ERS Old Plan (Tier 1)

Overview

Old Plan (Tier 1)

For a more detailed explanation of your retirement benefits and the information in the categories below, please see the ERS Handbook in the link to the right.

Membership

  • Current Members continuously employed on a full-time basis since before July 1, 1982
  • Members originally employed before July 1, 1982 who are reemployed on or after July 1, 1982 without having received a refund of their contributions and interest, retiring, or rendering less than one year of service within a period of five consecutive years as a Member

Contributions

Members are required to contribute 1.50% of their earnable compensation to the plan.

  • 1.25% goes to the member’s annuity savings plan
  • .25% goes to the member’s Group Term Life Insurance premiums

Retirement Eligibility  

There are three different types of Service Retirement in ERS:

Normal Retirement

  • At least age 60 and a vested with a minimum of 10 years of creditable service 
  • At least 30 years of creditable service 
  • For certain Law Enforcement positions, at least age 55 and vested with a minimum of 10 years of creditable service

Early Retirement

  • Under age 60
  • At least 25 years of creditable service but not yet 30 years of service
  • Retiree benefit is reduced at a rate of 7% for every year the retiree is under age 60 or every year the retiree has less than 30 years; ERS will use the lesser reduction to calculate the benefit.

Terminated Vested Retirement

A member terminating after attaining at least 10 years of service and vesting, but prior to age 60, will be able to start drawing retirement benefits at age 60. A member may contact ERS within 90 days of their 60th birthday for more details.

Retirement Amount

Retirement Benefit Factor 

The ERS Old Plan Benefit Factor is 2% between 10 years of service and 28 years of service. After the 28th year of service, the factor increases incrementally each year, eventually maxing out at 2.20% at the 35th year of service

Calculation Formula:

To calculate the Maximum Plan Benefit for a normal retirement, ERS Old Plan uses the following formula

Formula Salary
x
Benefit Formula Factor
x
Creditable Service
=
Maximum Plan Benefit

Please see the ERS Handbook for calculation examples.

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Supplemental Guaranteed Lifetime Income (SGLI)

ERS Retirees can Convert Peach State Reserves funds to Guaranteed Monthly Income

Supplemental Guaranteed Lifetime Income (SGLI)

ERS retirees can now use funds in Peach State Reserves to purchase a supplemental annuity from ERS. The SGLI is a program that can be used to provide additional financial security during retirement through lifetime monthly benefit payments.

For more information, please visit the SGLI main page.

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ERS
Board of Trustees

The ERS Board of Trustees consists of 7 members who are appointed or elected for a term of four years.

Click below for board members, contact information, and meeting details.

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ERS History and Background

The Employees’ Retirement System (ERS) was established and began administering retirement benefits for State of Georgia employees on January 1, 1950, as provided by laws enacted through the Georgia General Assembly.