Summary of Plan - Plan B

This Plan is mandatory for all Non-Police full-time career Merit System employees hired on or after January 1, 1979, and for all Employees' Retirement System employees hired on or after March 1, 1994. Effective January 1, 2009 membership in Plan B is mandatory for part-time career employees, appointed officials, and employees exempt from the Merit System and appointed by the respective county planning board to serve as a director. The Plan is integrated with Social Security.

Employee Contributions

Plan B members contribute 3% of their base pay for each pay period up to the maximum Social Security Wage Base for that year, and 6% of their base pay in excess of the Social Security Wage Base.

Normal and Early Retirement Benefits

A member may retire with full benefits after attaining the age of 60 with at least five years of Credited Service, or after completing 30 years of Credited Service regardless of age. The annual amount of retirement benefits payable to a member from date of retirement to date of attaining statutory age of eligibility for full Social Security retirement benefits shall be 2% of Average Annual Earnings multiplied by years of Credited Service. After the date of eligibility for full Social Security retirement benefits, the amount payable shall be 1.5% of Average Annual Earnings up to the Social Security Covered Compensation Level, plus 2% of Average Annual Earnings in excess of the Social Security Covered Compensation Level, multiplied by years of Credited Service. A member may retire with reduced benefits after attaining the age of 55 with at least 15 years of Credited Service, or after completing 25 years of Credited Service regardless of age. The annual amount of retirement benefits payable will be reduced by 1/180 for each month by which the Early Retirement Date precedes the member's Normal Retirement Date.

Death Benefits

If a Participant is survived by a spouse, and the Participant dies as a result of a service-connected accident or illness, the spouse shall be entitled to an annual benefit, payable until death, in an amount equal to the greater of the following:

(a) An amount equal to the benefit at his/her Normal Retirement Date on the basis that the deceased had continued as a Participant, at the same Base Pay received during his/her last completed year of employment; or

(b) 25% of the Final Annual Base Pay of the Participant.

If a Participant is survived by a spouse, and the Participant dies as a result of a non-service-connected accident or illness, the spouse shall be entitled to an annual benefit, payable until death, in an amount equal to 25% of the Final Annual Base Pay of the Participant.

In both instances of service-connected and non-service-connected death, if a Participant does not leave a surviving spouse entitled to the benefits, or if the surviving spouse should die, then benefits shall be payable to the surviving children. Children shall receive benefits until they reach the age of 18, or the age of 23 if a full-time student. If the surviving children are totally disabled and incapable of self-support, then benefits are payable until their death.

See the publication Summary Plan Description (SPD) - Plan B and the Summary Description of Material Modifications (SMM) - Plan B for more information.

If any information conflicts with the Retirement Plan Document, the terms of the Retirement Plan Document shall prevail.