When you join NYSLRS, you are assigned to a tier based on your date of membership. To find out what tier you are in, sign in to Retirement Online and look under 'My Account Summary.'
There are six tiers in the Employees’ Retirement System (ERS) and five in the Police and Fire Retirement System (PFRS). Your tier determines:
- Your eligibility for benefits,
- The formula used in the calculation of your benefits,
- Death benefit coverage,
- Service crediting,
- Whether you must contribute toward your benefits, and
- Eligibility for loans
| You are in: | If you joined: |
|---|---|
| Tier 1 | before July 1, 1973 |
| Tier 2 | July 1, 1973 through July 26, 1976 |
| Tier 3 | July 27, 1976 through August 31, 1983 |
| Tier 4 | September 1, 1983 through December 31, 2009 |
| Tier 5 | January 1, 2010 through March 31, 2012 |
| Tier 6 | April 1, 2012 or after |
There are no Tier 4 New York State correction officers. Those who joined July 27, 1976 through December 31, 2009 are Tier 3 members.
| You are in: | If you joined: |
|---|---|
| Tier 1 | before July 31, 1973 |
| Tier 2 | July 31, 1973 through June 30, 2009 |
| Tier 3 | July 1, 2009 through January 8, 2010* |
| Tier 5 | January 9, 2010 through March 31, 2012 |
| Tier 6 | April 1, 2012 or after |
| *PFRS members who joined July 1, 2009 through January 8, 2010 and did not elect to be covered by Article 22 (opt into Tier 5), can be covered by Article 11 or Article 14 benefits, depending on their retirement plan election. | |
(Rev. 1/21)