Montgomery County Public Schools

At this stage in the process, the most important step you can take is to do your homework.

1.  Check your retirement statement to see your current MCPS Core and Supplemental pension estimated projected retirement benefit amounts and retirement dates.
   • Read Understanding Your Retirement Statement for help navigating your MCPS retirement statement. (PDF)
   • Read Questions About Your Retirement Statement for a list of frequently asked questions
    
2. Read Understanding Your Retirement for detailed information about your retirement benefit and timelines to help you through the retirement process.
3. Read The Mentor for information about The State Retirement and Pension System of Maryland (SRA) pre-retirement seminars and a retirement checklist for SRA members within 12 months of retirement.
4. Read Retiree News and Notes, also from the SRA, for more helpful information for "soon-to-be" and current retirees.
5. Attend information workshops to hear from the experts.
   • MCPS retirement workshops 
   • SRA retirement workshops  
    

Start taking concrete steps toward your retirement.

1. Request an estimate of retirement benefits
   
   • MCPS Core and Supplemental Pension Benefit  (PDF)
   • SRA Core Benefit (PDF)
    
2. Apply to purchase any eligible service and/or military service credit
   • To apply to purchase service and/or military credit for your State core plan:
     • Submit State Form 26: Request to Purchase Previous Service as indicated on form instructions
     • Submit State Form 43: Claim of Retirement Credit for Military Service as indicated on form instructions
      
   • To apply to purchase service and/or military credit for your MCPS core and/or supplemental plan:
     • Submit ERSC Form 421: Request to Purchase Service  to receive an estimate of the cost of purchasing service
     • Submit MCPS Form 455-18: Statement of Military Service to transfer military service
      
   •   Contact ERSC for additional details about purchasing or transferring service
    
3. Prepare your retirement budget

6 months

Make sure you know all the details to ensure a smooth a transition.

1. Read the Retiree Benefit Plan Summary to familiarize yourself with retiree benefit options.
2. Discuss your benefit payment options with your family and/or financial advisor.

1. Download your retirement application forms
   • Members of the State Core Pension Plan 
   • Non-State Core Plan Members 
    
2. Determine your federal and state withholding amount. Consult with your tax advisor for assistance.
3. If eligible, contact the Social Security Administration to file for Social Security benefits and enroll in Medicare Parts A and B if you and/or your spouse are 65 or older.
4. Review your 403(b) and/or 457(b) plan options, including rollover of sick and/or annual leave payout.
5.  MCEA members retiring July 1 must submit all retirement forms to ERSC by April 1 to be eligible for payment of 30 percent of their earned unused sick leave balance. Learn more about the MCEA sick leave payoff. 

Send in your retirement forms and begin your transition to retirement.

1. Return all retirement forms to ERSC, including 403(b) or 457(b) salary reduction form(s) for rollover of annual and/or sick leave payment, and a copy of your Medicare card, if you or spouse is enrolled in Medicare.
   • All forms must be received by ERSC at least 30 days prior to your retirement date.