Probation and parole officers are eligible for some, but not all, law enforcement benefits. Probation and parole officers are eligible for Separate Insurance Benefits Plan, Special Separation Allowance and Line of Duty Death Benefit. Probation and parole officers are not eligible for automatic membership in the NC 401(k) Plan. If you do not qualify for TSERS LEO benefits, you may still qualify for retirement benefits as a TSERS.

As of July 1, 2017, probation and parole officers will earn service credit as a law enforcement officer (LEO). A current probation/parole officer with no prior service as a LEO must work at least five years (vesting) from this date to be eligible for an unreduced retirement as a LEO at age 55. Prior service as a non-LEO (including service as a probation or parole officer prior to July 1, 2017) will not count toward the five-year vesting as a LEO.

The special separation allowance is administered by the employer and has an additional eligibility requirement. Half of the creditable service must be as a LEO or as a probation/parole officer, and LEO service prior to July 1, 2017, may be used to meet this requirement. If a probation/parole officer had two years of prior probation/ parole officer or LEO service, the two years can be added to the LEO service accrued after July 1, 2017, to count toward separation allowance eligibility.