Model the Tier 5 age-62 rules, test your best 36 consecutive months, and see how court-officer status and leave balances may shape the estimate.
Set the timeline
Elapsed dates assume continuous full-time service. Tier 5 generally applies to ERS members who joined January 1, 2010 through March 31, 2012. Reconcile service and plan coverage with your Member Annual Statement.
Build your FAE
Enter the total pensionable earnings received during each period. The planner allocates that total across the period’s months, checks every rolling 36-month window, and applies the Tier 5 10% annual limit when 24 earlier months are available.
Include eligible regular pay, differential, location pay, longevity, holiday pay, and overtime only up to the ERS Tier 5 limit for that calendar year. Do not include leave cash-outs, termination pay, or pay above applicable pensionable limits.Account for accruals
Leave cash payments use base salary—not the pensionable totals entered above.
The 700/1,400-hour figures are planning benchmarks, not NYSHIP eligibility cutoffs. Actual monthly health credit depends on salary, age, unused hours, and annuitant option.
2% × credited service
$0 × 44.1% × 100.0%See the tradeoff
Know the boundaries
Tier 5 requires at least five years of service and age 55. The full benefit is payable at 62. Earlier retirement is permanently reduced under the Tier 5 table, prorated by month.
With less than 20 years, the estimate uses 1.66% per year. From 20 through 30 years, it uses 2% per year, then 1.5% for each year beyond 30.
Current law uses the highest three consecutive years. The builder also applies the 10% limit against the previous two years when enough history is entered.
Qualifying Tier 5 UCS uniformed court officers and peace officers with at least 30 years of service can retire from 55 through 61 without an age reduction. Sick credit is not used to reach that 30-year threshold.
Up to 200 sick days may add service but cannot satisfy vesting or the better formula. Most Tier 5 members contribute 3% throughout service; qualifying UCS officers contribute 4%.
Overtime/comp and annual/vacation estimates are kept outside pensionable earnings. The 378-hour planning caps are applied automatically; confirm the applicable contract or title rule.
Confirm service, earnings, retirement options, health credit, and leave payout with Retirement Online and your court administrative office.