To qualify for a retirement benefit you must be vested in your retirement system. Vesting means you have met the minimum service requirements to qualify for a benefit. For most members, that means you have a minimum of 10 years of full-time creditable service.
You can receive Social Security retirement benefits as early as age 62. However, we'll reduce your benefit if you start receiving benefits before your full retirement age. For example, if you turn age 62 in 2025, your benefit would be about 30% lower than it would be at your full retirement age of 67.
You are eligible for retirement from the Massachusetts State Employee Retirement System (MSERS) at any age with twenty or more years of state service or at age 55 or 60 (depending on hire date) with 10 or more years of state service.
Members with at least twenty years of creditable service are eligible to retire at any age. A member's monthly retirement allowance is calculated using the member's age at retirement, years of creditable service, and amount of the member's high, three-year average salary.
Officially, you'll start the retirement process with your employer, letting them know when you plan to stop working. Depending on your employer and your tenure, you may need to write an official letter of resignation, document your contacts, processes, and files, and maybe even train a replacement.
If you are eligible for spousal or widow's benefits under Social Security, these benefits may be reduced under the “Government Pension Offset (GPO)” provision. The reduction in spousal or widow's benefits is 2/3rds of the amount of your Massachusetts pension.
You are eligible for retirement from the Massachusetts State Employee Retirement System (MSERS) at any age with twenty or more years of state service or at age 55 or 60 (depending on hire date) with 10 or more years of state service.
There are currently seven pension funds administered by the State of New Jersey. Most are a defined contribution plan in which the employee contributes a fixed percentage of their salary while the employer contributions are based on actuary reports.