Who is eligible to participate in DROP?
All vested members of the FRS Pension Plan, Teachers’ Retirement System (TRS), or State and County Officers’ and Employees’ Retirement System (SCOERS) who have reached normal retirement age or date, provided election to participate is made within the appropriate time periods as described below.
When can I begin DROP?
You can begin DROP when you are vested and have reached your normal retirement date as follows:
If you were initially enrolled in the FRS before July 1, 2011:
For all FRS membership classes except the Special Risk Class, your normal retirement date is either when you are vested and reach age 62, or after you complete 30 years of service, whichever comes first. If you become vested after age 62, your normal retirement date is the month following the month you complete six years of service.
For Special Risk Class members, your normal retirement date is when you have at least six years of Special Risk Class service and are age 55, or 25 years of Special Risk Class service, whichever comes first; or age 52 and a total of 25 years of Special Risk Class service and active duty wartime military service. If you reach six years of Special Risk Class service after age 55, your normal retirement date is the month following the month you completed six years of Special Risk Class service.
If you were initially enrolled in the FRS on or after July 1, 2011:
Age 65, or after you complete 33 years of service, whichever comes first. If you become vested after age 65, your normal retirement date is the month following the month you complete eight years of service.
For Special Risk Class members, your normal retirement date is when you have at least eight years of Special Risk Class service and are age 60, or after 30 years of Special Risk Class service, whichever comes first; or age 57 and a total of 30 years of Special Risk Class service that include up to four years of purchased active duty wartime military service. If you reach eight years of Special Risk Class service after age 60, your normal retirement date is the month following the month you completed eight years of Special Risk Class service.