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South Carolina · SCRS · Methods

How we calculate SCRS estimates

Every number on the South Carolina pages comes from PEBA's SCRS handbook and flyers, the S.C. Code or the state tax instructions. Here's what the calculator does, and what it leaves out.

  1. 1

    Find your class

    From the date your SCRS membership began: before July 1, 2012 is Class Two, on or after is Class Three. You can override it if your statement says otherwise.

    SCRS Handbook FY2027, p. 5, Classes of membership
  2. 2

    Project your service

    We add the time from today to your retirement date to the service you enter. The work-longer comparison adds a year of service for each year. Class Two sick leave (20 days = 1 month, up to 90 days) is added to the formula only.

    Our assumption; SCRS Handbook FY2027, p. 19, Unused leave at retirement: Sick leave
  3. 3

    Check the retirement rules

    Class Two: 28 years or 65 with 5 earned, early at 60 or 55 with 25. Class Three: the Rule of 90 or 65 with 8 earned, early at 60. Age is counted to the 1st of the month.

    SCRS Handbook FY2027, p. 16, Class Two member: Normal retirement (unreduced benefit); SCRS Handbook FY2027, p. 16, Class Three member: Normal retirement (unreduced benefit)
  4. 4

    Apply the formula

    AFC × 1.82% × years of service ÷ 12, the Option A (maximum) amount.

    SCRS Handbook FY2027, p. 18, Service retirement benefit calculations, Steps 1-4
  5. 5

    Apply the early cut

    5% a year (5/12 of 1% a month) under 65, or for Class Two's 55/25 route 4% a year short of 28, whichever cuts less.

    SCRS Handbook FY2027, p. 16, Early retirement (reduced benefit); SCRS Handbook FY2027, p. 16, Class Two member: Early retirement (reduced benefit)
  6. 6

    Add the dates

    Your earliest pension date, your full-pension date, your first benefit adjustment and whether the earnings limit applies if you go back to work.

    SCRS Handbook FY2027, p. 22, Benefit adjustments; SCRS Handbook FY2027, p. 24, From covered employment: service retiree

The steps are explained in plain English in the guides to Class Two and Class Three, the formula, early retirement and payment options. Try them in the calculator.

What the calculator doesn't cover

How we check the math

The calculator runs on a small engine that reads every rule from one data file, with a source for each. Automated tests check it against PEBA's worked examples, all 162 cells of the handbook's benefit table, and the edges of each rule (birthdays, July 1, 2012, the ages 55, 60, 62 and 65, the 25- and 28-year marks).

How we check the math (South Carolina SCRS)
ExampleSource showsOur engineSource
Class Two: $30,000 AFC, 28 years (a month)$1,274$1,274SCRS Handbook FY2027, p. 19, Class Two example Match
Class Three: age 60, 30 years (a month)$1,365$1,365SCRS Handbook FY2027, p. 19, Class Three example Match
Rule of 90: 56 with 34 yearsFull pensionFull pensionSCRS Handbook FY2027, p. 16, Example [56+34=90] Match
25 years, 2 months, 10 days25.19 years25.19 yearsSCRS Handbook FY2027, p. 18, footnote 6 Match
Early at 6075%75%SCRS Handbook FY2027, p. 16, Early retirement (reduced benefit) Match
Early at 6180%80%SCRS Handbook FY2027, p. 16, Early retirement (reduced benefit) Match
Early at 6285%85%SCRS Handbook FY2027, p. 16, Early retirement (reduced benefit) Match
Early at 6390%90%SCRS Handbook FY2027, p. 16, Early retirement (reduced benefit) Match
Early at 6495%95%SCRS Handbook FY2027, p. 16, Early retirement (reduced benefit) Match
55/25 with 25 years88%88%SCRS Handbook FY2027, p. 16, Class Two member: Early retirement (reduced benefit) Match
55/25 with 26 years92%92%SCRS Handbook FY2027, p. 16, Class Two member: Early retirement (reduced benefit) Match
55/25 with 27 years96%96%SCRS Handbook FY2027, p. 16, Class Two member: Early retirement (reduced benefit) Match
Earnings limit: back to work Sept. 1 at $50,000$6,249.99$6,249.99How the Earnings Limitation Works, PDF p. 2, Example Match
Retiree death benefit, 10+ years$2,000$2,000SCRS Handbook FY2027, p. 23, Non-working retired member incidental death benefit Match
Retiree death benefit, 20+ years$4,000$4,000SCRS Handbook FY2027, p. 23, Non-working retired member incidental death benefit Match
Retiree death benefit, 28+ years$6,000$6,000SCRS Handbook FY2027, p. 23, Non-working retired member incidental death benefit Match

Things to check with PEBA

The sources don't settle these points. Each is labeled "Check with PEBA" where it shows up on the site.

