TSERS Approval Process for Payment of Discontinued Service Retirement

1) Employer determines employee’s eligibility for Discontinued Service Retirement in accordance with N.C.G.S. 126-8.5 and requests a calculation of the cost.

Eligibility – Discontinued Service Retirement
Employees age 50 to 55 with not less than 20 years of creditable service may be eligible for a reduced monthly retirement benefit. The reduction is equal to ¼ of 1% (3% per year) for each month that a retirement precedes a member’s 55th birthday.

Employees age 55 or older, with not less than 20 years of creditable service may be eligible for an unreduced monthly retirement benefit.

2) Employer sends letter or email to N.C. Teachers’ and State Employees’ Retirement System (TSERS) to request calculation of Discontinued Service Retirement and provides the following information:

• Name, address and phone number of employer and employer contact
• Member’s Name and ID# (or Last 4 Digits of SS#)
• Member’s Date of DSR (retirement date)
• Member’s Last Day Worked
• Member’s Annual Leave Balance (Hours)
• Member’s Bonus Leave Balance (Hours)
• Member’s Sick Leave Balance (Hours or Days)

Contact the Retirement Systems Division at NCRetirement@nctreasurer.com

5) If the employer decides to pay the Discontinued Service Retirement, a request must be sent to the Office of State Personnel along with supporting documentation to include:

• A statement that a RIF has occurred in accordance with State Personnel policy and why it has occurred.
• Name of employer and name, mailing address, e-mail address, and telephone number of contact submitting the request.
• Information on the cost for payment of severance vs. discontinued service retirement.

This documentation should be sent to the Office of State Personnel