Accumulated contributions
All amounts deducted from a contributor's pay and credited to their account in the annuity savings fund, with regular interest.
N.Y. Educ. Law § 501(10)More on this →The three you'll need first: your tier, set by your date of membership; your pension factor; and the age factor if you retire early. Put them together in the NYSTRS calculator.
Age factor
The percentage of the pension factor you keep if you retire before your tier's full-benefit age/service conditions.
Handbook p. 25More on this →Annuity
Annual payments for life derived from the member's contributions, paid in equal monthly installments.
N.Y. Educ. Law § 501(12)Article 19 credit
Benefit-enhancement credit for eligible Tier 1-2 members: one-twelfth of a year per year of NYS service, up to two years.
Handbook p. 21More on this →Beneficiary (statutory)
In Article 11, any person receiving a retirement allowance or other benefit.
N.Y. Educ. Law § 501(8)Benefit Profile
Your annual personalized statement, issued each fall, showing your service, salary, contributions, loans, beneficiaries and benefit projections.
Handbook p. 12Bona fide termination
Resigning from all NYS public employment, being off the payroll, and having no prearranged agreement to return; required to start a pension.
Handbook p. 42More on this →Final average salary (FAS)
The average of your highest three consecutive school years of salary, within the salary-increase limits.
Handbook p. 26More on this →Maximum
The payment choice with the largest monthly benefit for your life and no beneficiary payment.
Handbook p. 37More on this →Paragraph 2 death benefit
The Tier 2-6 in-service death benefit (last 12 months' earnings x years of service, up to three), part of which can continue into retirement.
Handbook p. 35More on this →Pension
Annual payments for life derived from employer payments, paid in equal monthly installments.
N.Y. Educ. Law § 501(13)Pension factor
The percentage, based on your years and months of service credit, that is multiplied by your FAS.
Handbook p. 25More on this →Pop-up option
A survivor option whose payment rises to the Maximum if the beneficiary dies first.
Handbook p. 38More on this →PREP
NYSTRS's free Pension & Retirement Education Program seminars.
Handbook p. 12Regular interest
For crediting member accounts, 5% a year compounded annually.
N.Y. Educ. Law § 501(9)(a)More on this →Retirement allowance
The pension plus the annuity.
N.Y. Educ. Law § 501(14)Service
Actual teaching or supervision during regular school hours, plus certain NYS government service credited in the NYS Employees' Retirement System. Paid leave may count under Board regulations.
N.Y. Educ. Law § 501(19)More on this →Teacher
Covers regular and special teachers, librarians, principals, supervisors, superintendents and other professional staff of NY public schools employed full time outside vacation periods. The Retirement Board decides doubtful cases.
N.Y. Educ. Law § 501(4)Tier
A group of members whose benefits are set by different sections of law and regulation, based on date of membership.
Handbook p. 7More on this →Vested
Having the five years of service credit that guarantees a lifetime benefit even after leaving teaching, while you remain a member.
Handbook p. 9More on this →Vested-deferred
A vested member who hasn't earned service credit for seven years.
Handbook p. 9; Tier 6 deck (2023) slide 25More on this →Source: NYSTRS Active Members' Handbook, Updated October 2026, pp. 7, 9, 12, 21, 25, 26, 35, 37, 38, 42. Also: N.Y. Educ. Law; Tier 6 deck slide 25. Last reviewed .