information. In September, another executive director update that provides highlights from the fiscal year that ended on June 30, 2014 will arrive. Information on the expected ATRS rate of return (very good news), the number of retirees and beneficiaries receiving monthly payments (over 40,000), death benefits paid in the last fiscal year, the number of active members, and a bunch of statistics will be included in the report. The beginning of a fiscal year is a busy time at ATRS as new retirees begin receiving payments, new members are enrolled as school begins, and ATRS begins closing out the previous fiscal year in preparation for the actuarial report that is released in December. This always causes several executive director updates to member in a short amount of time.
If you have not signed up to obtain the executive director updates through your private email address, you can obtain the executive director update on the ATRS website. The update attached to this email is also available on the ATRS website at https://www.artrs.gov/general/director-updates. Now, 4,445 people have signed up to receive this executive director email update and other ATRS information via this email list. In addition, 7,560 people have access to ATRS information via the listserve, member internet access, and employer access. It is always a great pleasure for ATRS staff to learn of more ways to provide information to ATRS members, employers, and beneficiaries. The ATRS Board is committed to providing a system that is member friendly and transparent.
You can also get helpful ATRS information on the ATRS Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/arkansasteacherretirementsystem under the name of Arkansas Teacher Retirement System. Approximately 1600 Facebook users get updates via the ATRS Facebook page. Go to the Facebook page and "like" ATRS to get daily updates. I try to go to the Facebook page every day to answer member questions about ATRS. In addition, if you use Twitter, you can follow events at ATRS and issues of interest by finding the Twitter ID of ATRS or find George Hopkins in the Twitter directory. The link is https://twitter.com/
Respectfully, George Hopkins.
See attachments below:
Attachment 1 | Attachment 2 | Attachment 3