Check with PEBA

Retiring early at 60 to 64 costs 5% for each year you're under 65. The 4%-per-year cut is only for Class Two members using the 55-with-25-years route, and it's per year of service short of 28.

We use 5% per year of age (5/12% per month) and 4% per year of service short of 28.

SCRS Handbook FY2027, p. 16; S.C. Code 9-1-1515(B), 9-1-1550(B)(2), (C)(2)
Check with PEBA

The handbook gives the reduction per year. State law says it's prorated for part years and months; exactly how PEBA prorates isn't published.

We prorate by month (5/12% each) up to the 1st of the month on or after your 65th birthday, plus part of a month by days, and prorate the 4% service reduction to the fraction of a year.

S.C. Code 9-1-1550(B)(2), (C)(2); S.C. Code 9-1-1515(B)
Check with PEBA

If you're Class Two and retire at 55 with 25 to 27 years, it isn't clear whether unused sick leave credit shrinks the 4%-per-year reduction.

We don't let sick leave shrink that reduction, but we do add it to the service in your benefit formula.

SCRS Handbook FY2027, p. 19; S.C. Code 9-1-1140(M), 9-1-1515(B)
Check with PEBA

The Rule of 90 adds your age and years of service. How PEBA counts part years of age isn't published.

We count your age in completed months and your service to the day.

S.C. Code 9-1-10(28A); SCRS Handbook FY2027, p. 16
Check with PEBA

The sources don't say whether SCRS retirement dates have to fall on the 1st of a month.

We accept any date, and we show the earliest and full-benefit dates as the 1st of a month.

SCRS Handbook FY2027, p. 17, When to apply; S.C. Code 9-1-1510
Check with PEBA

Your class depends on whether you still have SCRS service from before July 1, 2012. A refund or ORP years can change it.

We guess your class from your start date; you can change it.

SCRS Handbook FY2027, p. 5, Classes of membership
Check with PEBA

The handbook adds your annual leave payout to your 12 quarters before dividing by 3, so it raises your AFC by a third of the payout. The statute's wording could be read differently.

We follow the handbook.

SCRS Handbook FY2027, p. 18, Step 1, footnote 5; S.C. Code 9-1-10(4)(a)
Check with PEBA

Your first 1% increase comes on the second July 1 after you retire. If you retire exactly on July 1, it isn't clear whether that day counts.

We don't count the July 1 you retire on.

SCRS Handbook FY2027, p. 22; S.C. Code 9-1-1815
Check with PEBA

PEBA doesn't publish how it rounds the yearly increase.

We round the new monthly amount to the cent.

S.C. Code 9-1-1815
Check with PEBA

PEBA doesn't publish how much Options B and C reduce your check. It depends on your age and your beneficiary's.

We only show Options B and C if you enter a factor from your PEBA estimate.

S.C. Code 9-1-1620(A); SCRS Handbook FY2027, p. 20
Check with PEBA

Once your covered earnings pass $10,000 in a calendar year, your benefit stops for the rest of the year. Exactly which month it stops in follows PEBA's flyer example.

We pay your benefit for each working month that starts before you've earned $10,000 that year, which matches PEBA's example.

How the Earnings Limitation Works, PDF p. 2, Example; S.C. Code 9-1-1790(A)(1)
Check with PEBA

Two numbers in the handbook's benefit table don't match its own formula ($20,000 at 15 years and $90,000 at 15 years).

We use the formula, which gives $455 and $2,048.

SCRS Handbook FY2027, p. 21
Check with PEBA

PEBA's handbook doesn't say whether your SCRS job is also covered by Social Security. Check your pay stub or W-2.

We don't estimate Social Security.

SCRS Handbook FY2027 (no statement)
Check with PEBA

The retiree health premium-share rules come from a PEBA flyer good through 2026.

We use the 2026 flyer.

Retiree Insurance Eligibility, Funding (state)
Check with PEBA

At 65 there's no early reduction.

We treat any date on or after your 65th birthday as unreduced.

S.C. Code 9-1-1550(B), (C)

Where sources disagreed

Sources

We cite the page number printed on each handbook page. Last reviewed Nov. 12, 2026.

Found a mistake?Email [email protected] with the page, what you entered, and what PEBA told you. We fix confirmed errors and note the change.
The official numbersOnly PEBA can tell you your actual benefit. Use the estimate in Member Access or call 803-737-6800.

Source: South Carolina Retirement System Member Handbook, Fiscal year 2027 (SCPEBA 082026, expires June 30, 2027), pp. 5, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24. Also: How the Earnings Limitation Works; Retiree Insurance Eligibility, Funding (state); S.C. Code 9-1-10, 9-1-1140, 9-1-1510, 9-1-1515, 9-1-1550, 9-1-1620, 9-1-1790, 9-1-1815. Last reviewed .