This page explains the Maryland TPS calculator. The rules it uses are explained in plain English on the formula, early retirement and which plan pages.
What the calculator does
- Picks your plan from the date you joined: ACPS before July 1, 2011, RCPB on or after. You can override it if you left and came back. ACPS Handbook PDF p. 3 (unnumbered), Does this Handbook Apply to Me?, and p. 1; RCPB Handbook PDF p. 3 (unnumbered) and p. 1; ACFR FY2025 p. 164
- Projects your service. We add one year of service for each year from today to your start date, unless you tell us you've left. We use the same number for eligibility and creditable service.
- Checks eligibility on your start date: full (ACPS 62 with 5 years, 30 years at any age, or the 63/64/65 rules when retiring straight from work; RCPB 65 with 10 or the Rule of 90), early, or a vested allowance if you've left. ACPS Handbook p. 18, Service Retirement; RCPB Handbook p. 18, Service Retirement; ACPS Handbook pp. 17-18, Vested Benefits; RCPB Handbook pp. 17, 22-23, Vested Benefits and Early Vested Retirement Benefit; ACFR FY2025 p. 166, Vested Allowance
- Figures the Basic Allowance. ACPS: 1.2% × AFC × years through June 30, 1998 + 1.8% × AFC × later years. If you don't enter your pre-July 1998 service, we assume full-time service from the date you joined. RCPB: 1.5% × AFC × years. ACPS Handbook p. 21, Normal Service Retirement; RCPB Handbook p. 21, Normal Service Retirement
- Adds unused sick leave to creditable service only: one month per 22 days, plus a month for 11 or more days left over, counting at most 15 days per year of service. Not for vested allowances. ACPS Handbook pp. 11-12, Unused Sick Leave; RCPB Handbook pp. 11-12
- Applies the early cut: 0.5% for each month before 62 (ACPS, up to 42%) or 65 (RCPB, up to 30%). ACPS Handbook p. 18, Early Service Retirement; p. 22, Early Service Retirement; RCPB Handbook p. 18, Early Service; pp. 21-22, Early Service Retirement
- Prices the payment options with SRA's published factors (effective January 1, 2022): ACPS members use the pre-reformed column, RCPB members the post-reformed column. Ages round up at 6 months past a birthday. Options Pamphlet (10/11) PDF p. 2, How the Options Work; SRA option factor table (eff. 1/1/2022)
- Shows the COLA at its caps (the most it could be), split for ACPS members by service before and after July 1, 2011, with the first COLA on the second July 1 after your start. ACPS Handbook p. 33, Cost-of-Living Adjustments; RCPB Handbook p. 31; ACFR FY2025 p. 166; SPP §29-401; §29-402(b)-(f); §29-406 (3% cap, service before July 1, 2011); §29-408 (2.5%/1% cap, service on or after July 1, 2011)
- Shows the earnings limit if you go back to the same employer: AFC − your yearly Basic Allowance. ACPS Handbook pp. 29-32, Reemployment, Earnings Limitation, Reemployment at a Glance; RCPB Handbook pp. 27-30
Keeping the page fast
SRA's full factor table covers retiree ages 18-110 and beneficiary ages 1-110 in two columns. The calculator doesn't download all of it. It loads one column, for retiree ages 45-80 and beneficiary ages 18-100, only when it shows your options. The values are copied unchanged. Outside those ages it tells you to ask SRA.
Privacy
Your inputs stay in your browser. They're saved in the part of the web address after "#", which is never sent to our server or to analytics.
Tested against the handbooks
Every worked example in the two handbooks, run through our calculator:
| Example | Handbook | Our result | Match |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACPS normal service: age 62, 28 yrs, $88,000 ACPS Handbook p. 22, Example: Normal Service Retirement | $3,432 | $3,432 | ✓ yes |
| ACPS early service: age 60, 20 yrs, $72,000 ACPS Handbook pp. 22-23, Example: Early Service Retirement | $1,837.44 | $1,837.44 | ✓ yes |
| ACPS normal vested: age 62, 16 yrs, $50,000 ACPS Handbook p. 23, Example: Normal Vested Retirement | $950 | $950 | ✓ yes |
| ACPS early vested: age 58, 25 yrs, $56,000 ACPS Handbook p. 24, Example: Early Vested Retirement | $1,383.20 | $1,383.20 | ✓ yes |
| RCPB normal service: age 65, 28 yrs, $88,000 RCPB Handbook p. 21, Example: Normal Service Retirement | $3,080 | $3,080 | ✓ yes |
| RCPB early service: age 62, 20 yrs, $72,000 RCPB Handbook p. 22, Example: Early Service Retirement | $1,476 | $1,476 | ✓ yes |
| RCPB normal vested: age 65, 16 yrs, $50,000 RCPB Handbook p. 22, Example: Vested Retirement | $1,000 | $1,000 | ✓ yes |
| RCPB early service: age 61, 17 yrs, $72,000 RCPB Handbook p. 23, Example: Early Service Retirement (under Early Vested Retirement Benefit) | $1,162.80 | $1,162.80 | ✓ yes |
Our automated tests also check eligibility edges (55, 60, 62, 65, 30 years, the Rule of 90), sick leave conversion, factor lookups against the printed table, age rounding, the 10-years-younger limit, the COLA caps and carry-forward, and the earnings limit rules.
