Veterans Status for New Jersey Pensions

New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DVA), with the New Jersey Division of Pensions and Benefits

Retirement at 55 with 25 years of service and a Maximum Annual Allowance of 54.5 percent of your highest 12 consecutive months of salary

Veterans status in the Public Employees’ Retirement System or the Teachers’ Pension and Annuity Fund lets you take Veterans Retirement instead of ordinary Service Retirement. You can retire at 55 with 25 years of service, or at 60 with 20 years, and your Maximum Annual Allowance is calculated more favourably: 54.5 percent of your highest 12 consecutive months of salary. If you retire with 35 years of service at 55 or older, the calculation is your years of service divided by 55, times your highest 12 consecutive months of salary. You can still choose Service Retirement if you prefer.

Check eligibility

How to apply

Submit the New Jersey Application for Veteran Designation for Pension to the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs with your discharge documents. Read Division of Pensions and Benefits Fact Sheet 17 first.

What you'll need

Your WD Form 53-55, DD214 or Honorable Discharge Certificate, plus any additional documents they request.

Eligibility

You are enrolled in the New Jersey Public Employees’ Retirement System or the Teachers’ Pension and Annuity Fund
You were honorably discharged
You served on active duty during a qualifying war era, with 14 days in a combat theater during the specified periods, or 90 days of active duty for the Vietnam Conflict on or after December 31, 1960 beginning on or before May 7, 1975
You have 25 years of service at age 55 or older, or 20 years of service at age 60 or older

Source

Official source

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