Benefits of members in the State Police Retirement Plan (Section 381-b of the Retirement and Social Security Law) are not affected by Tier 5, except in the instances outlined below. Members in this plan who have 20 years of creditable service may still retire at any age with unreduced benefits. Disability and death benefits are also not changed by Tier 5.

Membership Tier

There are five tiers in the Police and Fire Retirement System (PFRS). PFRS members in the State Police Retirement Plan who joined January 9, 2010 through March 31, 2012 are in Tier 5.

Member Contributions

Tier 5 State Police members must contribute 3 percent of their salary for all their years of public service. These mandatory contributions are not covered under Internal Revenue Code Section 414(h) and are taxable in the year they are earned.

Vesting

Tier 5 State Police members must have ten years of service credit to be vested and eligible for retirement benefits.

Overtime Limitation

Overtime pay in excess of 15 percent of a member’s regular annual wages is not included in the definition of wages. Employers should not report to the Retirement System any overtime pay in excess of this cap as it cannot be used in a member's final average salary calculation.