Q: I recently attended one of your pre-retirement seminars. I have a question that I am confused about and keep getting different answers from different people. I am going to retire in June and I turn 55 in August. I am a widow and, since my children are 21 and 25, I have decided to take the maximum pension. People have been telling me I should take a lump sum at retirement instead of a monthly payout. Is this an option?

A: Please do yourself a favor and do NOT listen to the "faculty room gurus" There are no boilerplate solutions for different retirement situations; each individual has separate needs and preferences. You will be eligible for retirement on the day of your 55th birthday, assuming you have the necessary service credit. There is no option affording a lump sum payout! If you have additional questions, please call.

Q: I am thinking about retiring this year, but we do not have a contract yet and my salary is the same as last year. I have heard that if I retire before a contact is settled, my Final Average Salary would not take the new salary into account even though the district gives us a retro check. Is this true?

A: We don't know who is spreading that information, but it is erroneous. If you retire and then the contract is settled, notify the TRS. If retroactive amounts are provided for the years you worked without a contract, your retirement allowance will be adjusted retroactive to your date of retirement.

Q: I am an occupational therapist working in the public schools. I am not employed by BOCES. I work directly for the school system and am a member of the teachers union. I receive New York Teacher and read with interest the TRS article about retirement membership but I am a member of the New York State Employees' Retirement System, not the TRS. Am I eligible to be a member of TRS?

A: Certain classifications of positions are enrolled by state law in certain public pension funds. For example, teacher aides, occupational therapists and registered nurses are in the ERS. (This is not a complete list.) Teaching assistants, teachers and administrators are in the TRS. You'll notice New York Teacher periodically runs an ERS column with retirement information.

Q: At what age can I retire and get my maximum Final Average Salary? I am a Tier 4 member. Can I go at the age of 55 with 30 years in? Or is it age 62 with 30 years in? I will be 59 years old when I have 30 years in the system. I keep getting different scenarios from teachers in my district.

A: Tier 4 members are eligible to retire without penalty at minimum age 55 with 30 years of credited service. From your e-mail it seems that when you reach 59 you will have the necessary years, so that is when you can retire with 60 percent of your FAS.