When you can retire

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CSSB > Members > Late Career Member > When you can retire

When you can retire

Retirement ages 

Earliest retirement age: 55 

Latest retirement age: 71   

Exception: If you work in Corrections, you can retire as early as age 50 if your age and qualifying service total 75 or more (e.g., age 50 + 25 years of service = 75).

Important terms

Reduced pension: You receive a lower pension amount because you don’t meet certain criteria for age and years of service. 

Unreduced pension: You receive a full pension with no reductions because you meet certain criteria for age and years of service.    

Rule of 80: This means your age, plus qualifying service equal 80. For example, you are 59 and have 21 years of service. That’s 80. Meeting the Rule of 80 helps determine whether you qualify for an unreduced pension.

Qualifying service: A member’s full period of employment (or combined periods) excluding breaks of 54 weeks or more. Qualifying services determines when a member can receive a benefit.   

Reduced pension categories 

Example: If you retire at age 57 with 20 years of qualifying service, your total is 77. Since this is below 80, your pension is reduced.

Example: If you retire at age 56 with 8 years of qualifying service, your pension is reduced.

 

Unreduced pension categories 

Example: If you retire at age 59 with 19 years of qualifying service, your pension is unreduced.

Example: If you retire at age 61 with 11 years of qualifying service, your pension is unreduced. 

Example: If you retire at age 65 with five years of qualifying service, your pension is unreduced. 

Unreduced pension (71): must start pension no later than December of that year.  

Pension estimates

If you are registered for Online Services, you can run pension estimates any time. Estimates show your pension under both reduced and unreduced scenarios.

Be sure to add your spouse’s details to see different pension payment options. Our member services team can also run pension estimates if you are within two years of retirement. 

Resources

When you can retire

Retirement ages 

Earliest retirement age: 55 

Latest retirement age: 71   

Exception: If you work in Corrections, you can retire as early as age 50 if your age and qualifying service total 75 or more (e.g., age 50 + 25 years of service = 75).

Important terms

Reduced pension: You receive a lower pension amount because you don’t meet certain criteria for age and years of service. 

Unreduced pension: You receive a full pension with no reductions because you meet certain criteria for age and years of service.    

Rule of 80: This means your age, plus qualifying service equal 80. For example, you are 59 and have 21 years of service. That’s 80. Meeting the Rule of 80 helps determine whether you qualify for an unreduced pension.

Qualifying service: A member’s full period of employment (or combined periods) excluding breaks of 54 weeks or more. Qualifying services determines when a member can receive a benefit.   

Reduced pension categories 

Example: If you retire at age 57 with 20 years of qualifying service, your total is 77. Since this is below 80, your pension is reduced.

Example: If you retire at age 56 with 8 years of qualifying service, your pension is reduced.

 

Unreduced pension categories 

Example: If you retire at age 59 with 19 years of qualifying service, your pension is unreduced.

Example: If you retire at age 61 with 11 years of qualifying service, your pension is unreduced. 

Example: If you retire at age 65 with five years of qualifying service, your pension is unreduced. 

Unreduced pension (71): must start pension no later than December of that year.  

Pension estimates

If you are registered for Online Services, you can run pension estimates any time. Estimates show your pension under both reduced and unreduced scenarios.

Be sure to add your spouse’s details to see different pension payment options. Our member services team can also run pension estimates if you are within two years of retirement.