On Wednesday March 11, 2020, Governor Mike Dunleavy declared a public health emergency in response to what is still an anticipated outbreak of the new coronavirus (COVID-19) in Alaska. While there have been no cases reported in Alaska to date, the Division of Retirement and Benefits serves members and participants of the pension and health plans that primarily represent higher risk groups for the COVID-19 virus. To support our members and ongoing public health efforts, we are transitioning to telephonic counseling appointments.

Beginning Monday, March 16, 2020, we are taking the advanced step of closing our offices in Juneau and Anchorage to public in-person traffic. Our offices will continue to serve our clients by contacting members who have scheduled appointments to arrange a teleconference. Our Member Services Contact Center (MSCC) will be open and fully operational to support telephone and email requests. Participants are encouraged to contact the MSCC if they are not seeking a retirement counseling appointment for service.

Contact the MSCC for:

• General plan information, eligibility for benefits, status of requests, obtain forms, review forms, income verifications, vesting, health and optional benefits, etc.
• By telephone: Call (907) 465-4460 in Juneau, or toll-free (800) 821-2251 outside of Juneau.
• By email: .

To Make an Appointment for Counseling

• By telephone: Call (907) 465-4460 in Juneau, or toll-free (800) 821-2251 outside of Juneau.
• Online Appointment Scheduler: Go to Alaska.gov/drb, click on the green “Make an Appointment” button on the left of the page or click here.

For Financial Education Advice and Deferred Compensation Catch-Up Services

Empower Retirement Services

Financial Education:

• (800) 232-0859 (toll-free)
• akdrb.gwrs.com

Investment Advice:

• (800) 232-0859 (toll-free)

Deferred Compensation Catch-up:

• (800) 526-0560 (toll-free)
• (907) 276-1500 (in Anchorage)

Mailing Documents

• Documents associated with our partners and third-party administrators, such as Empower or Aetna, are to be mailed to the addresses shown on the specific forms.
• Other documents can be mailed to:
  Division of Retirement and Benefits
  P.O. Box 110203
  Juneau, AK 99811-0203

  The Division will assess this policy again in two weeks. Based on Alaska’s experience with the COVID-19 virus, we will either extend or discontinue this policy.