(a) Normal retirement. A member is eligible to receive a normal retirement benefit who (1) has attained age sixty and has accumulated twenty years of credited service in the public schools of Connecticut or (2) has attained any age and has accumulated thirty-five years of credited service, at least twenty-five years of which are service in the public schools of Connecticut.

(b) Proratable retirement. A member is eligible to receive a proratable retirement benefit who has attained age sixty and has accumulated at least ten years of credited service.

(c) Early retirement. A member is eligible to receive an early retirement benefit who has accumulated twenty-five years of credited service at least twenty years of which are service in the public schools of Connecticut, or who has attained the age of fifty-five and has accumulated at least twenty years of credited service, at least fifteen of which are service in the public schools of Connecticut.

(d) Deferred vested retirement. A member is eligible to receive a deferred vested retirement benefit beginning at age sixty who: (1) Has accumulated ten years of credited service in the public schools of Connecticut; and (2) terminates service before becoming eligible for any other retirement benefit; and (3) leaves his or her accumulated contributions with the system.

(e) Disability retirement. Repealed by P.A. 79-541, S. 5, 6.

(f) Survivors' benefits. The survivors of a member who dies (1) while in service in the public schools of Connecticut, (2) within two months after withdrawal from such service and prior to the effective date of such member's retirement or (3) while receiving a disability benefit under section 10-183aa, shall receive survivors' benefits, except that, if a member who has elected a coparticipant option, under section 10-183j, dies after such option becomes effective, such coparticipant option shall be given effect and no survivors' benefits shall be payable. Before any survivors' benefits are paid, the board shall receive such applications and other documents and information as it deems necessary.

(g) Receipt of benefits. Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter, pursuant to Section 401(a)(9) of the Internal Revenue Code, a member shall begin receiving benefits under this chapter no later than April first of the calendar year following the calendar year in which (1) the member attains age seventy and one-half, or (2) if the member retires after age seventy and one-half, the member retires.

(P.A. 78-208, S. 5, 35; P.A. 79-459, S. 1; 79-541, S. 5, 6; P.A. 81-278; P.A. 83-449, S. 3, 5; P.A. 97-301, S. 2, 10; P.A. 08-76, S. 6; P.A. 10-22. S. 1.)

History: P.A. 79-459 amended Subsec. (a) to delete requirement that last 5 years of credit service be consecutive; P.A. 79-541 repealed Subsec. (e) re disability retirement, effective January 1, 1980; P.A. 81-278 extended early retirement benefit eligibility to any member who is 55 years of age and has 20 years of credited service, at least 15 of which are service in Connecticut public schools, the last 5 of which are consecutive; P.A. 83-449 amended Subsec. (f) by adding provision that survivors of a member who dies “(3) while receiving a disability benefit under section 10-183aa” shall receive survivors' benefits; P.A. 97-301 amended Subsecs. (b) to (d), inclusive, to delete requirement that with respect to the number of years of credited service in Connecticut public schools needed for eligibility for a retirement benefit, the last 5 must be consecutive, effective September 1, 1997; P.A. 08-76 added Subsec. (g) specifying dates by which members must begin receiving benefits under chapter, effective May 27, 2008; P.A. 10-22 amended Subsec. (d) by deleting provision re payment of benefits upon completion of credited service after age 60, effective May 5, 2010.

See Secs. 10-183aa, 10-183bb re disability retirement.