Hawaii ERS Calculator: How to Use It
Hawaii ERS has four plans for general employees, and the date you joined changes the multiplier, the retirement ages and the COLA. Pick the right plan and the math is one line.
What this calculator does
It adds your future service to your current credited service, applies your plan's multiplier to your AFC, and checks your retirement age against your plan's rules. You'll see one of four results: normal retirement, early retirement with the plan's reduction, a deferred vested allowance starting at your plan's deferred age, or no pension. Then it projects the simple COLA.
The figure is the maximum allowance, before any survivor option.
What each input means
Plan and membership date
Hybrid after June 30, 2012, Hybrid before July 1, 2012, Contributory or Noncontributory. Police, fire, judges, elected officials and the sewer, EMT and water safety groups have separate rules and aren't covered.
Current age and years of credited service
Use your credited service from ERS. If you have both Hybrid and unconverted Noncontributory service, ERS figures them at different rates; this calculator uses one plan's rate for all service.
Average final compensation
An annual figure: your 5 highest years of base pay (post-2012 Hybrid) or 3 highest years (other plans).
Planned retirement age
The age you'd leave. If you're vested but too young to retire, the result shows the allowance starting at your plan's deferred age.
Understanding the outputs
Green is a normal retirement or a vested deferred allowance. Yellow is early retirement, with the permanent cut. Red means no pension at that exit.
The COLA box shows the allowance 5, 10 and 20 years into retirement. Each year adds the same dollar amount, because the increase is a percentage of the original allowance.
An early retirement example
Post-2012 Hybrid, $80,000 AFC, 30 years at 58. Unreduced it would be 52.5% of AFC, $42,000 a year. It's early, because normal needs 60 with 30 years, so the cut is 7 years under 65 x 5% = 35%. That leaves $27,300 a year. Working two more years to 60 with 32 years pays 56% of AFC, $44,800, with no cut.
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Frequently asked questions
Which plan am I in?
Your ERS member information shows it. Most general employees hired after June 30, 2012 are in the Hybrid plan. Members from before then may be in the Hybrid, Contributory or Noncontributory plan.
What is average final compensation?
For post-2012 Hybrid members, the average of the 5 highest years of base pay. For the other plans, the average of the 3 highest years, excluding pay in lieu of vacation. Enter it as an annual figure.
How is the early reduction applied?
It's a permanent percentage cut to the maximum allowance: 5% a year under 65 (post-2012 Hybrid), 5% a year under 62 (pre-2012 Hybrid), 6% a year under 62 (Noncontributory), or 5% a year under 55 plus 4% a year under 50 (Contributory). The calculator prorates partial years; ERS figures the exact amount.
Does unused sick leave count?
It can add to credited service for the pension amount, but per ERS it can't be used to meet any service requirement for eligibility. The calculator doesn't add it, so include it in your service only if you know your credit.
How is the COLA figured?
1.5% (joined after June 30, 2012) or 2.5% (joined earlier) of your original allowance each July 1, starting the calendar year after you retire. It isn't compounded.