Early Retirement Benefit

PURPOSE: This rule describes when a participant may receive early retirement benefits from the plan. A participant who has not attained age sixty-two (62) but has both attained at least his or her fifty-fifth birthday and has eight (8) or more vested years of service may elect to retire as of the first day of any calendar month following written notice to the board (or its delegatee). At the option of the participant, benefits may begin as of any calendar month following his or her early retirement and preceding the participant’s sixtysecond birthday. Such early retirement benefit of a participant shall be payable to him/her as the normal form of benefit, and shall equal the greater of the actuarial equivalent of his or her accrued benefit or his or her accrued benefit as of his or her annuity starting date, reduced by four-tenths of one percent (0.4%) for each month by which the annuity starting date precedes the participant’s sixty-second birthday, and by an additional three-tenths of one percent (0.3%) for each month by which the annuity starting date precedes the participant’s sixtieth birthday. AUTHORITY: section 50.1032, RSMo Supp. 1999.* Original rule filed Sept. 29, 2000, effective March 30, 2001. *Original authority: 50.1032, RSMo 1995.