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2. The Employees' Retirement System of Rhode Island (back to main index)

The Employees' Retirement System of Rhode Island is a contributory retirement system governed by Chapters 16, 36 and 45 of the Rhode Island General Laws. The plan provides retirement, disability and survivor benefits to state employees, public school teachers, and municipal employees who are employed by a participating municipality.

A2. "Who governs the Employees' Retirement System of Rhode Island?"

The Employees' Retirement System of Rhode Island is governed by a retirement board. The board, which meets the second Wednesday of each month, establishes rules and regulations for the agency. The board also approves each application for disability benefits and hears appeals by members who have been aggrieved by an administrative decision of the executive director. Finally, the Board oversees the delivery of services and information to its membership of over 32,000 active members and 19,000 benefit recipients. The retirement office staff is managed by an executive director who oversees a staff of 25 full-time employees.

The Board is composed of fifteen members chosen in accordance with Chapter 36 of the Rhode Island General Laws and is chaired by the General Treasurer. Its membership includes:

General Treasurer;
the director of administration or designee;
the budget officer or designee;
appointees of the Governor, subject to Senate approval;
appointees of the General Treasurer, subject to Senate approval;
President of the League of Cities and Town or designee;
active state employees or union representatives elected by the state membership;
active teacher or union representatives elected by the teacher membership;
municipal member or union representative elected by the municipal membership;
retired member elected by the plan retirees
chairperson of the House Finance Committee or designee;
chairperson of the Senate Finance Committee or designee;
public representative appointed by the Governor with a Certified Life Underwriter designation;
public representative appointed by the Governor.

For those members elected by the membership or appointed by the Governor, the term of office is four years.

Q1. Who is eligible to become a member of the Employees' Retirement System of Rhode Island?

Q2. Am I required to become a member of the system?

Q3. How much am I required to contribute?

Q4. What does the state or municipality contribute to the retirement system?

Q5. What happens to the money that I contribute to the system?

Q6. How are my contributions invested?

Q7. How much will I receive in retirement benefits?

Q8. When can I retire?

Q9. If I leave my job, can I receive a refund of my contributions?

Q10. What happens if I leave my job, but am eligible for benefits upon reaching retirement age?

Q11. If I leave my money in the system until I reach retirement age, will you automatically send me my benefit when I'm eligible to start collecting?

* Those public employees whose municipalities have Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) provisions, or police and fire members whose municipalities have accepted the 20-year plan, contribute an extra 1% into the retirement system.

Your contributions to the Employees' and Municipal Employees' Retirement System of Rhode Island are deposited into a trust fund set aside for the exclusive benefit of the members of the retirement system and their beneficiaries.

The investments of the fund are managed by the nine-member State Investment Commission (SIC), which is chaired by the General Treasurer. The other members of the SIC are the state's Director of Administration, the Chairmen of the House and Senate Finance Committees, the Chairman of the Higher Education Assistance Authority, a member of the retirement system (or union official) appointed by the General Treasurer, and three members appointed by the Governor.

The SIC meets monthly to review and analyze the investment performance of the state's pension fund. The commission invests 425 of the fund in US. stocks and 30% in U.S. bonds. The remainder of the funds is invested in alternative, real estate and international investments.

The amount of your retirement allowance will be determined by two factors: your years of creditable service and your average salary for your three highest consecutive years. The factors used to determine your allowance vary according to your plan membership.

The laws governing your retirement differ according to your status as a state employee, public school teacher, or municipal employee. However, as of June 16, 1991, members of the Employees' Retirement System of Rhode Island must have 10 years of contributing service to retire. As of December 31, 1992, members of the Municipal Retirement System must have 10 years of contributing service to retire.

If you are a state employee or public school teacher, you can retire with 28 years of service or at age 60 with 10 years of contributing service if you are under "Schedule A," vested as of 7/1/05. If you are a state employee or public school teacher vested after 7/1/05, you will retire under "Schedule B" and may retire at age 65 with 10 years of service, or at age 59 with 29 years of service.

