NYSLRS Tier 6 Retirement Age and Vesting Requirements

Full Retirement Age for Tier 6 ERS Members

Tier 6 is every ERS member who joined NYSLRS on or after April 1, 2012. Your full, unreduced retirement age is 63 — one year later than the age-62 threshold for Tiers 2 through 5.

At 63 with at least five years of credited service, you collect the full benefit your Final Average Salary (FAS) and service years produce. No penalties, no reductions.

The 5-Year Vesting Change

Tier 6 originally required 10 years of credited service to vest for any retirement benefit at all. That changed. The vesting requirement dropped to five years, matching every other ERS tier.

Five years of credited service means you have a guaranteed right to a pension benefit even if you leave state or local government employment before retirement age. You can file a vested retirement application and collect the benefit once you reach the eligible age — it just won't start paying until then.

Early Retirement Penalties Between 55 and 63

Tier 6 members can retire as early as age 55 if they have at least five years of credited service. Retiring before age 63 triggers a permanent, age-based reduction to your monthly benefit. Ask NYSLRS for an estimate at each retirement age you are considering to see the applicable amount.

Tier 6 FAS Reform: Three Years, Not Five

Until April 2024, Tier 6 pensions were calculated using the highest five consecutive years of earnings, compared to three years for Tiers 1–5. The 2024–2025 state budget changed that: Tier 6 FAS is now based on the highest three consecutive years, effective April 20, 2024, for ERS members.

The 10% year-over-year earnings cap still applies — if any year in your FAS period exceeds the average of the prior two years by more than 10%, the excess gets excluded. But the move from five years to three generally raises most members' FAS, because it drops the two lowest-earning years from the calculation.

Contribution Rates and the 2024–2026 Temporary Change

Tier 6 members contribute between 3% and 6% of their wages toward their pension, with the rate determined by their annual wage bracket. From April 1, 2024 through March 31, 2026, contribution rates were calculated on baseline annual salary rather than total gross earnings including overtime. This temporary measure prevented a heavy overtime year from increasing a member's contribution rate bracket.

PFRS Tier 6 Members: Different Rules

Police and fire members in PFRS Tier 6 are covered under specialized 20- and 25-year plans (Sections 384-d and 384). These plans have no minimum age requirement — you can retire at any age once you complete 20 or 25 years of uniformed service. The FAS reform also applies to PFRS Tier 6, effective April 1, 2024.

The NYSLRS Retirement Guide covers every Tier 6 rule in detail, including the early retirement reduction table, the FAS reform, and how PFRS special plans change the eligibility math.

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