Let's compare scenarios
At 55, Patricia will have:
- 14 years of contributory service
- 14 years of eligibility service
- Average annualized earnings of $110,000
Here is what Patricia's pension would be if she retired at age 55, in comparison to if she waits one year and retires at age 56.
| | Age 55
14 years eligibility service | Age 56
15 years eligibility service |
|---|
| Lifetime pension | $1,723/month
| $2,142/month
|
| Bridge benefit (until age 65) | $74/month | $113/month |
| Annual pension (until age 65) | $21,564/year
| $27,060/year
|
| Annual pension (from age 65) | $20,676/year | $25,704/year |
After reviewing both scenarios with her Member Services Specialist, Patricia learned why retiring on Dec. 31, 2026, at age 56 with 15 years eligibility service was the right choice for her, as outlined in the next tab.
The result
By waiting just one more year to retire, Patricia could increase her lifetime pension by $419 per month which is a 24% increase!
That’s because:
- Patricia gained an additional year of contributory and eligibility service, which translates to an additional $106.
- She qualified for a more generous early retirement benefit once she reaches 15 years of eligibility service which translates into an additional $313. Reaching this milestone means that she gets a bigger
lifetime pension and bridge benefit.
- The percentage of pension she would receive would increase from 70% to 82% as the early retirement pension benefit gets closer to 100% with every extra full year of age and eligibility service
that you complete.