If you are a municipal employee, you must have 30 years of service or have reached age 58 with 10 years of contributing service.

If you are a police & fire member, you can retire with 25 years of service or at age 55 with 10 years of contributing service. If your municipality has adopted such a plan, you may also be eligible to retire at age 50 with 20 years of service.

In all cases, prior to retirement you must sign a statement indicating that you have not been convicted of or pled guilty to any crime related to your public office or public employment, as defined in R.I.G.L. Section 36-10.1-2.

Q1. When can I retire?

Q2. What are the retirement options available?

Q3. Will I receive a Cost of Living Adjustment?

Q4. How do I apply for retirement?

Q5. When will I get my first benefit check?

Q6. What exactly is COBRA?

Q7. What happens when COBRA ends?

Q8. Will my health benefits change when COBRA ends?

Q9. What are my options for health coverage?

Q10. Can I go with another health plan you don't offer?

Q11. I don't like the health plan I switched to on my own. Can I switch back to an ERSRI plan?

Q12. How will I know when there is an Open Enrollment?

Q13. Will I have to pay income tax on my retirement allowance?

Q14. Can I have income tax withheld from my retirement allowance?

Q15. Can I have other deductions, too?

Q16. Can I go back to work after I retire?

Q17. May I work part time for an ERSRI employer?

Q18. May I work under 90 days as a substitute teacher, and also work at a state school up to $12,000?

Q19. Do I have to report my post-retirement employment?

Q20. What if I exceed my limit?

The laws governing your retirement differ according to your status as a state employee, public school teacher, or municipal employee. However, as of June 16, 1991, members of the Employees' Retirement System of Rhode Island must have 10 years of contributing service to retire. As of December 31, 1992, members of the Municipal Retirement System must have 10 years of contributing service to retire.

If you are a state employee or public school teacher, you can retire with 28 years of service or at age 60 with 10 years of contributing service service if you are in Schedule A (vested as of 7/1/05). Schedule B members (vested after 7/1/05) may retire at age 65 with 10 years of service, or at age 59 with 29 years of service.

If you are a municipal employee, you must have 30 years of service or have reached age 58 with 10 years of contributing service.

If you are a police & fire member, you can retire with 25 years of service or at age 55 with 10 years of contributing service. If your municipality has adopted such a plan, you may also be eligible to retire at age 50 with 20 years of service.

In all cases, prior to retirement you must sign a statement indicating that you have not been convicted of or pled guilty to any crime related to your public office or public employment, as defined in R.I.G.L. Section 36-10.1-2.

Schedule A public school teachers and state employees receive a 3% compounded COLA the third January following retirement and every January thereafter. Thus, if you are a Schedule A state employee or public school teacher and retired in August 2000, your first COLA was be reflected in your January 2003 pension benefit.

Municipal employees receive a cost-of-living adjustment only if the municipality from which the member is retiring has adopted a COLA provision. If the COLA has been adopted, it is 3% non-compounded effective on the next January following your retirement.

Schedule B Retirees receive COLA beginning the month after the 3^rd anniversary date of retirement, the lesser of 3% or the CPI-U as of September 30 of the prior calendar year, compounded annually.

COBRA is a federal law that allows employees who are losing their medical coverage to purchase from their employer,at full cost and for up to 18 months, the same benefits that they received as an active employee.

When going on COBRA, you may switch to any other health plan offered by your employer. While on COBRA, you may also maintain any dental or vision plan you had as an active employee.

Payment for COBRA is arranged through your employer; deductions cannot be taken from your pension benefit.

If you are a state benefit recipient, a Retirement Counselor will help you complete the proper paperwork if you choose COBRA. However, billing for COBRA health care is handled by the State Employee Benefits Office. They will send you an initial bill indicating your monthly premium. You will not receive a monthly bill, but you must pay the monthly premium on time.

If you are a municipal or teacher benefit recipient, your COBRA benefits will be administered and billed through your former employer. Contact your personnel officer for assistance.

If you are a municipal employee, your health coverage is arranged through your former employer. Please contact them for information.

