Retirement Benefits
Membership
Membership in a contributory retirement system is mandatory for nearly all public employees who are regularly employed working 18.75 hours per week.
Contributions
Employees contributions:
*Membership commenced prior to January 1, 1975 must contribute 5%.
*Membership commenced on or after January 1, 1975 and prior to January 1, 1984
must contribute 7%.
*January 1, 1984 - December 31, 1996 must contribute 8%.
*Membership commenced on or after January 1, 1997 must contribute 9%.
If membership began after January 1, 1979 and your annual rate of regular compensation is $30,00 or more, the governmental unit for which you work will withhold 2% of that portion of your rate of regular compensation, which is in excess of $30,000.
Creditable Service
In general, you earn creditable service toward your retirement allowance for the period during which you contribute the appropriate percentage of your salary to the retirement system. In no event shall a member be credited with more than one year of creditable service during any one calendar year.
Eligibility for Retirement
You are eligible to retire at any age if you have twenty years of creditable service, or ten years of creditable service at the age of 55.
Enrollment Forms
The New Member Enrollment Form allows a newly hired employee to apply for membership in a public retirement system. This form must be completed by any eligible new employee regardless of his or her past employment with any governmental entity. Certain information on this form must be provided by the Human Resources Department and verified by the Retirement Board, A birth certificate is required for verification of age.
Beneficiary Forms
The beneficiary form allows a member to select an eligible beneficiary to receive an allowance if the member dies before retirement and to select a beneficiary(ies) to receive payment of accumulated deductions and other payments due to a member if the member dies before retirement.
Retirement Office Location
The West Springfield Retirement Office is located on the second floor of the Municipal Office Building at 26 Central Street. To receive a retirement guide booklet, or for other questions, please call (413) 263-3013.
| 
