- If you leave and are not taking a monthly benefit, you can withdraw your contributions with interest; with five or more years you also get back pre-July 1989 1% contributions (without interest). Withdrawing cancels your service and any pension.Active Teachers' Handbook (2022), p. 19, Withdrawal Privilege; C.G.S. § 10-183k (2025 rev.)
- With ten or more years, leaving your money in keeps a deferred vested pension from age 60.Active Teachers' Handbook (2022), pp. 19, 27
Vesting
Vested means you can get a monthly benefit after leaving: ten years of credited Connecticut public school teaching service. Active Teachers' Handbook (2022), p. 20, Becoming Vested
Deferred vested: leaving before 60
Leave before 60 with at least 10 Connecticut years, before qualifying for any other benefit, and leave your contributions in. At 60: 2% x Connecticut years x FTE x average salary, plus 1% per year of other service. If you could not have reached 20 Connecticut years by 60 (or by a later start date), the Connecticut part is reduced with Table A by the years between the start date and the age you would have reached 20 years. Active Teachers' Handbook (2022), pp. 27-28, Vested Deferred Retirement Benefit; C.G.S. §§ 10-183f(d) (2025 rev.), 10-183g(d) (2026 Supp.); Connecticut TRB webpage 'Vested Deferred Retirement'
- Member A: left at 47 with 18 Connecticut years and 1.8 other years; at 60: 18 × 2% + 1.8 × 1% = 37.8% of salary (our engine: 37.8%). Active Teachers' Handbook (2022), pp. 27-28, Vested deferred retirement example (Member A)
- Member B: left at 55 with 10 Connecticut years; at 60: 5 years early, 10 × 1.4% = 14% of salary (our engine: 14%). Active Teachers' Handbook (2022), p. 28, Vested deferred (early) retirement example (Member B)
Proratable: leaving at 60 or older
If you are 60 or older when you leave, with at least 10 years of Connecticut public school service but not enough for normal or early retirement: (Connecticut years / 10) % x Connecticut years, plus 1% for each year of other credited service, x FTE x average annual salary. The statute's table runs from 1.0% at 10 years to 2.0% at 20 years. Active Teachers' Handbook (2022), pp. 26-27, Pro-ratable Retirement Benefit; C.G.S. §§ 10-183f(b) (2025 rev.), 10-183g(b) (2026 Supp.)
- Age 62, 15.2 Connecticut years, $100,000 salary: 23.104%, $23,104 a year, $1,925.33 a month (our engine: $1,925.33). Active Teachers' Handbook (2022), pp. 26-27, Pro-ratable retirement example
- Age 62, 15.2 Connecticut years + 2.8 out-of-state, $100,000 salary: 25.904%, $25,904 a year, $2,158.66 a month (our engine: $2,158.67). Active Teachers' Handbook (2022), p. 27, Pro-ratable retirement example (2.8 years out-of-state)
| Connecticut years | % of salary |
|---|---|
| 10 | 10% |
| 11 | 12.1% |
| 12 | 14.4% |
| 13 | 16.9% |
| 14 | 19.6% |
| 15 | 22.5% |
| 16 | 25.6% |
| 17 | 28.9% |
| 18 | 32.4% |
| 19 | 36.1% |
| 20 | 40% |
Connecticut TRB's chart, at 60 or older, with no other service. Connecticut TRB Retirement Percentage Chart (AI_Rpc_200816)
In proratable and deferred vested benefits, out-of-state and peacetime military years count at 1% a year. Some purchased service (wartime military, leaves, substitute days) counts as Connecticut service. Enter those years as Connecticut years.
What would settle it: Connecticut TRB example with deemed-Connecticut ACS.
Taking a refund
If you leave and are not taking a monthly benefit, you may withdraw your contributions, which cancels your service and any benefit. With fewer than five years: regular contributions with interest. With five or more: also your 1% supplemental contributions made through June 30, 1989, without interest. No refunds or loans while on leave or still employed. Interest is credited each June 30 at a rate the board sets. Active Teachers' Handbook (2022), pp. 19-20, Withdrawal Privilege; C.G.S. § 10-183k (2025 rev.); Connecticut TRB webpage 'Withdrawal Privilege'
The credited interest rate for the year to June 30, 2026 was 4%. Credited Interest Rate and Investment Rate of Return Since 1963 (AI_INTRATES_260625), p. 1
Interest stops (and the account is deemed abandoned) after 10 years inactive for non-vested members and 25 years for vested members. Active Teachers' Handbook (2022), p. 19, Withdrawal Privilege
If you return and repay the refund with interest, the service and any unrefunded 1% contributions are restored; otherwise you are a new member. C.G.S. § 10-183k(d) (2025 rev.); Active Teachers' Handbook (2022), p. 20
The handbook and the statute word the five-year line differently ("five or more" and "more than five"); we follow the handbook. Check with Connecticut TRB
For tax questions, see taxes. The calculator handles leaving early: enter the date you left under "More details".
Questions
What happens to my Connecticut TRB pension if I leave teaching?
With 10 or more years of Connecticut service you're vested: leave your contributions in and you can get a deferred vested benefit from age 60. With fewer, you can take a refund of your contributions with interest.
What is a proratable benefit?
If you're 60 or older when you leave with 10 to 19 Connecticut years, you get (your Connecticut years ÷ 10)% for each Connecticut year, plus 1% for each year of other service.
Should I take a refund?
A refund cancels your service and any pension. If you're vested, compare it with the monthly benefit you'd give up.
Source: CTRS Active Teachers' Handbook, July 1, 2022, pp. 19-20, 19, 20, 26-27, 27-28, 27, 28. Also: Connecticut TRB webpages 'Withdrawal Privilege', 'Vested Deferred Retirement'; Credited Interest Rate and Investment Rate of Return Since 1963 p. 1; Connecticut TRB Retirement Percentage Chart; C.G.S. §§ 10-183f, 10-183g, 10-183k. Last reviewed .