Two things a year does
- 12 more months of service. Each adds 2% ÷ 12 of your average monthly salary. A year on $5,000 a month adds $100 a month. Member Handbook (2019), p. 22; PERSI ACFR 2024 Summary of Plan Provisions, p. 8; PERSI FY2025 Financial Statements Note 1, p. 19 (2.0% for all members except police and fire)
- Two points toward 90. You're a year older and have a year more service. Before 65, that shrinks the early cut, or ends it once you reach 90. Member Handbook (2019), p. 25; Early Retirement brochure (01/14) pp. 3-4
- Average monthly salary is the average of your highest 42 consecutive months of salary, for a last contribution on or after Oct. 1, 1994.Member Handbook (2019), p. 22
- You don't have to retire at 65. Your PERSI benefit keeps building as long as you keep working, and if you work past 70 you may also qualify for a late-retirement increase.Member Handbook (2019), pp. 20-21, Service Retirement
Example: 58 with 30 years
Our engine's illustration: born May 1968, starting June 2026 at age 58 with 360 months, on $5,000 a month. Age plus service is 88 years, so it's 2 years short of 90.
| Start | Service | Cut | A month |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 2026as planned | 360 mo | 6% | $2,820 |
| June 20271 more year | 372 mo | none | $3,100+$280 |
| June 20282 more years | 384 mo | none | $3,200+$380 |
| June 20293 more years | 396 mo | none | $3,300+$480 |
The first year closes the 2-point gap, so the whole early cut goes away. After that, each year adds $100. The early cut uses PERSI's former factor table. Check with PERSI
Try your own dates in the calculator: its "work longer" card shows 1, 2 and 3 more years. Buying service can also add months; see Buying service credit.
Questions
What does one more year add to a PERSI pension?
Twelve more months of service: 2% of your average monthly salary, a year. On $5,000 a month that's $100 a month for life. If you retire early, it also shrinks the early cut.
How fast do I reach the Rule of 90 by working longer?
Each month you work adds a month of age and a month of service, so you close the gap twice as fast. A 2-year gap closes in 1 year.
Source: PERSI Member Handbook, Handbook revision July 2019, pp. 20-21, 22, 23-24, 25. Also: PERSI ACFR (FY2024); PERSI Financial Statements (FY2025); Early Retirement brochure (01/14); Idaho Administrative Bulletin, Nov. 1, 2023 (former rule 544). Last reviewed .