Defined Contribution for Active Members

DC Plan Overview

  • Empower is the Trustee Company (Empower) for this Plan. Log in to your account at EmpowerMyRetirement.com.
  • Book a free financial consultation with Empower.
  • Attend a new hire DC 2025 Tier 3 Empower webinar as close as possible to your hire date for key information on the employer match. Missed it? Watch the recording.
  • The Defined Contribution (DC) Plan has three tiers with different contribution structures. Find your tier under NDPERS Plans when you log into your Member Self Service (MSS).
  • Electing to participate in the DC Plan is an irrevocable decision.
    • Prior to January 1, 2025: Eligible new hires have a six-month window to opt out of the Main Defined Benefit (DB) plan and elect the Defined Contribution (DC) Tier 2 from their date of hire.
  • Members in the DC Plan are responsible for managing their retirement account investment strategy.
  • Your retirement benefit is based on your account balance, and you determine your stream of income. There is no guaranteed lifetime monthly benefit.
  • In the event of a divorce, please review the Qualified Domestic Relations Order.

Defined Contribution Forms      
Questions?

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Select your DC Plan tier

DC Tier 1 Overview

  • Members in this tier irrevocably elected to first enroll in this plan prior to January 1, 2020.
  • Some members may elect to join this plan during the 'HB 1040' special election starting on January 1,2025 through March 31, 2025. 
  • The contributions for this tier are as follows:
    • Mandatory Employee Contribution: 7.00%
    • Mandatory Employer Contribution: 7.12%
    • Mandatory RHIC* Contribution: 1.14%

*The Retiree Health Insurance Credit (RHIC) is reduced for early retirees. Early retirees are those that have not met normal retirement by meeting the rule of 85 (age + years of service credit) or turned age 65 while employed.

DC 2020 Tier 2

  • Members in this tier irrevocably elected to first enroll in this plan between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2024.
  • Some members may elect to join this plan during the 'HB 1040' special election starting on January 1,2025 through March 31, 2025.
  • The contributions for this tier are as follows:
    • Mandatory Employee Contribution: 7.00%
    • Mandatory Employer Contribution: 8.26%

DC 2025 Tier 3

  • DC 2025 becomes the official retirement plan for new hires first enrolled with NDPERS retirement on or after January 1, 2025.
  • The contributions for this tier are as follows:
    • Mandatory Employee Contribution: 4.00%
    • Mandatory Employer Contribution: 5.26%
    • Optional Employee Contributions Eligible for up to a 3% Employer Match
      1. Within the first 30 days of employment: Employees may irrevocably elect to contribute up to 3% of their gross salary into this plan.
      2. After 30 days of employment:
        1. Employees of participating organizations in the NDPERS 457 Deferred Compensation Plan may elect, at any point, to contribute the 457 Plan.  
        2. Employees of organizations that are not enrolled in the NDPERS 457 Deferred Compensation Plan should contact their HR department to understand what matching options may be available through their employer.
        3. DC 2025 members age 50+ who are Highly Compensated and pay into Social Security can make Roth 457 catch-up contributions earlier to avoid missing the up to 3% employer match through the 457 Plan. 

Watch the DC 2025 New Hire Overview 

Get the Employer Match - Complete your MSS Enrollment

Additional Information