100-A:10 Vested Deferred Retirement Benefit. –
I. Group I Members.
(a) A group I member who has completed 10 years of creditable service and who, for reasons other than retirement or death, ceases to be an employee or teacher shall be deemed in vested status and upon meeting the eligibility requirements of subparagraph (b) may collect a vested deferred retirement allowance. In lieu of a vested deferred retirement allowance, the member may make application on a form prescribed by the board of trustees and receive a return of the member's accumulated contributions under RSA 100-A:11. Provided, however, that a group I member who commenced service on or after July 1, 2011 shall not receive a vested deferred retirement allowance until attaining the age of 65; but may receive a reduced allowance after age 60 if the member has at least 30 years of creditable service where the allowance shall be reduced, for each month by which the date on which benefits commence precedes the month after which the member attains 65 years of age, by 1/4 of one percent.
(b) At any time after attainment of age 50, a group I member who meets the requirement of subparagraph (a) may make application on a form prescribed by the board of trustees and receive a vested deferred retirement allowance which shall consist of a member annuity which shall be the actuarial equivalent of the member's accumulated contributions on the date of retirement and a state annuity which, together with the member annuity, shall be equal to either the service retirement allowance payable under RSA 100-A:5, I(a) and I(b) or the reduced early service retirement allowance payable under RSA 100-A:5, I(c), based on the member's age when the vested deferred retirement allowance begins and on the member's average final compensation and creditable service at the time service is terminated. Provided, however, that a group I member who commenced service on or after July 1, 2011 shall not receive a vested deferred retirement allowance until attaining the age of 65; but may receive a reduced allowance after age 60 if the member has at least 30 years of creditable service where the allowance shall be reduced, for each month by which the date on which benefits commence precedes the month after which the member attains 65 years of age, by 1/4 of one percent.
II. Group II Members.
(a) A group II member who has completed 10 years of creditable service and who, for reasons other than retirement or death, ceases to be a permanent policeman or permanent fireman shall be deemed in vested status and upon meeting the eligibility requirements of subparagraph (b) may collect a vested deferred retirement allowance. In lieu of a vested deferred retirement allowance, the member may make application on a form prescribed by the board of trustees and receive a return of the member's accumulated contributions under RSA 100-A:11. Provided, however, that a group II member who commenced service on or after July 1, 2011 shall not receive a vested deferred retirement allowance until attaining the age of 52.5; but may receive a reduced allowance after age 50 if the member has at least 25 years of creditable service where the allowance shall be reduced, for each month by which the date on which benefits commence precedes the month after which the member attains 52.5 years of age, by 1/4 of one percent.
(b) For members who are in vested status before January 1, 2012, upon the member's attainment of age 45, provided the member would then have completed 20 years of creditable service, otherwise the subsequent date on which such 20 years would have been completed, or for members who commenced service on or after July 1, 2011, upon the member's attainment of age 50, provided the member would then have completed 25 years of creditable service, otherwise the subsequent date on which such 25 years would have been completed, and group II members who have not attained vested status prior to January 1, 2012 shall be as provided in the transition provisions in RSA 100-A:5, II(d), or at any time after age 60, a group II member who meets the requirement of subparagraph (a) may make application on a form prescribed by the board of trustees and receive a vested deferred retirement allowance which shall consist of: (1) A member annuity which shall be the actuarial equivalent of accumulated contributions on the date the member's retirement allowance commences; and (2) A state annuity which, together with the member annuity, shall be equal to a service retirement allowance based on the member's average final compensation and creditable service at the time the member's service is terminated. Provided, however, that a group II member who commenced service on or after July 1, 2011 shall not receive a vested deferred retirement allowance until attaining the age of 52.5; but may receive a reduced allowance after age 50 if the member has at least 25 years of creditable service where the allowance shall be reduced, for each month by which the date on which benefits commence precedes the month after which the member attains 52.5 years of age, by 1/4 of one percent.