Tier 1, 2 and 3 Members

If you are a Tier 1 or 2 member, or a Tier 3 member covered by Article 11 benefits, you are not required to contribute toward your retirement benefits, but may elect to make voluntary annuity savings contributions to the Retirement System. These contributions, plus the interest they earn, will provide you with an annuity, in addition to your regular service retirement benefit, when you retire.

Tier 5 Members

If you are a Tier 5 member, you are required to contribute 3 percent of your reportable earnings toward your retirement benefits until you retire or have 32 years of service credit, whichever occurs first. These mandatory contributions are not annuity savings contributions and will not provide you with an annuity when you retire.

Tier 6 Members

As a Tier 6 member, you are required to contribute a specific percentage of your annual salary, as shown below, until you retire or have 32 years of service credit, whichever occurs first. During the first three years of membership, your contribution rate is based on your annual wage, as provided by your employer on your Membership Application. After this three-year period, your contribution rate is based on what you actually earned two years prior. For part-time employees, your contribution rate is based on your annualized wage. Contribution rates are set April 1 of each year. Regardless of whether you work on a full- or part-time basis, however, the amount of your contribution is determined by applying your contribution rate to your current reportable earnings. These mandatory contributions are not annuity savings contributions and will not provide you with an annuity when you retire.