- You can retire early with 25 years of service (20 in Connecticut) at any age, or at 55 with 20 years (15 in Connecticut). The 2% a year is replaced by a smaller percentage depending on how many years before your normal retirement date you retire: Table A (under 30 years) runs from 1.88% at one year early to 1.00% at ten years; Table B (30+ years) from 1.94% to 1.70% at five years.Active Teachers' Handbook (2022), pp. 24-25, Early Retirement Benefit, Tables A and B
- Example from the handbook: retiring at 55 with 20 years is five years early, so 20 x 1.4% = 28% of your average salary. With 30 years at 55 it is 30 x 1.7% = 51%.Active Teachers' Handbook (2022), p. 26, Early retirement examples (Members E and F)
- There is a 'cliff' at 30 years: at age 53, 29 years pays 38.28% of salary but 30 years pays 51.00%.Connecticut TRB Retirement Overview (AI_RETPRESPP_240122), p. 5; Connecticut TRB Retirement Percentage Chart (AI_Rpc_200816)
The two tables
Percent of your average salary for each year of service, by whole years before your normal retirement date. Active Teachers' Handbook (2022), p. 25, Table A and Table B
| Years early | Table Aunder 30 years | Table B30+ years |
|---|---|---|
| 0 (normal) | 2.00% | 2.00% |
| 1 | 1.88% | 1.94% |
| 2 | 1.76% | 1.88% |
| 3 | 1.64% | 1.82% |
| 4 | 1.52% | 1.76% |
| 5 | 1.40% | 1.70% |
| 6 | 1.32% | — |
| 7 | 1.24% | — |
| 8 | 1.16% | — |
| 9 | 1.08% | — |
| 10 | 1.00% | — |
Table B stops at five years: with 30 years, you reach 35 years (a normal retirement) in five more. The statute says the benefit is reduced for each month you retire before your normal retirement age, on tables the board adopts. C.G.S. § 10-183g(c) (2026 Supp.) (actuarially reduced for each month early retirement precedes the minimum normal retirement age, on tables adopted by the board)
The early retirement tables are printed by whole years, but you can retire a part-year early. We move between the printed numbers month by month. The handbook's Member A example (5.1 years early) differs from ours in the fourth decimal place.
What would settle it: Connecticut TRB's monthly early retirement tables (C.G.S. 10-183g(c) says the board adopts them).
Table B is for members with 30 or more years. The handbook says 30 years of Connecticut service; Connecticut TRB's chart says all credited service. We use all credited service, so purchased out-of-state years count toward 30.
What would settle it: Connecticut TRB statement or an example with purchased non-Connecticut service at 30 total years.
The handbook's examples
- Member E: age 55, 20 years, 5 years early: 20 × 1.4% = 28% of salary. Our engine: 28%. Active Teachers' Handbook (2022), p. 26, Early retirement examples (Member E)
- Member F: age 55, 30 years, 5 years early: 30 × 1.7% = 51% of salary. Our engine: 51%. Active Teachers' Handbook (2022), p. 26, Early retirement examples (Member F)
- Member Z: age 54, 30 years at 90% FTE, 5 years early: 30 × 1.7% × 0.9 = 45.9% of salary. Our engine: 45.9%. Active Teachers' Handbook (2022), p. 26, Early retirement examples (Member Z)
- Member A: age 54, 29.9 years at 90% FTE, 5.1 years early: 29.9 × 1.3932% × 0.9 = 37.491% of salary. Our engine: 37.495%. Active Teachers' Handbook (2022), p. 26, Early retirement examples (Member A)
We count your age in completed months and round projected service to the nearest month. Connecticut TRB may count part-months differently, which can change the early percentage slightly.
What would settle it: Connecticut TRB's month-counting rule or an award example with a mid-month birthday.
The 30-year cliff
Because Table B applies at 30 years, retiring early with 30 years can pay far more than with 29 (e.g., age 53: 38.28% with 29 years, 51.00% with 30). Connecticut TRB Retirement Overview (AI_RETPRESPP_240122), p. 5, Early Retirement - Caution; Deferring the Payment of Benefits/Terminal Leaves (Rev. 08/2013), p. 2 On a $90,000 average salary that's $2,871 a month with 29 years and $3,825 with 30.
