Vesting is the number of years a Member must accrue to be eligible for a future retirement benefit.

• Members that left LOPFI-covered employment prior to July 1, 1998 have a ten (10) year vesting requirement
• Members that were active on July 1, 1998 and Members hired prior to July 1, 2013 have a five (5) year vesting requirement
• Members hired on/after July 1, 2013 have a ten (10) year vesting requirement

Members must meet one (1) of the following requirements to be eligible to receive a monthly retirement benefit:

• any age with at least 28 years of credited service
• age 55 with at least 20 years of credited service
• age 60 with at least 5 years of credited service or 10 years of credited service*

_{* Members that left LOPFI-covered employment prior to July 1, 1998 have a ten (10) year vesting requirement; Members that were active on July 1, 1998 and Members hired prior to July 1, 2013 have a five (5) year vesting requirement; Members hired on/after July 1, 2013 have a ten (10) year vesting requirement.}

Active Members may elect an Early Reduced retirement benefit at age 50 with at least 20 years of credited service or at any age with 25 years of paid service (time credited as a volunteer will not allow for eligibility at any age with 25 years).  The monthly benefit is permanently reduced ½ of 1 percent (.05%) for each month you are younger than age 55 (which calculates to 6% a year for each full year under the age of 55).  Members that take an Early Reduced retirement benefit cannot return to LOPFI-covered employment.

If a Member dies before retirement, a benefit may be payable to the Member’s spouse and/or dependent child(ren) based on specific criteria.

If an active non-vested paid Member dies from a non-duty related cause, Member contributions will be refunded to the designated beneficiary.

If an active vested paid Member dies from non-duty related causes, a benefit is payable to the eligible spouse and/or dependent child(ren).

If an active paid Member dies from a duty related cause, a benefit is payable to the eligible spouse and/or dependent child(ren).

If an active non-vested volunteer Member dies from a non-duty related cause, there is no benefit payable.

If an active vested volunteer Member dies from a non-duty related cause, a benefit is payable to the eligible spouse and/or dependent child(ren).

If an active volunteer Member dies from a duty related cause, a benefit is payable to the eligible spouse and/or dependent child(ren).

For more information regarding survivor benefits, please refer to the Member Handbook.