What we don't do
- Disability and death benefits, the closed Teachers' Retirement System, and the old Non-Contributory and Contributory Pension Benefit formulas for members who left long ago.
- Separate eligibility and creditable service (part-time years, purchased service). Enter the service on your statement.
- The 20% extraordinary-raise rule and IRS pay limits. We use the average final compensation you enter.
- Option 4 amounts based on your contribution balance. We show the printed factor.
- Taxes, health premiums and Social Security.
Points the sources don't settle
Each of these shows a "Check with SRA" label wherever it matters on this site.
RCPB early vested allowance start age (60 vs 55)
We assume RCPB members who leave with 15 years can start a reduced vested benefit at 60.
What we use: Age 60, reduced 0.5% a month before 65.
Why: SPP §29-303(e) reads as age 55 for any EPS/TPS former member with 15 years who left before 55; the ACFR and the handbook's 30% maximum point to 60. ACFR FY2025 p. 166; SPP §29-303(e)
Low-AFC earnings-limit exemption amount
If your AFC was under about $25,000 you may be exempt from the earnings limit; SRA lists your exact limit when you retire.
What we use: $25,000.
Why: Handbooks say $25,000; statute ties it to the minimum annual salary on the State pay scale. ACPS Handbook p. 30; SPP §23-407(c)(4)(i)
How partial months are counted in the 0.5%-a-month early reduction
We count a partial month as a full month, which can make our estimate slightly lower.
What we use: Partial month counts as a full month (ceiling).
Why: Handbook examples use whole months only; the rule is 'each month' the retirement date precedes the 62nd/65th birthday. ACPS Handbook p. 22; SPP §23-402(c)
Whether service retirements must start on the first of a month
We give the exact date you first qualify; SRA may require a first-of-month date.
What we use: Exact date for active members; first of the month after the birthday for ACPS early vested.
Why: The handbooks do not say; only former members (SPP §23-403) and early vested allowances (§29-303(e)) are tied to the first of a month. ACPS Handbook p. 18; SPP §23-403; §29-303(e)
Which factor columns apply to ACPS vs RCPB
We use the pre-reformed factors for ACPS members and the post-reformed factors for RCPB members.
What we use: ACPS = pre-reformed; RCPB = post-reformed.
Why: The table labels its two column sets 'Pre-Reformed Benefit Tiers' and 'Post-Reformed Benefit Tiers' without naming ACPS or RCPB. SRA option factor table (eff. 1/1/2022) p. 1
Option 4 factor
Our Option 4 figure uses the published factor; your SRA estimate may differ.
What we use: Printed factor.
Why: Printed Option 4 factors equal Option 1 factors, though Option 4's guarantee is based on contributions. SRA option factor table (eff. 1/1/2022)
Option factors effective 1/1/2022 may have been replaced
Option amounts use SRA's published 2022 factors.
What we use: 1/1/2022 table.
Why: SRA's page (modified Aug. 14, 2026) still links the 1/1/2022 table, but factors change with actuarial assumptions. SRA web: Pension Payment Options & Annuity Factors
Handbooks are dated April 2021
Based on SRA's current handbooks (April 2021 revision), checked against the Maryland Code in November 2026.
What we use: Handbooks, cross-checked with SPP.
Why: Both handbooks are revised April 2021 (the RCPB PDF was re-issued as an accessible file in March 2026 with the same text). Later law changes would not be reflected. ACPS Handbook title page; RCPB Handbook title page
Retiree health eligibility and subsidy for school employees
Ask your school system's benefits office about retiree health coverage and cost before you retire.
