Retiring early: PERA 6, starting at 57 with 20 years
Our example, worked with the engine and PERA's PERA 6 table: born May 15, 1969, a $6,000 HAS, retiring August 1, 2026, then each of the next five years.
| Retire | Age | Years | Type | % of HAS | A month | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 2026 | 57 | 20 | reduced | 35.4% | $2,124 | — |
| August 2027 | 58 | 21 | reduced | 40.4% | $2,424 | +$300 |
| August 2028 | 59 | 22 | reduced | 46.2% | $2,772 | +$348 |
| August 2029 | 60 | 23 | reduced | 52.6% | $3,156 | +$384 |
| August 2030 | 61 | 24 | full | 60% | $3,600 | +$444 |
| August 2031 | 62 | 25 | full | 62.5% | $3,750 | +$150 |
Each year in a reduced box adds far more than 2.5%. The jump to a full benefit comes in August 2030, at 61 with 24 years. Your PERA Benefits p. 22, PERA 6 Highest Average Salary Percentages for Retirement Benefit Option 1
Or stop and wait: leave in August 2026 with 20 years, start nothing, and the benefit is a full 50% ($3,000 a month) from May 1, 2034. Understanding Your Benefit Estimate PDF p. 1
Already full: PERA 2, at 62 with 30 years
Born March 15, 1964, a $6,000 HAS. Each year adds 2.5% of HAS, $150 a month.
| Retire | Age | Years | % of HAS | A month | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 2026 | 62 | 30 | 75% | $4,500 | — |
| August 2027 | 63 | 31 | 77.5% | $4,650 | +$150 |
| August 2028 | 64 | 32 | 80% | $4,800 | +$150 |
| August 2029 | 65 | 33 | 82.5% | $4,950 | +$150 |
Both examples keep the HAS the same. Raises would add more. The annual increase, PERACare and Social Security aren't included. Your PERA Benefits p. 7, Defined Benefit Calculation; C.R.S. 24-51-603(1)(a)
From the sources
- Each extra year of service adds 2.5% of HAS to a full benefit. If you're in a reduced box, an extra year can also move you to a much higher percentage. On PERA 9, 30 years at 63 pays 68.4% and 30 years at 64 pays 75.0%.Your PERA Benefits p. 7; p. 25, PERA 9 table
- Working longer also raises your benefit, and you can delay starting it. You don't earn more service after you leave, but your table percentage keeps rising as you age.Understanding Your Benefit Estimate PDF p. 1
Questions
How much does one more year add to a Colorado PERA pension?
On a full benefit, 2.5% of your HAS a month for life: $150 a month on a $6,000 HAS. Raises that lift your HAS add more.
Why can one year matter so much when I'm retiring early?
In a reduced box, a year adds service and age at once, so you move down and across the HAS table. Near your full-benefit date, a year can add far more than 2.5%.
Should I stop working and wait instead?
If you leave, you don't earn more service, but you keep moving across the table as you age. Waiting gets a bigger check, but you give up the payments in between.
Source: Your PERA Benefits: A Summary of the Colorado PERA Defined Benefit Plan, Revised April 2026, pp. 7, 18, 22, 25. Also: C.R.S. 24-51-603; Understanding Your Benefit Estimate. Last reviewed .