Eligibility for Retirement

Effective November 1, 2002, to be eligible for retirement from the University System of Georgia (USG), you must meet one of the following four conditions at the time of your separation from employment, regardless of the retirement plan you elected:

10 Years and Age 60

You must have been employed by the USG for the last 10 years in a regular, benefitted position, and have attained age 60.

25 Years and Last Five (5) Years Continuous

You must have at least 25 total years of benefitted service established with a State of Georgia sponsored retirement plan, and the last five (5) years of employment must have been continuous with the USG.

An early pension benefit penalty will apply if you elect to participate in the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia (TRS), or in the Employees Retirement System, if you decide to retire with between 25 and 30 years of benefitted service prior to attaining age 60.

30 Years and Last Five (5) Years Continuous

You must have at least 30 total years of benefitted service established with a State of Georgia sponsored retirement plan and the last five (5) years must have been continuous with the USG.

Teachers Retirement System of Georgia (TRS) members may retire at any age after 30 years of service without penalty.

Nine and one-half (9.5) Years and Disabled

You must be deemed to be totally and permanently disabled, as documented through the receipt of disability benefits from Social Security or the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia, following nine and one-half (9.5) years of continuous service to the USG in a regular, benefitted position.

If you have retired from another State of Georgia sponsored retirement plan, you may not count such retirement service toward meeting the eligibility criteria for retirement from the USG (BOR Minutes, October 2002).

For more information visit the USG Policy – Personnel 8.2.8 Retirement