What we use: No calculation.
Why: SRPS sources only say coverage is through the employer (DBM for State employees, local boards for school staff); no eligibility years or subsidy amounts are given. ACPS Handbook p. 34; SRA web: About Health Insurance
Social Security coverage of TPS members
Check your Social Security statement for your own record.
What we use: Nothing.
Why: Sources do not state it. ACPS Handbook p. 27
Maryland state income tax treatment of pension income (pension exclusion, age 65+)
Your TPS pension is taxable; ask a tax adviser about Maryland exclusions.
What we use: No tax calculation.
Why: SRA sources only say pensions are taxable federally and by Maryland; they describe no Maryland pension exclusion. ACPS Handbook pp. 33-34
Converting unused sick leave months to years
We count each month of sick leave credit as one-tenth of a year.
What we use: months / 10 years.
Why: TPS credit counts each month as one-tenth of a year (10-month members), and the chart's first '1 Year' row is 209-230 days (10 months), but the rest of the chart is inconsistent (see conflict sick-leave-chart). ACPS Handbook pp. 6, 11-12
Non-Contributory alternative for pre-July 1998 service
We use 1.2% for service through June 1998; the handbook says this is greater for almost all members.
What we use: 1.2% only. (The engine can compute the alternative from an SSIL, but the calculator does not ask for one.)
Why: Needs the Social Security Integration Level for the retirement year, which the sources do not tabulate. ACPS Handbook p. 21
Where the sources disagree
- Earliest age for an RCPB early vested allowance: we follow Age 60 with 15 years (reduced 0.5% a month before 65, max 30%).
- Low-AFC exemption from the earnings limit: we follow AFC under $25,000.
- Unused sick leave conversion chart: we follow The text rule: 1 month per 22 days, plus 1 month if 11+ days remain (15 days per year of membership cap).
- Extraordinary salary increase exceptions: we follow Handbook wording (20% rule; promotion or election to public office; $25 de minimis; Board determination).
- SRA toll-free number: we follow 1-800-492-5909.
- Normal retirement at 63/4, 64/3, 65/2: we follow Only when retiring directly upon separating from employment.
- Option 4 factors: we follow Table as printed.
Sources
- Benefits Handbook: Teachers' Pension System, Alternate Contributory Pension Selection (for members enrolled before July 1, 2011), Revised April 2021.
- Benefits Handbook: Teachers' Pension System, Reformed Contributory Pension Benefit (for members enrolled on or after July 1, 2011), Revised April 2021 (accessible PDF, file dated March 17, 2026).
- SRPS Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, fiscal year ended June 30, 2025: Plan Summary section, FY2025 (PDF dated Dec. 23, 2025).
- Benefit Annuity Value and Option Factors, Teachers, Service Retirement, Effective 1/1/2022 (PDF dated Feb. 8, 2024).
- Guide to Choosing an Allowance Option (Employees' and Teachers' Retirement and Pension Systems, CORS), 10/11.
- Welcome to the Teachers' Pension System (for members enrolled on or after July 1, 2011), 3/20.
- Retirement Checklist, 1/25.
- SRA web pages (Reemployment after Retirement; Maryland Retirement Law on Reemployment; About Health Insurance; Tax Withholding; Health Insurance Premium Tax Exclusion FAQ; Separating from Membership; Contributory Rates by System; Pension Payment Options & Annuity Factors; Member Benefit Handbooks; Member Pamphlets), Downloaded Nov. 11, 2026 (page-modified dates are in each .txt header).
- Maryland Code, State Personnel and Pensions Article (SPP), selected sections of Titles 20-23 and 29, mgaleg.maryland.gov statute text, downloaded Nov. 11, 2026.
This site isn't affiliated with the Maryland State Retirement Agency or the TPS. SRA decides your benefit; mySRPS has official estimates.
Source: SRPS Benefits Handbooks: Teachers' Pension System (Alternate Contributory Pension Selection; Reformed Contributory Pension Benefit), Revised April 2021, ACPS Handbook pp. 6, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34; RCPB Handbook pp. 11, 12, 17, 18, 21, 22, 23, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31; ACFR FY2025 pp. 166, 167; Options Pamphlet PDF pp. 1, 2; SPP §§ 23-402, 23-403, 23-407, 29-303, 29-401, 29-402, 29-406, 29-408; SRA web pages; SRA option factor table (eff. 1/1/2022). Last reviewed .