If you are a teacher, your employer may offer health coverage, or you may join a group health plan through ERSRI. If you join an ERSRI plan, you will pay the full group rate for the plan of your choice, and premiums will be deducted monthly from your pension benefit.

If you are a state employee, some or all of your benefit recipient health care cost may be picked up by the State of Rhode Island. If you are receiving full coverage, the state will pay for a basic health plan until age 65. If you choose a health plan offered by the state other than the basic plan, there may be an additional cost to you which will be deducted from your pension benefit.

At age 65, if you receive full coverage, the state will pay for an over 65 "medigap" plan used in conjunction with Medicare Parts A and B from Social Security. If you have documented proof of ineligibility for Medicare, the state will pay an amount equal to the amount the state will contribute towards your health plan is dependent upon the number of years you have credited in the retirement system when you retire from the State of Rhode Island; see the charts below.

At age 65 you must have Parts A and B of Medicare from Social Security to participate in an over-65 plan. The state share is as follows:

You may have federal and Rhode Island state withholding deducted from your retirement allowance. To do this, you must complete tax form W4P when you retire.

The Retirement Office is required by law to inform all benefit recipients that they may elect to have federal income tax withheld from their monthly benefit allowances. You may be subject to tax penalties on your retirement income if you fail to pay or withhold sufficient tax.

You cannot have state income tax deducted from your retirement benefit for a state other than Rhode Island.

You may not go back to work full time for the State of Rhode Island, any Rhode Island municipality or any participating ERSRI unit and receive a retirement allowance from the State of Rhode Island without suspending your pension.

If you do choose to return to work full time for the State of Rhode Island or in a Rhode Island municipality or any participating ERSRI unit, your pension will be suspended. Also, retirement contributions will not be deducted from your wages, nor will you receive further service credit for working after retirement.

You may work full time for any federal agency or private company.

You may not work for any state agency or department on a part-time basis. You may work part time on a limited basis for a Rhode Island municipality or public school system, or Rhode Island state school, college or university, or as a nurse at a state operated facility. Please read the limitations below.

75-day Rule for Working in a participating R.I. Municipality or Public School: Municipal benefit recipients may return to work for a Rhode Island municipality or Rhode Island Public School system for 75 full days or 150 half days per calendar year. For retirement purposes, 3 hours or less equals a half day; anything over 3 hours shall be considered a full day. For municipal benefit recipients working in a public school system, the Retirement Office will calculate days worked based on a school year (September 1st - August 31st).

90-day Rule for Substitute Teaching in a R.I. Public School or State School: If you are a retired teacher, you may substitute in a Rhode Island public school for 90 full days or 180 half days (3 hours or less) per school year (September 1st - August 31st).

Retired Teachers Working in a vacant position: If you are a retired teacher and return to work in a RI public school in any position other than substitute, you may do so upto 90 days in a school year provide the employing department certifies they have made a good faith effort to fill the position with a non-retire person. . See the Membership & Retirement handbook for further details and reporting requirements.

Teaching at a Rhode Island State School, College or University: If you retired from a state school, college or university, or are a retired teacher, you may teach at a state school, college or university after retirement, subject to a gross wage limit of $15,000 per calendar year.

Teaching Driver’s Education or Motorcycle Driver’s Education: If you are a retired teacher, you may teach Driver's Ed or Motorcycle Driver's Ed, but you are subject to a gross wage limit of $15,000 per calendar year.

Registered Nurses: Any member who retired from service as a registered nurse may work on a per diem basis to provide professional nursing care and/or services at a state operated facility in Rhode Island, subject to a gross wage limit of $12,000 per calendar year.

Yes. In all cases, you and your employer are required by law to report your workdays or wages, whichever is applicable. Your employing unit has been provided with forms to report monthly on your post-retirement employment, and they can be downloaded off the "ERSRI Forms" link at the top of this page. You should sign a form each month, before your employer submits it to the Retirement Office. Forms are available at the Retirement Office.

Check with your employer to ensure that proper reporting is completed each month.

Q1. Must I name a beneficiary?

