In this Issue:
- Timely and Accurate Employer Reporting
- Addressing Forms
- Do You Have a New Vendor?
- Reporting RSP Types and Dates
- Does RSD Have Your HR and Payroll Contacts Up-to-Date?
- LGERS Employer Contribution Rates Effective July 1
- New Hires Can Name Beneficiaries in ORBIT
- Important Changes to GoalMaker Expand 401(k) and 457 Plans
- Member and Employer Events
NC State Health Plan Open Enrollment Training
State law requires contributions and reporting must be submitted on or before the fifth business day of the month in order to be considered complete and avoid a penalty.
Both contributions and reporting must be submitted by the employer on or before the fifth business day of the month in order to be considered complete and avoid a penalty. Employee and employer contributions and reporting are not considered submitted until the Retirement Systems Division receives all required information.
The schedule for CSI Contributions through 2026 is posted on myNCRetirement.gov.
Timely Reporting and Invoice Payments
To maintain correct information, it is important to take time to correct errors in ORBIT. Please respond to your Employer Reporting Team representative promptly so that any issues can be addressed and necessary adjustments can be processed as soon as possible.
Addressing Forms
Only Employer Reporting Forms (ex. Forms ERRWK, 316, CONCHG, 717 & 641) can be sent to Orbit Employer Reporting by email OER@nctreasurer.gov or fax 919-855-5801.
All other Forms must be sent to Member Maintenance memberrecords@nctreasurer.gov and contact Member Services by phone (919) 814-4590 or email nc.retirement@nctreasurer.gov for status and/or questions.
Please do not send Forms to more than (1) one email (and only one method, for example if emailed, never mail or fax it also), this creates duplicates that will delay processing of everyone’s forms.
New Vendor? Your first step is to contact the Retirement System.
Are you updating or implementing a new payroll system? Once you have finalized writing your business requirements and the new system is in place, the Retirement Systems Division is here to help with testing. If you intend to use a vendor for your system changes, you should still plan on being part of that process as the key contact for reporting.
We request that you notify us as soon as possible if you are making a change or upgrade so we can schedule testing that aligns with your planned start date. You should expect testing to take at least 90 days.
If you are planning a merger or split with another agency, please contact the Orbit Employer Reporting OER@nctreasurer.gov for assistance.
Reporting RSP Types and Dates
Retirement Service Period (RSP) Type – the number of months, full or partial, in a 12-month period that a member is expected to report to work.
Retirement Service Period (RSP) Dates – the beginning and end dates of the RSP period. RSP begin and end dates should correspond to the number of full or partial months provided in the RSP Type.
- 10-month RSP Type - the member is expected to work from August – May. Service is accrued as 0.1000/month up to a total of 1.0000.
- 11-month RSP Type - the member is expected to work from August – June. Service is accrued as 0.0909/month up to a total of 1.0000.
- 12-month RSP Type – the member is expected to work 12 calendar months. RSP dates do not need to be reported for 12-month RSP Types.
When a member is reported less than a 12-month RSP type but is paid over 12 months, the installment pay can be reported as regular pay with the same RSP dates or as summer pay.
Installment pay records do not accrue additional service credit.
Does the North Carolina Retirement Systems Division Have Your Current HR and Payroll Contact Information?
As members move through the retirement process, we verify crucial information with employers. In order to avoid delays in processing retirements and other benefits, we want to make sure we have current information on file.
If the contact person handling retirement matters in your agency changes, be sure to notify the Retirement Systems Division by completing a signed Form CONCHG (complete with your required 5-digit ORBIT Agency number) available in the “List of All Forms” in ORBIT. Also, we ask that employers keep active employees' information current (mailing address, email address or telephone number) by updating the Monthly Payroll file.
Please contact our Employer Reporting Unit by email at OER@nctreasurer.gov.
LGERS Employer Contributions Effective July 1, 2026
The following is to provide guidance for your planning purposes and make you aware of a change to the schedule in notifying employing agencies of the contribution rates payable to the Retirement System for local governmental employees.
