The Statements Are Coming
If you’re an Oregon PERS member, there’s an annual milestone that can bring a mix of relief, curiosity, and sometimes a little worry: your annual retirement statement. PERS typically mails these statements in May, so it’s a good time to keep an eye on your mailbox and plan a few minutes to review it when it arrives.
I hear versions of this every year: “I think I understand my PERS benefit… but I’m not fully confident.” If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. PERS is a valuable benefit, and it can also feel complicated—especially when you’re juggling work, family, and all the other financial decisions that come with real life.
This post is meant to help you approach your statement with a steady mindset and a practical checklist—so you can feel more in control and less overwhelmed.
Why your annual statement is worth your attention
Your PERS annual statement is basically a snapshot of the information PERS has on file for you. It can help you:
- Confirm your service time and other key details are being captured correctly
- Track changes year over year
- Understand what factors may influence your future retirement benefit
- Identify questions early—before retirement is right around the corner
Even if retirement is still years away, reviewing your statement now can help you spot small issues while they’re easier to address.
Consider A Checklist
You don’t need to be an expert to do a helpful first pass. Here are a few items I recommend checking when your statement arrives.
1) Start with the basics
Double-check the straightforward things first:
- Name and mailing address
- Any identifying information shown on the statement
If anything looks off, it’s worth looking into. Small errors can create bigger headaches later if they go unnoticed.
2) Look closely at your service credit / service time
For many PERS members, service time is a major driver in retirement eligibility and benefit calculations. Review what’s listed and ask yourself:
- Does it generally match your work history?
- Do you see any missing time or gaps you can’t explain?
Changes in employers, part-time work, leaves of absence, or role changes can sometimes make the details harder to follow—so it’s normal to have questions here.
3) Review account and contribution information (if included)
Depending on your membership and plan structure, your statement may show details related to contributions and/or account balances.
A helpful way to look at it is simply:
- Do the numbers generally make sense compared to last year?
- Did anything change dramatically that you weren’t expecting?
If you see a big shift, it doesn’t automatically mean something is wrong—but it’s a good reason to pause and ask what changed.
4) Make a short list of questions while you’re looking at it
One of the simplest, most effective things you can do is grab a pen and jot down questions like:
- “What does this term mean?”
- “Why did this number change from last year?”
- “How does this relate to the retirement date I’m thinking about?”
You don’t have to solve everything in one sitting. A question list is a great first step.
Common Questions
Common questions I hear from Oregon PERS members when statements show up in May sound like these:
- “Am I on track for the retirement timeline I have in mind?”
- “How does PERS fit with my other savings—like a 457(b), 403(b), IRA, or brokerage account?”
- “If I work one more year (or retire earlier), how might that affect things?”
- “How should I think about taxes in retirement?”
- “How do I coordinate PERS with my spouse or partner’s retirement picture?”
These aren’t just technical questions—they’re life questions. They’re about confidence, flexibility, and making sure you’re not missing something important.
If your statement doesn’t arrive;
Because statements are mailed in May, arrival times can vary depending on postal timing and address updates. If it’s getting late in the month (or early the following month) and you don’t have yours, it may be worth confirming your address on file and checking for any updates directly from PERS. In the interim, I have attached sample statements for both Tier II and OPSRP plans for your review.
Here To Help
If you’d like, I’m here to help you make sense of it
If you receive your statement and think, “I just want a second set of eyes,” I welcome that conversation.
You can reach out if you have questions about:
- What you’re seeing on the statement
- How Oregon PERS works at a high level
- How your PERS benefit fits with the rest of your financial plan
- Whether your current retirement timeline still feels realistic
For more information about annual statements, PERS has a page dedicated to answering questions about their annual statements, including sample interactive statements. You can find that information here: Member Statement FAQs
Tier II Sample Annual Statement OPSRP Sample Annual Statement
And if you’re feeling a little uneasy—even if you can’t quite explain why—that matters too. Sometimes the most valuable part of a review is simply turning uncertainty into a clear next step.
Please don't hesitate to contact the office to schedule a time to review your PERS or broader financial picture.