State and Local Governments Sponsor “Defined Benefit” Plans for Their Employees. As part of employment, the state provides defined benefit pension plans for its employees and for those of public schools and community colleges.
Eligible (vested) after three years of service. Full retirement benefit: Typically at age 66. Reduced retirement benefit: age 55 or later, assuming you have 3 years of service.
The MN State Retirement System, administer ten different retirement plans which provide retirement, survivor, and disability benefit coverage for Minnesota state employees as well as employees of the Metropolitan Council and many non-faculty employees at the University of Minnesota.
Box 13 on the Form W-2 PDF you receive from your employer should contain a check in the “Retirement plan” box if you are covered. If you are still not certain, check with your (or your spouse's) employer. The limits on the amount you can deduct don't affect the amount you can contribute.
Hennepin County, Minnesota Pension Plan Employees are required by MN State law to become members of a statewide pension system, the Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA), a defined benefit pension plan. The county and employees share PERA contributions, which vary by plan.