PSERS Eligibility and Benefit Information

Eligibility (vesting):
If you joined PSERS prior to July 1, 2011, you become vested with five years of credited service. Anyone who joined PSERS on or after July 1, 2011, becomes vested with 10 years of service.

Should you leave prior to vesting, you are eligible only for the return of your own contributions.

Upon vesting, you become eligible for an immediate or deferred annuity and death benefits.

Normal retirement:
If you joined PSERS prior to July 1,201 1, you are eligible for an unreduced annuity, and can:

• Retire at any age, provided you have 35 years of service.
• Retire at age 60, provided you have 30 years of service.
• At age 62, you can retire with one or more years of service.

If you joined PSERS on or after July 1, 2011, you are eligible for an unreduced annuity, and can:

• Retire when your age and years of service total 92, provided you have at least 35 years of service.
• Retire at age 65, provided you have three or more years of service.

Early retirement:
If you don't qualify for normal retirement, you can still retire, but you will incur a penalty for early retirement.

At 55 years of age, with 25 or more years of service, you can retire with a reduced penalty.

Disability retirement:
If you become physically or mentally incapable of performing your employment duties, and have five or more years of credited service, you may apply to PSERS for disability retirement. A medical examination must establish the disability, and re-examinations may be required to establish that the disability is a continuing one.

Health insurance premium assistance:
You also are eligible for health insurance premium assistance of up to $l00 per month with either 24.5 years of service, 15 years of service and terminating employment at age 62, or disability retirement. Premium assistance is only available if you have actual out-of-pocket expenses and obtain coverage through a school district plan or PSERS.

Benefit estimate:
Your normal retirement benefit will be determined by your Final Average Salary (FAS), Class of Service multiplier, and years of credited service.

FAS x Multiplier x Years of Credited Service = Normal Retirement Benefit

Final Average Salary is the average of your salary in your three highest school years.

Class of Service multipliers:
Class T-C service multiplier: 2.0 percent
Class T-D service multiplier: 2.5 percent
Class T-E service multiplier: 2.0 percent
Class T-F service multiplier: 2.5 percent

Some members will have Class T-D credit for school service and Class T-C credit for non-school service. In this case, separately compute your benefits using the same FAS and add them together to get the normal retirement benefit.

For estimated retirement allowances, use PSERS' Interaction web application at www.psers.state.pa.us.
.