Plan Descriptions

NYCERS’ retirement plans are categorized into “tiers.” Currently, there are five distinct tiers: Tier 6, Tier 4, Tier 3, Tier 2 and Tier 1. (NYCERS does not have a Tier 5.) Generally, your job title and the date you joined NYCERS determine your tier placement. 

Most tiers consist of multiple retirement plans: a Basic Plan, and several Special Plans, reserved for certain job titles. Retirement plan benefits, eligibility rules, and transactional procedures are described in the plan’s brochure, which you can find organized by tier and linked below.   

Your retirement plan is determined by many factors, including your tier and job title. If you do not know your current tier and/or retirement plan, log in to your MyNYCERS account and both will be displayed in the Member Information tile on the homepage.  

For detailed retirement plan information, select your tier:

Tier 1

Generally, if you joined NYCERS prior to July 1, 1973, you are a Tier 1 member.

Tier 2

Generally, if you became a NYCERS member on or after July 1, 1973, and prior to July 27, 1976, you are a Tier 2 member.

Tier 3

You are a NYCERS Tier 3 member if you are a:

  • Uniformed Correction Force member who joined NYCERS on or after July 27, 1976; OR

  • Uniformed Sanitation Force members, Uniformed Correction Force members or District Attorney Investigators who became employed in such title on or after April 1, 2012, are enrolled into a modified Tier 3 22-Year Retirement Plan. 

Tier 4

If you joined NYCERS between July 27, 1976 and March 31, 2012, you are generally a NYCERS Tier 4 member, unless:  

  • You are a District Attorney Investigator and belong to Tier 2 (if you were employed in such a title before April 1, 2012) or Tier 3 (if you became employed in such a title after March 31, 2012); OR 

  • You are a Uniformed Correction Force member and belong to Tier 3; OR 

  • You are a Uniformed Sanitation Force member who became employed in such a title after March 31, 2012 and belong to Tier 3. 

Tier 6

If you joined NYCERS on or after April 1, 2012, you are a Tier 6 member. This applies to all titles, except the following:  

  • Uniformed Correction Force

  • District Attorney Investigator 

  • Uniformed Sanitation Force