(a) Normal retirement. The normal retirement benefit shall be two per cent times the number of years of full-time credited service and a proportional fraction of two per cent times the number of years of credited service at less than full-time multiplied by average annual salary. In no event, however, shall such benefit exceed seventy-five per cent of such salary or be less than three thousand six hundred dollars.

(b) Proratable retirement. The proratable retirement benefit shall be computed as follows: Average annual salary multiplied by (1) number of years of credited service in the public schools of Connecticut multiplied by the applicable percentage based on age and service as determined from the table below, and (2) number of years of all additional credited service not used in subdivision (1) of this subsection multiplied by one per cent.

TABLE

AGE OF RETIREMENT

(c) Early retirement. The early retirement benefit shall be computed in the same manner as the normal retirement benefit, then actuarially reduced, on the basis of early retirement tables adopted from time to time by the board, for each month early retirement precedes the minimum age at which the member could have retired with a normal retirement benefit pursuant to subsection (a) of § 10-183f. On and after July 1, 1999, any revisions to the early retirement tables shall be submitted to the Office of Policy and Management and the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to appropriations and the budgets of state agencies within one month of their adoption by the board. Any such revisions shall be accompanied by an actuarial certification of the costs associated with such revisions.

(d) Deferred vested retirement. The deferred vested retirement benefit shall be computed as follows: Average annual salary multiplied by (1) number of years of credited service in the public schools of Connecticut multiplied by two per cent, then actuarially reduced in the same manner as the early retirement benefit if the years of service which could have been rendered were less than twenty years by age sixty or by the subsequent date of retirement, and (2) number of years of all additional credited service not used in subdivision (1) of this subsection multiplied by one per cent.

(e) Disability retirement. Repealed by P.A. 79-541, S. 5, 6.

(f) Lump sum payment or annuity. (1) Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, in addition to a retirement benefit computed under subsections (a) to (d), inclusive, of this section and a disability allowance under subsections (a) to (g), inclusive, of § 10-183aa, a member shall receive a lump sum payment equal to the member’s accumulated one per cent contributions withheld prior to July 1, 1989, and any voluntary contributions, with credited interest. Such lump sum shall be paid not later than three months after (A) the effective date of retirement, or (B) the date the first payment of a disability allowance under § 10-183aa, is made, except the board may delay payment of such lump sum in extenuating circumstances. In the case of a delay in payment of the lump sum in extenuating circumstances, the board shall provide notice in writing to the member explaining the nature of the extenuating circumstances necessitating a delay in payment and an estimated time when the board expects to make the payment to the member.

(2) In lieu of such lump sum, the member may elect to receive an actuarially equivalent annuity for life. Payment of such annuity shall commence when the first payment of the retirement benefit computed under subsections (a) to (d), inclusive, of this section or a disability allowance under subsections (a) to (g), inclusive, of § 10-183aa whichever is earlier, is made.

(g) Commencing date for payment. A member’s complete formal application for retirement, if sent by mail, shall be deemed to have been filed with the board on the date such application is postmarked. No benefit computed under subsections (a) to (d), inclusive, of this section and under subsections (a) to (g), inclusive, of § 10-183aa shall become effective until a member eligible for retirement under § 10-183f files with the board a complete formal application for retirement and terminates service with such member’s employer. Such benefit shall accrue from the first day of the month following the calendar month in which such application is filed and payment of such benefit in equal monthly installments shall commence on the last day of the month in which such benefit begins to accrue. The initial payment of such benefit may be made not later than three months following the effective date of retirement, provided such payment shall be retroactive to such effective date. Upon a finding that extenuating circumstances relating to the health of a member caused a delay in the filing of the member’s complete formal application, and such application is filed on or after July 1, 1986, the board may deem such application to have been filed up to three months earlier than the actual date of the filing. Upon a finding that extenuating circumstances related to the health of a member caused a delay in the filing of an election pursuant to subsection (g) of § 10-183aa, and such election is filed on or after July 1, 1986, the board may deem such election to have been filed as of the date such member’s benefits would otherwise have been converted to a normal retirement benefit under this section.

