You can decide to collect your benefit now, or you can defer your benefit to a later date.
Collect Now
Your benefit can begin the following month after you end your public employment if you are at a retirement eligible age.
It’s important to be mindful of your age when you start collecting your benefit. If you retire before full retirement age, your benefit will be reduced because it will be paid to you for a longer time period.
You will receive your full, unreduced benefit if you choose to retire at full retirement age or older.
Collect Later
You can defer your pension to begin at a later date. If you are no longer in public employment and deferring your benefit, the federal government requires you to start collecting by age 73.
