1. Age
2. Length of Creditable Service
3. Salary Level (Highest Consecutive Three Year Average)
4. Group Classification

Age:

Use your age as of your last birthday to determine your benefit rate. For instance, if you are currently 55 your benefit rate is .015.

Please note, the Option C factor used for calculation is based on nearest birthday of the retiree and the beneficiary. For example: for a retiring member who is 58 years and 8 months old, and beneficiary who is 57 years and 2 months old, the factor used would be age 59 for the retiring member and age 57 for the beneficiary.

Length Of Creditable Service:

You are considered eligible for retirement if you have twenty years of creditable service or you are age 55 with at least 10 years of service. Creditable service is earned by all memebers state workers employed on at least half-time basis and who contribute to the retirement system.

• Part-Time Public Service
  If you are employed on less than a full-time basis, you will earn an amount of service equal to a percentage of the full-time service rate. A worker employed on a half-time basis will receive 50% or 6 months service for each year completed.

  You may also be eligible to receive credit if you served on, at least, a half-time basis with a city or county in Massachusetts or if you taught in the Commonwealth’s public school system.

• Military Service
  You may also receive credit for military service if you were honorably discharged under the following circumstances:

  you were called to serve in a war; you served in the armed forces under the Selective Service Act of 1948; you are re-employed in the public sector within two years of your discharge

  Under these circumstances, your period of actual military service is counted as creditable service, to a maximum of four years. Or, once you are an active member in service, you may purchase up to 4 years of military service to be used towards your public retirement. National Guard time may be purchased, as well, with 5 years of Guard service equaling one year of public service.

Salary Level:

To figure out your average annual rate of compensation, add your three highest consecutive years regular compensation and divide by three. Regular compensation does not include overtime or other sources of income which are not regular and reoccuring. Please contact the retirement office for specific questions or clarification of your regular compensation.

Group Classification:

Your group classification will determine the specifics of your benefit rate. Group classification is determined by state law, under M.G.L. Chapter 32 and not the MWRA or Retirement Board. Changes to group status are determined by the Legislature. All questions regarding group classification should be directed to the retirement board office.

Group One Members

Officials and general employees including clerical, administrative and technical workers, laborers, mechanics and all others not otherwise classified. Under Group One, the maximum age factor of 2.5% is attained at age 65. At the present time all MWRA employees, regardless of job title or position, are classified under Group One.

Group Two Members (Does not apply to MWRA Members)

Some employees with hazardous occupations such as mental health hospital attendants, some correction employees and certain court employees. The maxium age factor of 2.5% attained at age 60 under Group Two.

Group Three Members (Does not apply to MWRA Members)

State Police Officers have a unique retirement formula under Group Three, but are also required to contribute a flat 12% of their regular compensation into the retirement system.

Group Four Members (Does not apply to MWRA Members)

Police officers and fire fighters. 

Disability Retirement Glossary of Terms