N.Y. Retirement & Social Security Law Section 502
Eligibility for service retirement benefits

  • minimum service requirements

a.

A member who first joins a public retirement system of this state on or after June thirtieth, nineteen hundred seventy-six shall not be eligible for service retirement benefits hereunder until such member has rendered a minimum of five years of creditable service after July first, nineteen hundred seventy-three.

b.

A member who previously was a member of a public retirement system of this state shall not be eligible for service retirement benefits hereunder until such member has rendered a minimum of five years of service which is creditable pursuant to § 513 (Credit for service)section five hundred thirteen of this article.

c.

An elective member who is not vested in the plan from which he or she transferred shall not be eligible for service retirement or vested benefits hereunder until such member has rendered a minimum period of service equal to the additional service which such member would have been required to accrue under such former plan in order to obtain a vested benefit.

d.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a pensioner receiving a service retirement benefit:

(i)

who returns to active public service and joins or rejoins a public retirement system on or after July first, nineteen hundred seventy-six, and

(ii)

who thereafter separates from service before becoming eligible for a retirement benefit hereunder, shall, upon such separation, be entitled to receive the service retirement benefit which he or she was receiving prior to his or her last restoration to membership. Provided, however, if such pensioner was not subject to this article at the time he or she last retired, he or she shall, upon separation, be entitled to receive a retirement allowance which shall consist of an annuity which is the actuarial equivalent of his or her accumulated contributions, if any, and the pension, including pension-providing-for-increased-take-home-pay, which he or she was receiving prior to his last restoration to membership.

e.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, if a member attains mandatory retirement age, the minimum service requirements specified in this section shall be five years.

f.

Upon the first day of the month after the attainment of mandatory retirement age, a member shall be separated from service whether or not eligible for service retirement hereunder; provided however, that this requirement shall not preclude a member from being continued in service beyond such mandatory retirement age pursuant to other applicable provisions of law.

Source: Section 502 — Eligibility for service retirement benefits; minimum service requirements, https://www.­nysenate.­gov/legislation/laws/RSS/502 (updated May 20, 2022; accessed Apr. 20, 2024).

500
Application
501
Definitions
502
Eligibility for service retirement benefits
503
Eligibility for normal and early service retirement benefits
504
Service retirement benefits
504‑A
Twenty-year retirement program for New York city correction members below the rank of captain
504‑B
Twenty-year retirement program for New York city correction members of the rank of captain or above
504‑C
Supplemental retirement allowance
504‑D
Twenty-year retirement program for New York city correction members
505
Service retirement benefits
506
Ordinary disability benefits
507
Accidental disability benefits
507‑A
Disability retirement
507‑B
Performance of duty disability retirement
507‑C
Performance of duty disability retirement
507‑D
Disability benefits
507‑E
Uniformed court officers and peace officers
507‑F
Accidental disability retirement
507‑G
Payment of both pensions for accident and other benefits prohibited
507‑H
Retirement for disability incurred in performance of duty
507‑I
Disability benefits
508
Death benefits
508‑A
Death benefit for vested members who die prior to retirement
508‑B
Death benefit for deputy sheriffs employed by Nassau county
508‑B*2
Death benefits for correction officers employed by Nassau county
508‑B*3
Death benefits for correction officers employed by Suffolk county
508‑B*4
Death benefits for deputy sheriffs employed by Suffolk county
508‑C
Death benefits for fire marshals employed by Nassau county
509
Accidental death benefits
509‑A
COVID-19 benefit
510
Escalation of benefits
511
Coordination with social security benefits
512
Final average salary
513
Credit for service
514
Options
515
Optional retirement program
516
Vesting
517
Member contributions
517‑A
Termination of membership
517‑B
Loans to members of a teachers’ retirement system
517‑C
Loans to members of certain retirement systems
518
Election of coverage under article
519
Effect of other laws
520
Duration

Accessed:
Apr. 20, 2024

Last modified:
May 20, 2022

§ 502’s source at nysenate​.gov

Link Style