Help Your Employees Take Action With PERA

As an employer, you’re there for your employees during all points of their employment journey. When it comes to PERA, there are some things that you cannot do on behalf of your employees. For security reasons, Employer Representatives are unable to disclose confidential member and retiree account information, members must request this data themselves. By using the PERA app and online PERA member portal, your employees can take their retirement into their own hands. For support setting up their online member account, members can reach out to PERA’s Customer Service Center at 800-759-7372. 

Every PERA member who has had a Member Information Form submitted on their behalf will be able to set up an online member account with PERA. New members or existing members who have not set up their account can select the “member login/registration” button on copera.org to get started. They will then click “Register as a new user,” enter their personal information, verify their identity, and set up their user ID and password. Members must enroll in multi-factor authentication. 

Actions members can take on their member account or the PERA App:

1. Update Address and Email – Members can change their address and email directly in their member portal or using the PERA app by selecting “Update my Profile” under the “My Profile” section of the left-side navigation menu.

2. Update Name – For members who legally change their name, they can send a secure message to PERA Customer Service through their online member portal to begin the name change process with PERA. The member must reach out to PERA to have their name changed within PERA’s system; it cannot be changed by their employer.

3. Complete Forms – The member can complete multiple forms in their account such as submitting a retirement application, setting up direct deposit, or changing their beneficiary information.

4. Schedule a Retirement Counseling Appointment – For members who are approaching retirement eligibility, they can schedule a counseling appointment with a Benefits Counselor to discuss their service credit, highest average salary, and benefit options.

5. View Service Credit – If a member wants to know the amount of service credit they have earned, they can view it on the home screen.

6. Access Calculators to Help With Decision Making - Members can use the calculators available in the online member portal to model information for retirement planning, purchasing service credit, PERACare insurance options, and tax deferrals among others.

7. Use Secure Messaging to Receive Customer Service Assistance – The best resource for employees to discuss their accounts is directly with a PERA Customer Service Representative. For those who prefer calling, the Customer Service Center is available 7:00 AM-5:30 PM on Mondays through Thursdays and 7:00 AM- 4:30 PM on Fridays. The Customer Service Center is also able to receive secure messages through the PERA app and online member portal at any time during the business hours listed above and is regularly monitored by our representatives.

You can send out the following language to your staff to help them connect with PERA directly:

While you are working and earning salary here, you are accruing retirement benefits with Colorado Public Employees’ Retirement Association (PERA).  There are many resources available to you on PERA’s website: copera.org. Along with this, you can set up your member account with PERA to keep track of your service credit, highest average salary, and other items that will help you plan for your retirement future. You can even update your personal information with PERA or reach out to their Customer Service team through secure messaging. 

Here are some resources to get started with your PERA Account: