Mississippi Administrative Code
Title 27 - Personnel
Part 210 - PERS, Regulations for Retirement Plans Administered by the Board of Trustees
Chapter 58 - Payment of Additional Benefit (COLA) to Retirees of the Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol Retirement System
Section 27-210-58-105 - Methods of Payment of the additional benefit

1. The additional benefit shall be paid in one (1) payment in December of each year to those persons who are receiving a retirement allowance on December 1 of that year, unless an election is made as noted below. However, the board, in its discretion, may allow a retired member or a beneficiary thereof who is receiving the additional benefit in one (1) payment each year to have the additional benefit paid in monthly installments if the retired member or beneficiary submits satisfactory documentation that the continued receipt of the additional benefit in one (1) payment each year will cause a financial hardship to the retired member or beneficiary.

2. Retired members or beneficiaries thereof who are receiving a retirement allowance may elect by an irrevocable agreement in writing filed in the Office of the Public Employees' Retirement System no less than thirty (30) days before July 1 of any year, to begin receiving the additional benefit provided in this section in twelve (12) equal monthly installments beginning on July 1 of the year. This irrevocable agreement shall be binding on the member and subsequent beneficiaries. Payment of the monthly installments shall not extend beyond the month in which a retirement allowance is due and payable. The board, in its discretion, may allow a retired member or a beneficiary thereof who is receiving the additional benefit in monthly installments to have the additional benefit paid in one (1) payment in December of each year if the retired member or beneficiary submits satisfactory documentation that the continued receipt of the additional benefit in monthly installments will cause financial hardship to the retired member or beneficiary.

3. The additional benefit or benefits provided in this section are for the fiscal year in which they are paid.

4. In the event of death of a retired member or a beneficiary thereof who is receiving the additional annual payment in two (2) to six (6) monthly installments under an election made before July 1, 2002, and who would otherwise be eligible to receive the additional benefit provided in this section in one (1) payment in December of the current fiscal year, any remaining amounts shall be paid in a lump sum to the designated beneficiary.