Deciding when to retire is a personal choice based on many factors, including your personal finances and risk tolerance. It’s important to consider how your age at retirement may affect the amount of your benefit. The following information will help you understand when you are eligible to retire, and the difference between Minimum Retirement Age and Normal Retirement Age. (Keep in mind the age that you must start taking a Required Minimum Distribution.)
To be eligible for a WRS retirement benefit:
- You must be vested and be at least age 55 (or age 50 if you have protective category service).
- You must terminate all WRS-covered employment.
- You must not be on a leave of absence or in layoff status.
- You must turn in a complete and valid retirement application to ETF.
- ETF must receive your completed application before your death. Applications received after death are invalid.
If you decide to end WRS employment due to a disability, contact ETF about your eligibility for disability benefits before applying for a retirement benefit. Taking a retirement benefit may affect your eligibility for disability benefits. See the Disability Benefits page for more information.
Minimum Retirement Age
Your Minimum Retirement Age (MRA) is the earliest age that you can begin receiving a retirement benefit (assuming you meet all other eligibility requirements). Benefits that begin early, before your normal retirement age, are permanently reduced because the benefit is expected to be paid longer. See the Calculating Your Retirement Benefits (ET-4107) brochure for more information.
Normal Retirement Age
Your Normal Retirement Age is the age that you can begin receiving a retirement benefit that is not reduced by an age reduction factor. The normal retirement age varies by employment category:
|
Employment Category |
Minimum Retirement Age |
Normal Retirement Age |
|---|---|---|
| General employees and teachers | 55 | 65 |
| Employees first enrolled in an elected official or state executive retirement plan category before January 1, 2017 | 55 | 62 |
| Employees first enrolled in an elected official or state executive retirement plan category on or after January 1, 2017 | 55 | 65 |
| General employees, teachers, elected officials or state executives with at least 30 years of creditable service | 55 | 57 |
| Protective occupation employees with at least 25 years of creditable service | 50 | 53 |
| Protective occupation employees with less than 25 years of creditable service | 50 | 54 |