Q2. What is the standard death benefit?

Q3. If I die before I retire, what happens to the money I’ve contributed to the system?

Q4. What if I die shortly after I retire?

For ERSRI or MERS members, the benefit is $800 per year of service, up to a maximum $16,000. This amount is reduced 25% every year after retirement, but not below the minimum benefit of $4,000.

Even if you've chosen an option where your pension ends when you die, your beneficiary is still entitled to a standard death benefit.

If you have under ten years of service at the time of your death, your beneficiary will be entitled to a return of your contributions, in addition to the standard death benefit.

If you have over ten years of service and have completed an Optional Annuity Protection form, your beneficiary will have the option of receiving either a return of your contributions or a monthly annuity, in addition to the standard death benefit. Spouses automatically get this option provided the member had over ten years of service and the spouse was the sole beneficiary.

No matter which pension benefit payment option you choose, your beneficiary is entitled to the standard death benefit described above. If you have chosen Option #1 or Option #2, your beneficiary will receive his/her predetermined monthly benefit.

If you have chosen the SRA/Maximum Plan or SRA Plus (Social Security Option) and you die before an amount equal to your contributions has been returned to you through monthly benefits, your beneficiary will be entitled to a return of your unpaid contributions as well as the standard death benefit.

6. Service Credit (back to main index)

Q1. How do I receive credit towards my retirement allowance?

Q2. Are there other types of credit that I may purchase?

Q3. When can I purchase creditable service?

Q4. How do I purchase creditable service?

A1. "How do I receive credit towards my retirement allowance?"

Generally, the number of years you have worked and contributed to the retirement system will determine the amount of your retirement allowance. If you are a state or municipal employee, you will receive one year of retirement credit for each year worked. You must have worked a minimum of 20 hours per week. Casual or seasonal employment is excluded. Contact, temporary, and limited position employment are also generally excluded as casual employment, or employment for a special project, which is prohibited.
If you are a teacher, you will receive a year of retirement credit for each school year in which you are employed and contribute at least 135 days.

Membership in other Participating Plans or Units
Time spent within other participating plans or units of the retirement system can be used towards your eventual retirement. For example, if you were employed by both the Town of Bristol and the State of Rhode Island (not concurrently), you may count both service periods towards your eventual retirement. Municipal credit must have been earned within a participating unit of the Municipal Retirement System.

Return to Main Index

A2. "Are there other types of credit that I may purchase?"

Yes, a member may be eligible to purchase other types of credit. A total of five years of purchased service credit may be added to your total years of service, but as of June 16, 1991 for state employees and December 31, 1992 for municipal employees, you must have ten years of contributing service in order to retire. Service credit purchases are not considered contributing service. Here is a description of the various types of credit you may be eligible to purchase as a member of the Employees or Municipal Retirement System:

Restoration of Service Credit
If you return to membership after withdrawing your contributions upon separation from service, you may restore your credits after completing one year of service from the date of your return. You must pay into the system the amount you had refunded to you, plus interest.

Official Leave of Absence
You may purchase up to four years of credit for time spent on an Official Leave of absence from your employment, as certified by your employer. You must pay into the system the amount you would have contributed to the system, plus interest. Certain restrictions may apply regarding when you must have returned to work at the end of the leave, depending on your employment. In general, you may only purchase such time provided you have returned to active employment for at least one year.

Official Lay-off
You may purchase up to one year of credit for time spent on an official lay-off, provided you were not on official leave without pay and did not withdraw your retirement contributions while laid off. The cost of this purchase will be the amount you would have contributed to the system but for the lay-off, plus interest.

Military Service Credit
You may purchase up to a maximum of four years credit for time spent on active duty for service in the US Armed Services or Reserves or the Merchant Marine. The purchase of credit is based upon 10% of your first full year of earnings. If you began your membership in the system after July 1, 1980, you may buy your military credits interest free provided they are purchased within your first five years of membership in the system.

Out-of-State and Private School Teaching
If you are a public school teacher within the State of Rhode Island, you are eligible to purchase up to five years of out-of-state teaching or private school teaching time. You will be charged the full actuarial value of such time based on your age and salary at the time of the purchase.