(h) Termination at death of member. (1) A benefit computed under subsections (a) to (d), inclusive, of this section and under subsections (a) to (g), inclusive, of § 10-183aa shall continue until the death of the member.

(2) For any member who accumulates ten years of credited service in the public schools of Connecticut prior to July 1, 2019, the member’s designated beneficiary shall be paid on the death of the member a lump sum amount equal to the sum of such member’s accumulated regular contributions, including any one per cent contributions withheld prior to July 1, 1989, and any voluntary contributions plus credited interest that had been accrued to the date benefits commenced, less an amount equal to twenty-five per cent of the aggregate benefits paid to such member through the month of the member’s death.

(3) For any member who accumulates ten years of credited service in the public schools of Connecticut on or after July 1, 2019, the member’s designated beneficiary shall be paid on the death of the member a lump sum amount equal to the sum of such member’s accumulated regular contributions, including any one per cent contributions withheld prior to July 1, 1989, and any voluntary contributions plus credited interest that had been accrued to the date benefits commenced, less an amount equal to fifty per cent of the aggregate benefits paid to such member through the month of the member’s death.

(i) Election of options. A member shall elect one of the benefit options described in § 10-183j or any other actuarially equivalent option which the board may offer from time to time.

(j) Cost of living allowance for members retiring prior to September 1, 1992. Beginning the first day of January or July which follows nine months in retirement, a retired member who retired prior to September 1, 1992, or a member’s successor beneficiary, except a person receiving survivor‘s benefits, shall be eligible for an annual five per cent cost of living allowance on any benefit except a benefit based upon such member’s one per cent contributions or voluntary contributions. Such cost of living allowance shall be computed on the basis of the retirement benefits to which such retired member or successor beneficiary was entitled on the last day of the preceding December or June except benefits based upon one per cent or voluntary contributions. Such member’s successor beneficiary means any person, other than such member, receiving benefits as the result of the election of a period certain option or a coparticipant option, including an election for such an option by a surviving spouse under subsection (d) of § 10-183h. The right to such allowance, or any portion thereof, may be waived by the person entitled thereto at any time. Any waiver shall remain in effect until the first day of the month following such person’s death or the filing with the board of a written notice of cancellation of the waiver. Any allowance waived shall be forever forfeited. If on any subsequent first day of January or July the Teacher‘s Retirement Board determines that the National Consumer Price Index for urban wage earners and clerical workers for the twelve-month period ending on the last day of the preceding November or May has increased less than the cost of living allowance provided under this subsection, the cost of living allowance provided by this subsection shall be adjusted to reflect the change in such index provided such cost of living allowance shall not be less than three per cent.

(k) Cost of living allowance for members retiring on or after September 1, 1992. Beginning the first day of January or July which follows nine months in retirement, a retired member who retired on or after September 1, 1992, or a member’s successor beneficiary, except a person receiving survivor’s benefits, shall be eligible for an annual cost of living allowance calculated in accordance with the provisions of subsections (l) or (m) of this section on any benefit except a benefit based upon such member’s one per cent contributions or voluntary contributions. Such cost of living allowance shall be computed on the basis of the retirement benefits to which such retired member or successor beneficiary was entitled on the last day of the preceding December or June except benefits based upon one per cent or voluntary contributions. The right to such allowance, or any portion thereof, may be waived by the person entitled thereto at any time. Any waiver shall remain in effect until the first day of the month following such person’s death or the filing with the board of a written notice of cancellation of the waiver. Any allowance waived shall be forever forfeited.

