Pennsylvania PSERS Calculator: How to Use It

What this calculator does

It estimates the PSERS defined benefit for Class T-G, T-H, T-E, T-F, T-D or T-C: multiplier x years of service x final average salary, capped at final average salary for T-E through T-H. It checks whether you've reached normal retirement age and applies the 1/4%-per-month cut for a 55/25 retirement (57/25 for T-G). For other vested early retirements it applies the PSERS Board factors: Table 3a, or Table 3b for T-G and T-H members with fewer than 25 years.

For T-G and T-H the result is the defined benefit only. Your DC account balance comes on top.

What each input means

Membership class

Joined before July 1, 2001: T-C (2.0%) unless you elected T-D. Joined July 1, 2001 through June 30, 2011: T-D (2.5%). Joined July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2019: T-E (2.0%) or, if you elected it, T-F (2.5%). Joined on or after July 1, 2019: T-G (1.25%) unless you elected T-H (1.0%) or the DC-only plan within 90 days. Your PSERS statement shows your class.

Current age and planned retirement age

The calculator adds a year of service for each year between now and your planned retirement. Normal retirement is 62, 60 with 30 years, or 35 years at any age for T-C and T-D; 65 with 3 years or a Rule of 92 with 35 years for T-E and T-F, 67 with 3 years or a Rule of 97 with 35 years for T-G, and 67 with 3 years for T-H.

Years of PSERS service

Your credited service. Part-time service counts proportionally. Include purchased credit.

Final average salary

T-C, T-D, T-E and T-F use the average of your three highest school years. T-G and T-H use five. Your PSERS statement shows the salary PSERS has on record.

Understanding the outputs

The banner names your status: normal retirement, 55/25 early retirement, vested early retirement, or not yet able to collect. If you'd qualify sooner by working longer, it shows the age.

For 55/25 retirements the cut is 1/4% for each month (a partial month counts as a full one) between your retirement and the age you'd reach normal retirement with the service you have when you leave. A T-E member leaving at 57 with 30 years is 96 months short of 65, so the cut is 24%. PSERS doesn't publish how it counts T-E and T-F months; counting to the Rule of 92 date you'd reach by working on would give 15% instead, so treat the T-E/T-F figure as an estimate. For T-C and T-D, PSERS describes the cut as 3% to 15%, so the calculator counts months to the first normal retirement date you'd reach by working on: 55 with 25 years is 60 months from 60 with 30, a 15% cut. PSERS confirms the exact months.

For vested early retirements outside 55/25, T-C through T-F results (and T-G or T-H with 25 or more years) use the Board's Table 3a factor (52 Pa.B. 3655) for your age and normal retirement age: a T-C member leaving at 57 with 20 years keeps 73.7% of the benefit. T-G and T-H members with fewer than 25 years use Table 3b, which discounts at 4% interest from 67 back to 62 and at 7% before 62: a T-G member leaving at 55 with 20 years keeps 40%. Confirm with a PSERS estimate.