Credit for Service in a Non-Participating Municipality
Members may purchase service credit for time spent within other municipalities within Rhode Island that are not part of MERS. For example, you might be eligible to purchase time spent working for the City of Providence (which is not a MERS plan). You will be charged full actuarial value based on your age and salary at the time of the purchase.

Return to Main Index

A3. "When can I purchase creditable service?"

You must be an active member of the retirement system in order to purchase retirement credit. You cannot purchase time towards your retirement after you retire or terminate.

Return to Main Index

A4. "How do I purchase creditable service?"

See the Service Credit Info section on this website. Additional information about the purchase process is available upon request to the Member Services Department.

You can also download the forms necessary to purchase service through this website.

Return to Main Index

Q1. What happens if I should become permanently disabled while a member of the Employees' Retirement System of Rhode Island?

Q2. Are there different types of disability benefits?

Q3. Who makes the decision to grant disability benefits?

Q4. Can anyone apply for accidental disability benefits?

Q5. What will I receive if I am granted an accidental disability retirement allowance?

Q6. Under what options can I receive my accidental disability retirement?

Q7. Can anyone apply for ordinary disability benefits?

Q8. What will I receive if I am granted ordinary disability benefits?

Q9. Under what options can I receive ordinary disability benefits?

Q10. Should I resign my present position if I am going to apply for disability benefits?

Q11. How do I go about applying for disability benefits?

Q12. What happens after my disability application is complete?

Q13. What can you tell me about the medical examinations?

Q14. Where and when will the medical exams take place?

Q15. What happens after the medical exams are complete?

Q16. What happens if the Disability Sub-Committee fails to certify that I am disabled?

Q17. After my case has been approved by the Board, how long will it take before I receive my first check?

Q18. What if I am receiving Worker's Compensation benefits at the time I am awarded accidental disability benefits?

Q19. Will I receive a Cost-of-Living Adjustment on my disability retirement?

Q20. Will I have to pay state and federal income tax on my disability benefit?

Q21. Can I have my check sent directly to my bank?

Q22. Can I continue my health coverage on disability retirement?

Q23. I am a disabled state employee. Will the state pay for any part of my medical coverage?

Q24. If I am not a state employee, do I qualify for any state-paid medical coverage?

Q25. What percentage will the state pay at age 60 for state employee disability recipients?

Q26. Because I understand that Medicare and Medigap insurance does not cover prescriptions, do I have to take Medicare and Medigap insurance at age 65?

Q27. If I don't accept the Medigap insurance at age 65, will the state continue paying a portion of my insurance as a state disability benefit recipient?

Q28. Are there any restrictions on what I may earn once I have been granted disability benefits?

Q29. How much money can I make and still be eligible to receive my full disability benefits?

Q30. Once I am retired on a disability retirement, will I ever be re-examined?

Yes, there are different types of disability benefits. Accidental disability benefits are available to those individuals who find themselves physically or mentally incapacitated as a result of their work. In other words, the individual's disability is causally related to his/her employment; and, but for his/her employment, the individual would not be disabled.

There are also ordinary disability benefits. You should apply for ordinary disability benefits if the reason for your disability is independent of your employment as a public employee.

The Employees' Retirement Board of Rhode Island makes the decision to grant disability benefits. However, in granting benefits they must adhere to the legal standard regarding disability found in the Rhode Island General Laws. In awarding an accidental disability benefit, the board must find:

that the member is physically or mentally incapacitated for the performance of service as the result of an accident while in the performance of duty. The disability cannot be the result of willful negligence or misconduct on the part of the member, nor can the disability be the result of age or length of service.

In reviewing an application for accidental disability, the Board will be particularly interested in the relationship between your disability and the accident which is said to have caused your condition. It will examine all the documents you have submitted which relate to your accident or injury and in many instances will confer either by phone or in writing with your employer and those individuals who have witnessed the event.

In granting an ordinary disability benefit, the Board need only find:

that the member is physically or mentally incapacitated for the performance of duty and ought to be retired.

