Division of Human Resources
Benefits & Total Compensation
Total Compensation
Employment with the State of Mississippi offers individuals a myriad of health and welfare benefits as well as generous leave benefits. This translates into what is referred to as fringe benefits. Currently, MDHS burdens a fringe benefit cost of about 25% of a person's cash compensation. What does that mean for you? For example, if you were hired into a position paying cash compensation (salary) of $25,000 per year, you will receive paychecks totaling $25,000 during a full year of employment and MDHS will pay another $6,250 on your behalf for all of the fringe benefits afforded you as an employee of MDHS. This means that your job is not only worth $25,000 but is actually worth $31,250 once you add the non-cash fringe benefit costs paid for you by MDHS. Remember, this is not money in your paycheck, it is money paid by MDHS on your behalf for the benefits you receive.
Leave & Holidays
As an employee of MDHS, you will receive ten (10) paid holidays per year. In addition, you will accumulate personal and sick leave based on a sliding scale matched to your years of service. There is no maximum accrual amount.
| Years of Service | Monthly Sick Leave Accrual | Monthly Personal Accrual |
|---|---|---|
| 1 month - 3 years | 8 hours | 12 hours |
| 37 months - 8 years | 7 hours | 14 hours |
| 97 months - 15 years | 6 hours | 16 hours |
| Over 15 years | 5 hours | 18 hours |
Retirement
The State of Mississippi has one of the most stable retirement systems in the nation. As an employee of the State of Mississippi who works more than twenty (20) hours per week or more than eighty (80) hours per month, you will contribute a set percentage of your pay (currently 7.26%) to your retirement account each pay period. The State will contribute an amount roughly 48% greater (currently 10.75%) than the employee contribution to each employee's retirement account each pay period. The amount that each employee contributes during his/her employment is refundable. The employer contribution is not refundable. An employee is vested in the retirement system after four (4) years in the system. Employees may retire after twenty-five (25) years of service at any age or once an employee becomes vested and reaches age sixty (60). For more information, please visit the Public Employees Retirement System on the web.
Life & Health Insurance
Employees of the State of Mississippi are eligible to participate in the State and School Employees' Life and Health Insurance Plan. The plan is administered by a management board. The Department of Finance and Administration handles the day-to-day administration of the Plan through the Office of Insurance. The Plan is a self-insured plan which currently holds a contract with Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Mississippi. More information about the specifics of the Plan may be found at the Department of Finance and Administration.
An employee is eligible to enroll in the Plan if he/she participates in the State of Mississippi Retirement Plan and works more than twenty (20) hours per week for 12 months or its equivalent. All employees must enroll in the Plan or waive coverage. Enrollment in the Plan is effective on an employee's first day of employment; however, an employee must complete his/her enrollment paperwork within thirty-one (31) days of his/her hire date. Additionally, there is an annual Open Enrollment period every October for coverage effective the following January 1.
Benefits of the State and School Employees' Life and Health Insurance include the following:
Deferred Compensation
Deferred Compensation is a supplemental, voluntary savings plan administered by the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) Board of Trustees offering tax advantages to participants. Employees who choose this plan may set aside part of their salary each year. Income tax liability is postponed on that part of the salary until the year in which the employee actually receives the deferred amount. Interest and/or earnings also are tax deferred until withdrawal. For more information, please visit the Public Employees Retirement System on the web.
Cafeteria Plan
MDHS currently offers this tax savings mechanism to its employees as an optional benefit. A Section 125 plan, also legally known as a "cafeteria plan," allows employees' health, life, dental, vision care, prescription drugs, disability contributions, and deposits to flexible spending accounts be made with pre-tax dollars.
Life Insurance & Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D)
The Plan provides for Life Insurance and Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance. An employee's group term life insurance amount is equal to two (2) times his/her annual salary, then rounded up to the next highest thousand. The minimum amount of life insurance is $30,000 and the maximum amount is $100,000. The Plan also provides an AD&D benefit to eligible employees at no additional cost. The premium rate for the Plan's group term life insurance is $.30 per thousand dollars of coverage. The State pays for half of this premium. The employee is responsible for paying the other half. For more information, please visit the Department of Finance and Administration on the web.
MDHS Employee Federal Credit Union
Employees of MDHS are eligible to join the MDHS Employee Federal Credit Union. This credit union is a full-service institution offering services from traditional savings accounts to loans.
Dental/Vision Care
MDHS currently offers employees the option to elect dental and/or vision coverage for themselves and dependents at competitive rates and coverage levels.
Contact Information
Mississippi Department of Human Services
Division of Human Resources
(601) 359-4444 | 1-800-345-6347