Q: Your recent column stated that a bill in the state Legislature would award an active member one month's credit for every year that the member contributed 3 percent into the retirement system. First, how would a member determine the number of years he or she contributed the 3 percent? Second, when was the last year active members contributed to the fund?

A: The NYSUT program bill would provide one month of service credit for each year of 3 percent contributions in excess of 10 years. Members could calculate the time from their initial date of membership (found on the Member Annual Statement mailed to each member) to the year the bill was enacted into law (2000). Active members continue to pay the 3 percent until they reach 10 years of membership.

Q: Can you explain any details about the service credit that Tier 4 members might receive from overpaying the 3 percent contributions? I started paying in 1985; does that mean since the bill was passed in 2000, I overpaid by five years?

A: According to your e-mail, you paid the 3 percent for 15 years (1985 to 2000). Should this bill be enacted into law, you should be eligible for five months additional service credit (five years of payments in excess of 10 years; one month for each year over 10 years). However, if you retire before the bill becomes law, you will NOT be eligible. Only in-service members (those still teaching and on the district's payroll) are eligible for in-service benefit improvements.

Q: What is the most likely time line we can expect for the 3 percent overpayment bill to be voted on? Many of us are considering retirement this July. The timing of this bill would affect our pension. Should we wait to file for retirement so we get this credit?

A: One can never accurately speculate when or if a particular bill will be enacted into law. However, due to NYSUT's legislative activities to improve our benefits, a law was passed several years ago that could help you: If a member retires effective July 1 and a retirement bill is enacted between that time and Dec. 31 of that year, the law is deemed to have been in effect on June 30. Therefore, as long as you're still an in-service member on June 30, you would be eligible if the improved benefit is approved. That's just one example of what our VOTE-COPE contributions do for us!

Q: At what age can I retire and get my maximum pension? I'll be 59 when I have 30 years in.

A: Tier 4 members are eligible to retire without penalty at minimum age 55 with 30 years of service. Since you won't have 30 years until you're age 59, that is when you can retire with 60 percent of your final average salary.