An Official Pennsylvania Government Website
Translate
Begin Main Content Area

Leaving Employment

Benefits for Which You May be Eligible  

If you are an active contributing member of PSERS who terminates all Pennsylvania public school employment, a benefit is likely available to you.  Shown below is a chart to help you determine what benefit may be available:

PSERS Benefits
Click on the links for more detailed information about the benefit for which you may qualify.
Benefit
Qualifications
Return of Contributions and Interest (Refund)

Class T-C or T-D member:
-  Fewer than 5 years of credited service

Class T-E or T-F member:
-  Fewer than 10 years of credited service

Vesting or Deferring Retirement (Postponing receipt of your retirement benefit)

Class T-C* or T-D member:
-  5 years of credited service

Class T-E or T-F member:
-  10 year of credited service

Disability Retirement 5 years of credited service; meet medical eligibility and application submission requirement
Early Retirement (Age Penalty Applied)

Class T-C* or T-D member
-  5 years of credited service

T-C or T-D Member:
-  Age 55 with 25 years of service (3% - 15% maximum reduction)

Class T-E or T-F member
-  10 year of credited service

Normal Retirement (Superannuation)

T-C or T-D Member:

-  35 years of service regardless of age
-  Age 62 with 1 year of service
-  Age 60 with 30 years of service

T-E or T-F Member:

Age 65 with at least three (3) years of credited service, or any age/service combination that totals 92 (“Rule of 92”) with a minimum of 35 years of service.  Example: A member age 57 with35 years of credited service (57 [age] + 35 [service] = 92) would total 92 and, therefore, would be superannuated.

* Special rules apply if you terminated public school employment before July 1, 2001 .


  
Benefit Forfeiture

The right of a person to receive any retirement benefit from PSERS is subject to forfeiture as provided by the Public Employee Pension Forfeiture Act ("Forfeiture Act").  The law mandates that all service and benefits payable to a PSERS member be forfeited if the member is found guilty of, or enters a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, any crime identified in the Forfeiture Act, when the crime is committed through the member's position as a public employee or official or when the member's public employment places the member in a position to commit the crime(s). For more detailed information, click here.