View LGERS Employer Contribution Rates
New Hires Can Name Beneficiaries in ORBIT
New employees can name a beneficiary in their ORBIT account. For new hires who have never been a member of the retirement systems, this can take one to two pay cycles to be created. Then, the employee can go and register their account and name beneficiaries for their eligible benefits online.
We ask that you do not include the Form 2C in hiring packets for these new employees. The Retirement Systems does not have a way to enter these designations or retain the form information until the account is created. We have created a one-page resource for new hires.
Within one to two pay cycles, a new employee who has never been a member of the retirement systems can also send in the form 2C. We recommend employers share the New Employees page on our website. And let the new hire know that they should put a reminder on their calendar to designate beneficiaries once their ORBIT account is established.
We’ve Modernized Information Delivery to You.
If you have a personal email address listed in ORBIT, you now have the option to update your correspondence delivery preference to email delivery.
The North Carolina Retirement Systems is upgrading the self‑service experience for members, retirees, and benefit recipients. As part of our ongoing modernization efforts, we are now offering email as a method of correspondence delivery.
This change supports faster, more secure, and more efficient communication. The Correspondence Delivery Preference for new members will default to email delivery.
You can view or update your delivery preference at any time by selecting Maintain Personal Information in the left navigation menu of your ORBIT account.
Email continues to be the standard method for timely and secure communication, and this update helps ensure you receive important information with efficiency and security in mind.
NCRS correspondence is sent as a secure, encrypted message and requires members to log in and create a password to view documents.
Important Changes to GoalMaker Expand 401(k) and 457 Plans
The NC 401(k) and NC 457 Plans (the Plans) are enhancing their asset allocation tool, GoalMaker®. These updates are designed to expand the investment options utilized, better support long-term retirement savings and provide a streamlined experience for participants who use GoalMaker. This notice outlines the upcoming changes. No action is required on your part if you wish to remain in GoalMaker.
GoalMaker Improvements
GoalMaker is being enhanced to simplify the investment approach with the goals of long-term growth and retirement readiness. These improvements are designed to balance growth potential and risk management over time, streamline investment decisions and create a more cost-effective framework to help maintain your retirement savings strategy.
What is GoalMaker?
GoalMaker is an optional, no-additional-cost, asset-allocation tool that provides models based on investments offered in the Plans. Opting for a mix of investments can help you manage market risk and help you stay on track as you work toward a more secure retirement.
How does GoalMaker work?
GoalMaker automatically allocates among the funds in the Plans’ lineup and automatically shifts to a more conservative investment mix over time. Just select a model with the year that best aligns with your retirement year, and you will be provided with a model comprised of the investments offered in the Plans.
Log in to your account at myNCPlans.gov. You will then be able to view details of your existing asset allocation and make changes should you choose to do so. You can also speak with your NC 401(k)/NC 457 Plans’ Retirement Plan Counselor for assistance.
Discover upcoming Retirement Systems webinars and events. Registration is required.
2027 Open Enrollment Training for Health Benefit Representatives (HBRs)
Please forward to your Human Resources staff.
2027 Open Enrollment will be held Oct. 12-Oct. 30, 2026. The State Health Plan (Plan) is holding Open Enrollment trainings for HBRs in July to better prepare you for the changes coming for 2027.
Please select a convenient day and time to register below:
- Tuesday, July 28, 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
- Wednesday, July 29, 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
- Thursday, July 30, 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
The Plan Board of Trustees will vote on 2027 premiums at its July meeting and approved rates will be communicated following that meeting.
HBRs are encouraged to review Board of Trustees meeting materials from the March and June meetings to learn more about the tiered Preferred Provider network approved in March and what is being proposed for 2027.
Encourage Your Employees to Keep Their Contact Information Current!
Please remind your employees to review and update their contact information. Accurate information allows us to communicate with your employees about their health plan benefits in a timely and effective manner including Open Enrollment. Each member must have a current mailing address, phone number, and email address in the Plan’s enrollment system, eBenefits.
Please encourage employees, especially those who have recently moved, to verify their address with you and in eBenefits (if applicable).
Members can access eBenefits through the State Health Plan website by selecting eBenefits at the top of the page.