In every case of disability retirement, the Board is legally prohibited from granting you benefits unless you meet certain requirements described in this handbook.

Any state employee, public school teacher, or municipal employee who is contributing a percentage of his/her salary to the Employees' Retirement System of Rhode Island and who has not attained the age of sixty-five is eligible to apply for accidental disability benefits. There are no service requirements.

You must file your accidental disability application within 5 years of the date of the injury. If you are a state employee or teacher and you have a re-injury, your application must be filed within 3 years of the re-injury or aggravation.

If you are granted accidental disability benefits, you will receive a pension that is equal to sixty-six and two-thirds of your annual compensation as of the date of your retirement from service.

Example:

$30,000 x 66-2/3% = $20,000
(salary) (accidental disability benefit)

You may receive your accidental disability retirement benefit under the Service Retirement Allowance (SRA), Option 1 or Option 2. You cannot elect the Social Security Option if you are receiving an accidental disability retirement.

Here is an explanation of the retirement options that are available to you as an accidental disability benefit recipient:

Service Retirement Allowance/Maximum Plan

The Service Retirement Allowance for accidental disability is based on sixty-six and two-thirds (66 2/3) percent of your salary as a public employee at the time of your retirement.

You receive more money under the Service Retirement Allowance than you do under Option 1 or Option 2. Upon your death, however, all pension payments will stop. Furthermore, a retiree who selects the Service Retirement Allowance cannot change his/her retirement option after the date of retirement.

Option # 1/Joint and Survivor Full

Option #1 provides that upon the retiree's death, the beneficiary will receive for his/her lifetime the same retirement allowance as was received by the member. Thus, there will be an initial actuarial reduction in the retirement amount granted to the retiree/member of the retirement system. Should you select Option #1, you are given the right to change your retirement option one time only provided the retiree and the beneficiary have not divorced.

Option #2/Joint and Survivor Half

Option #2 provides that upon the retiree's death, the beneficiary will receive for his/her lifetime a retirement allowance that is equal to half the retirement allowance that was received by the member. Should you select Option #2, you are given the right to change your retirement option provided the retiree and the beneficiary have not divorced. You may elect to change your retirement option only once.

The ERSRI Handbook on Retirement contains detailed information about the different retirement options, including Schedule A and Schedule B pension calculation. View this publication.

If you are granted ordinary disability benefits, you will receive a retirement allowance that is equal to what you would have received had you retired with a Service Retirement Allowance, under either Schedule A for persons vested as of 7/1/05, or Schedule B for persons vested after 7/1/05. If you have less than 10 years of service, your ordinary disability benefit will be computed as if you had 10 years of service.

Here are some examples. The first is a state employee with 7 years of service and an average salary of $25,000 at the time of his retirement, calculated under Schedule A.

Example 1

State Employee
Service: 7 years (bumped up to 10 years)
Average Salary at time of Retirement: $25,000

Ordinary Disability Benefit/SRA:
First 10 years x 1.7% = 17% Total Percentage
17% x $25,000 = $4,250 yearly for life
(ordinary disability benefit)

The second is a municipal employee with 25 years of service and an annual salary of $24,000 at the time of his retirement.

Example 2

Municipal Employee
Service: 25 years of service
Average Salary at time of Retirement: $24,000

Ordinary Disability Benefit/SRA:
25 years x 2.0% = 50% Total Percentage
50% x $24,000 = $12,000 yearly for life
(ordinary disability benefit)

The physicians are required to submit a narrative regarding his/her examination of the applicant and to sign a certificate as to whether, in his/her opinion, you are disabled, and in the case of accidental disability, whether your disability is causally related to your injury or accident.

The Disability Sub-Committee of the Employees' Retirement System of Rhode Island will then meet to review all of the evidence, both medical and non-medical, that has been filed regarding your case. The Disability Sub-Committee makes its recommendation to the full board who will then formally approve or deny the application.