(l) Calculation of living allowance. (1) Beginning the first day of January or July which follows nine months in retirement, a retired member who retired on or after September 1, 1992, or a member’s successor beneficiary, except a person receiving survivor’s benefits, shall be eligible for an annual cost of living allowance. The cost of living allowance shall be calculated by using the percentage cost of living adjustment granted by the Social Security Administration for the applicable year, computed on the basis of the retirement benefits to which such retired member or successor beneficiary was entitled on the last day of the preceding December or June except benefits based upon one per cent or voluntary contributions, provided no cost of living allowance shall exceed six per cent and provided further, if the total return earned by the trustees on the market value of the pension assets for the preceding fiscal year is less than six and nine-tenths per cent, any cost of living allowance granted shall not exceed one and one-half per cent.

(2) A member entering the retirement system commencing on or after July 1, 2007, or such member’s successor beneficiary, except a person receiving survivor’s benefits, shall, beginning the first day of January or July that follows nine months in retirement, be eligible for an annual cost of living allowance as follows: The cost of living allowance shall be calculated by using the percentage cost of living adjustment granted by the Social Security Administration for the applicable year, computed on the basis of the retirement benefits to which such retired member or successor beneficiary was entitled on the last day of the preceding December or June, as applicable, except benefits based upon one per cent or voluntary contributions, provided (A) no cost of living allowance shall exceed five per cent, and (B) if the total return earned by the trustees on the market value of the pension assets for the preceding fiscal year is less than six and nine-tenths per cent, any cost of living allowance granted shall not exceed one per cent, if such total return for the preceding fiscal year is greater than six and nine-tenths per cent but less than nine and nine-tenths per cent, any cost of living allowance granted shall not exceed three per cent, and if such return exceeds nine and nine-tenths per cent, any cost of living allowance granted shall not exceed five per cent.

(m) Proportionate reduction of cost of living allowance. Repealed by P.A. 07-186, S. 14.

(n) Cost of living adjustment reserve account. Repealed by P.A. 07-186, S. 14.

(o) Single increase in benefits on January 1, 1988. On January 1, 1988, each eligible retired member who had rendered at least twenty-five years of full-time service prior to normal retirement under the provisions of subsection (a) of § 10-183f, or such member’s successor beneficiary, as defined in subsection (j) of this section, shall receive a single increase in retirement benefits provided under this chapter. Such increase shall be paid to such eligible members or successor beneficiaries whose monthly benefit as of December 31, 1987, before any reduction for an optional benefit payment plan, is less than eight hundred dollars, and shall be sufficient to increase such monthly benefit to eight hundred dollars.

(p) Single increase in benefits on January 1, 1991. On January 1, 1991, each eligible retired member who had rendered at least twenty-five years of full-time service at least twenty years of which were service in the public schools of Connecticut prior to early retirement before January 1, 1976, under the provisions of subsection (c) of § 10-183f, or such member’s successor beneficiary, as defined in subsection (j) of this section, shall receive a single increase in retirement benefits provided under this chapter. Such increase shall be paid to such eligible members or successor beneficiaries whose monthly benefit as of December 31, 1990, before any reduction for an optional benefit payment plan, is less than eight hundred dollars, and shall be sufficient to increase such monthly benefit to eight hundred dollars.

(q) Single increase in benefits on January 1, 1999. On January 1, 1999, each eligible retired member who had rendered at least twenty-five years of full-time service, or such member’s successor beneficiary, as defined in subsection (j) of this section, shall receive a single increase in benefits provided under this chapter. Such increase shall be sufficient to increase the monthly benefit of such eligible members or successor beneficiaries, whose monthly benefit as of December 31, 1998, before any actuarial reduction for early retirement or for an optional benefit payment plan, is less than twelve hundred dollars and shall be sufficient to increase such monthly benefit to twelve hundred dollars.

(r) Benefit limit and increase. No retirement benefit payable under this chapter, including any cost of living allowance, shall exceed the maximum dollar limit in effect under Section 415(b) of the Internal Revenue Code for the applicable limitation year, as increased in subsequent years pursuant to Section 415(d) of the Internal Revenue Code.

(s) Successor beneficiary. For purposes of this section, “successor beneficiary” means any person, other than the member, who is receiving benefits as the result of the election of a period certain option or a coparticipant option, including an election for such an option by a surviving spouse under subsection (d) of § 10-183h.