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Accidental disability retirement - a retirement based on a job related injury rendering the employee permanently and totally disabled from performing the essential duties.

Annuity - a portion of your monthly retirement allowance that is based on the total amount in your annuity savings fund on the date of your retirement.

Annuity savings fund - the total amount of your contributions and interest in the Bristol County retirement system

Beneficiary - Any person or charity or institution

Board Members - a group of 5 people made up of 2 elected members, 2 appointed members and 1 member Executive Director-officio

Buy-Back of creditable service - The redeposit of a refund previously received from the termination of prior Massachusetts government employment

COLA - an annual cost of living adjustment not to exceed 3% of $12,000 upon Board approval, Cola´s are not automatic

Contributions - the mandatory deduction of 5% or 7% or 7% & 2% or 8% & 2% or 9% & 2% withheld from your regular compensation

Creditable service - the amount of days, weeks, months, years of continuous contributing to the retirement system

governmental entity - for this retirement system: City of Bristol County, Bristol County Housing Authority, Bristol County Redevelopment Authority, Bristol County Public Health Commission

Group 1 Member - Officials and general employees including clerical, administrative and technical workers, laborers, mechanics and all others not otherwise classified

Group 2 Member - Employees of a municipal department who are employed as Licensed Electricians and Emergency Communications Dispatchers for the City of Bristol County

Group 4 Member - Uniformed Police Officers and Firefighters for the City of Bristol County

Make-Up of creditable service - The amount of contributions owed for employment in massachusetts government prior to becoming a member of a retirement system

Military Service Credit - A Veteran´s ability to purchase up to four years of creditable service corresponding to their military service

Option A - Election of this option prior to retirement date means that you will receive your full allowance as long as you live. No benefits will be provided to a beneficiary.

Option B - Election of this option prior to retirement date means that you will receive 5% less than Option A as long as you live. Upon your death, your beneficiary (ies) will be entitled to the unexpended balance of your annuity account.

Option C - Election of this option prior to retirement date means that you will receive 20% less than Option A as long as you live. Upon your death, your survivor will receive a monthly allowance, about two-thirds for as long as they live.

Option C “Pop-Up” - If your Option C survivor dies before your do, you will thereafter be paid the full allowance you would have received had you chosen Option A.

Ordinary disability retirement - a retirement based on a non-job related injury rendering the vested employee totally and permanently disabled from performing the essential duties

P.E.R.A.C. - Regulatory Authority overseeing the 106 Retirement Systems in Massachusetts

Pension - a portion of your monthly retirement allowance that is the difference between the total retirement allowance and the amount provided by employee contributions

Refund - to receive the total contributions and/or interest in your annuity savings account at time of seperation of government employment

Regular compensation - an amount of monies paid to you on a weekly or monthly basis for your regular hours worked in the governmental entity

Rollover - to receive a refund and transfer the monies to your individual retirement account

Superannuation retirement - collecting a monthly amount for as long as you live after you have stopped working for the governmental entity

Vested - The establishment of the right to a retirement allowance. Minimum of 10 years of contributing to a Massachusetts retirement system