What Tier Are You In?
When you join the Retirement System, you are assigned to a tier based on your date of membership. There are five tiers in the Employees’ Retirement System (ERS) and four in the Police and Fire Retirement System (PFRS). Your tier determines:
- Your eligibility for benefits,
- The formula used in the calculation of your benefits,
- Death benefit coverage,
- Service crediting,
- Whether you must contribute towards your benefits, and
- Eligibility for loans
| You are in: | If you joined: |
|---|---|
| Tier 1 | before July 1, 1973 |
| Tier 2 | July 1, 1973 through July 26, 1976 |
| Tier 3 | July 27, 1976 through August 31, 1983 |
| Tier 4 | September 1, 1983 through December 31, 2009 |
| Tier 5 | January 1, 2010 or after |
There are no Tier 4 New York State correction officers or security hospital treatment assistants. Those who joined July 27, 1976 through December 31, 2009 are Tier 3 members; those who joined on or after January 1, 2010 are Tier 5 members.
| You are in: | If you joined: |
|---|---|
| Tier 1 | before July 31, 1973 |
| Tier 2 | July 31, 1973 through June 30, 2009 |
| Tier 3 | July 1, 2009 through January 8, 2010* |
| Tier 5 | January 9, 2010 or after |
| *PFRS members who joined July 1, 2009 through January 8, 2010 and did not elect to be covered by Article 22 (opt into Tier 5), can be covered by Article 11 or Article 14 benefits, depending on their retirement plan election. | |
Reinstating Your Former Date of Membership
You may be eligible for a change in your date of membership and perhaps a change in your tier status if you were ever a member of one of the following public retirement systems in New York State prior to your current date of membership:
- New York State and Local Employees’ Retirement System
- New York State and Local Police and Fire Retirement System
- New York State Teachers’ Retirement System
- New York City Employees’ Retirement System
- New York City Police Pension Fund
- New York City Teachers’ Retirement System
- New York City Board of Education
- New York City Fire Department Pension Fund
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