What each age pays
Our engine on Connecticut TRB's rules, for someone still teaching who retires at each age on a $90,000 average salary:
| Age | 25 years | 30 years |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | $1,875/mo25%, 50% cut | $3,825/mo51%, 15% cut |
| 51 | $2,025/mo27%, 46% cut | $3,825/mo51%, 15% cut |
| 52 | $2,175/mo29%, 42% cut | $3,825/mo51%, 15% cut |
| 53 | $2,325/mo31%, 38% cut | $3,825/mo51%, 15% cut |
| 54 | $2,475/mo33%, 34% cut | $3,825/mo51%, 15% cut |
| 55 | $2,625/mo35%, 30% cut | $3,825/mo51%, 15% cut |
| 56 | $2,850/mo38%, 24% cut | $3,960/mo52.8%, 12% cut |
| 57 | $3,075/mo41%, 18% cut | $4,095/mo54.6%, 9% cut |
| 58 | $3,300/mo44%, 12% cut | $4,230/mo56.4%, 6% cut |
| 59 | $3,525/mo47%, 6% cut | $4,365/mo58.2%, 3% cut |
| 60 | $3,750/mo50%, full | $4,500/mo60%, full |
Connecticut TRB's Retirement Percentage Chart
Percent of average salary, full time. 25 to 37.5 years of credited service: Connecticut TRB Retirement Percentage Chart (AI_Rpc_200816)
| Years | Age 50 | Age 51 | Age 52 | Age 53 | Age 54 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | 25.00 | 27.00 | 29.00 | 31.00 | 33.00 |
| 26 | 28.08 | 28.08 | 30.16 | 32.24 | 34.32 |
| 27 | 31.32 | 31.32 | 31.32 | 33.48 | 35.64 |
| 28 | 34.72 | 34.72 | 34.72 | 34.72 | 36.96 |
| 29 | 38.28 | 38.28 | 38.28 | 38.28 | 38.28 |
| 30 | 51.00 | 51.00 | 51.00 | 51.00 | 51.00 |
| 31 | 54.56 | 54.56 | 54.56 | 54.56 | 54.56 |
| 32 | 58.24 | 58.24 | 58.24 | 58.24 | 58.24 |
| 33 | 62.04 | 62.04 | 62.04 | 62.04 | 62.04 |
| 34 | 65.96 | 65.96 | 65.96 | 65.96 | 65.96 |
| 35 | 70.00 | 70.00 | 70.00 | 70.00 | 70.00 |
| 36 | 72.00 | 72.00 | 72.00 | 72.00 | 72.00 |
| 37 | 74.00 | 74.00 | 74.00 | 74.00 | 74.00 |
| 37.5 | 75.00 | 75.00 | 75.00 | 75.00 | 75.00 |
| Years | Age 55 | Age 56 | Age 57 | Age 58 | Age 59 | Age 60 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | 35.00 | 38.00 | 41.00 | 44.00 | 47.00 | 50.00 |
| 26 | 36.40 | 39.52 | 42.64 | 45.76 | 48.88 | 52.00 |
| 27 | 37.80 | 41.04 | 44.28 | 47.52 | 50.76 | 54.00 |
| 28 | 39.20 | 42.56 | 45.92 | 49.28 | 52.64 | 56.00 |
| 29 | 40.60 | 44.08 | 47.56 | 51.04 | 54.52 | 58.00 |
| 30 | 51.00 | 52.80 | 54.60 | 56.40 | 58.20 | 60.00 |
| 31 | 54.56 | 54.56 | 56.42 | 58.28 | 60.14 | 62.00 |
| 32 | 58.24 | 58.24 | 58.24 | 60.16 | 62.08 | 64.00 |
| 33 | 62.04 | 62.04 | 62.04 | 62.04 | 64.02 | 66.00 |
| 34 | 65.96 | 65.96 | 65.96 | 65.96 | 65.96 | 68.00 |
| 35 | 70.00 | 70.00 | 70.00 | 70.00 | 70.00 | 70.00 |
| 36 | 72.00 | 72.00 | 72.00 | 72.00 | 72.00 | 72.00 |
| 37 | 74.00 | 74.00 | 74.00 | 74.00 | 74.00 | 74.00 |
| 37.5 | 75.00 | 75.00 | 75.00 | 75.00 | 75.00 | 75.00 |
20 to 24 years of Connecticut service, ages 55 to 60:
| Years | Age 55 | Age 56 | Age 57 | Age 58 | Age 59 | Age 60 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | 28.00 | 30.40 | 32.80 | 35.20 | 37.60 | 40.00 |
| 21 | 29.40 | 31.92 | 34.44 | 36.96 | 39.48 | 42.00 |
| 22 | 30.80 | 33.44 | 36.08 | 38.72 | 41.36 | 44.00 |
| 23 | 32.20 | 34.96 | 37.72 | 40.48 | 43.24 | 46.00 |
| 24 | 33.60 | 36.48 | 39.36 | 42.24 | 45.12 | 48.00 |
Our calculator reproduces every cell of this chart. At 60 the 2% rule applies; 75% is the cap. See how we calculate.
Leaving before you qualify? See leaving teaching for deferred vested and proratable benefits. Thinking of staying? See one more year.
Questions
When can I retire early from Connecticut TRB?
Any age with 25 years of credited service, at least 20 in Connecticut public schools, or Age 55 with 20 years of credited service, at least 15 in Connecticut public schools.
How much does retiring early cost?
Instead of 2% for each year of service, you get a smaller percentage based on how many years before your normal retirement date you retire. Under 30 years (Table A) it's 1.88% at one year early, 1.4% at five and 1% at ten. With 30 or more years (Table B) it's 1.94% at one year and 1.7% at five.
What is my normal retirement date?
The earlier of age 60 (or later, if you wouldn't have 20 Connecticut years by then) and the date you'd reach 35 years of service, had you kept teaching.
Source: CTRS Active Teachers' Handbook, July 1, 2022, pp. 24, 24-25, 25, 26. Also: Connecticut TRB Retirement Overview p. 5; Deferring the Payment of Benefits/Terminal Leaves p. 2; Connecticut TRB Retirement Percentage Chart; C.G.S. §§ 10-183f, 10-183g. Last reviewed .