When you join the Retirement System, you are assigned to a tier depending on your date of membership.
You are a Tier 3 member covered by Article 14 if you joined the Police and Fire Retirement System on or after July 1, 2009 but before January 9, 2010, you did not elect to be covered by Article 22 (Tier 5) benefits and you:
- Elected coverage under your employer’s special 20-year plan; or
- Elected coverage under your employer’s special 25-year plan and your employer offers the one-year final average salary benefit for your employee group; or
- Are employed by the City of Yonkers or the State Police.
There are four tiers in PFRS.
| 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 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. There is no Tier 4 in the New York State and Local Police and Fire Retirement System. | |