If the Sub-Committee denies your request for a disability benefit, you may appeal and appear in person before the Disability Sub-Committee. The Sub-Committee will listen to whatever additional evidence you present regarding your case including any additional medical documentation which you have amassed. Although it is not required, an applicant may choose to be represented by counsel before either the Disability Sub-Committee.

Should the Disability Sub-Committee ultimately deny your case, the applicant may request a further appeal before the entire Retirement Board.

State employees receive a cost-of-living adjustment added to their monthly disability benefit check effective January 1st of the third year of retirement. Only those teachers on ordinary disability receive a cost-of- living adjustment. Teachers on accidental disability retirement do not. If you are entitled to a COLA, you will receive an additional 3% compounded COLA each year.

Municipal employees receive a cost-of-living adjustment only if the municipality from which the member is retiring has adopted a COLA provision. If the COLA has been adopted, the municipal benefit recipients receive a 3% cost-of-living adjustment on the next January following their retirement date. The 3% annual adjustment is not compounded.

It depends. If you are a Rhode Island resident, you will have to pay state and federal income tax on the ordinary disability benefits you receive from the State of Rhode Island. Different rules may apply if you are a resident of another state.

Accidental disability benefits from ERSRI are not taxable.

The portion paid is based on the following chart:

Yes. Once each year, the retirement board can require a disability retiree under 65 to submit to a medical examination. If the medical examination determines that the applicant can be engaged in a gainful occupation, his or her name can be placed on appropriate lists for qualified positions in his/her department.

Should a disability recipient refuse to submit to a medical examination, his or her benefit shall be discontinued until the recipient agrees to the exam. Should the recipient's refusal extend for more than one year, all rights to the disability award shall be revoked.

8. Police and Fire (back to main index)

Q1. Who is eligible to become a police and fire member of the Employees' Retirement System of Rhode Island?

Q2. Am I required to become a member of the system?

Q3. How much am I required to contribute?

Q4. What does the municipality contribute to the retirement system?

Q5. What happens to the money that I contribute to the system?

Q6. How are my contributions invested?

Q7. When can I retire?

Q8. How do I receive credit towards my retirement allowance?

Q9. Are there other types of credit that I may purchase?

Q10. What about my service as a call firefighter? May I purchase such time?

Q11. When must I purchase creditable service?

Q12. How do I purchase creditable service?

Q13. How does the Employees' Retirement System determine my retirement allowance?

Q14. Is there a limit to the amount of retirement benefit that I can receive?

Q15. What happens if I leave my job before I am eligible for benefits?

Q16. Will I have a choice of retirement options?

Q17. I don't understand the different options. Can you explain to me how they work?

Q18. What are the different option factors?

Q19. Why do I need to select a beneficiary if I've chosen SRA?

Q20. What is the amount of the death benefit to which my beneficiary is entitled?

Q21. What happens if I should become permanently disabled while a member of the police or fire department?

Q22. Are there different types of disability benefits?

Q23. Who makes the decision to grant disability benefits?

Q24. Can anyone apply for accidental disability benefits?

Q25. What will I receive if I am granted accidental disability retirement allowance?

Q26. Under what options can I receive my accidental disability retirement?

Q27. Can anyone apply for ordinary disability benefits?

Q28. What will I receive if I am granted ordinary disability benefits?

Q29. Under what options can I receive ordinary disability benefits?

Q30. What happens should a member lose his/her life in the line of duty?

Q31. What will my spouse receive under the accidental death statute?

Q32. How do I go about applying for my retirement?

Q33. When I retire, how will I be covered for health insurance?

Q34. Will I have to pay state and federal income tax on my retirement allowance?

Q35. Can I have federal income tax withheld from my retirement allowance?

Q36. Can I have my check sent directly to my bank?

Q37. Can I work after I retire?

Q38. Will cost-of-living adjustments be added to my retirement allowance each year?

Q39. If I should die before I retire, what benefits would my survivor be entitled to?

The amount that you contribute to the system is based on the type of retirement plan that has been selected by your participating municipality:

* Those public safety members whose municipalities have COLA provisions pay an extra one percent into the retirement system.