Members
If you were a member of the BCRS prior to April 2, 2012, you are eligible to retire:
- At age 55 or older if you have at least 10 years of credible service
- At any age if you have 20 years of credible service
If you were a member of the BCRS on or after April 2, 2012, you are eligible to retire:
- At age 60 or older if you have at least 10 years of credible service for Group 1
- At age 55 or older if you have at least 10 years of credible service for Group 2 and Group 4. Please note that you must have performed the duties of the Group 2 or Group 4 position for at least 12 months immediately prior to your termination or retirement.
Pension is calculated using:
- Your age at the time of retirement,
- Your years of creditable service,
- Your group classification and
- An average of your three highest consecutive years of regular compensation, for members of the BCRS prior to April 2, 2012 or your five highest consecutive years of regular compensation, for members who were hired on or after April 2, 2012 .
Section 18 Anti-Spiking provision: if salary increases more than 10% in 2 preceding years, those additional earnings are not included.
Please review your Annual Statement of Account for accuracy. If you note any discrepancies, please contact the staff at the BCRS.
Benefits Calculator
The pension calculator will give members of the Bristol County Retirement System in groups 1, 2 or 4 an approximation of their retirement benefits.
Application Process for Superannuation “Ordinary” Retirement
If you are a member in service or on an authorized leave of absence, you can apply to the Retirement Board no earlier than four months before your intended date of retirement. The BCRS suggests submitting application and making appointments one month before your intended date of retirement.
The Board may ask you to submit birth certificates for you and your spouse, a marriage certificate, veteran discharge papers, affidavit of marital status and any divorce decrees.
Please note that once the application is submitted, the Retirement Board must await the final payroll from the member’s unit, which can take up to six weeks from the date of retirement. The initial payment may be up to eight weeks from the date of retirement. After the initial payment, allowance checks are due and payable on the last business day of each month. The Public Employee Retirement Administration Commission (P.E.R.A.C) has 90 days to approve Superannuation Retirement Benefits.