N.Y. Retirement & Social Security Law Section 510
Escalation of benefits


a.

Service retirement, disability and survivor benefits shall be subject to annual escalation as provided in this section.

b.

The term “full escalation date” shall mean:

1.

The first day of the month following the date on which a member attains age sixty-five, with respect to service retirement benefits for general members and their beneficiaries.

2.

The first day of the month following the date on which a member completes or would have completed twenty-five years of credited service, with respect to service retirement benefits for police/fire members and their beneficiaries, New York city uniformed correction/sanitation revised plan members and their beneficiaries or investigator revised plan members and their beneficiaries.

3.

The first day of the month following the date on which a disability retiree first becomes eligible for a disability benefit, with respect to members eligible for ordinary or accidental disability benefits and their beneficiaries.

4.

The first day of the month following the date on which a beneficiary first eligible for a death benefit becomes eligible for such benefit, with respect to ordinary and accidental death benefits which are paid other than as a lump sum.

c.

If the payment of benefits commences on the full escalation date, the benefit shall be increased annually at an escalation rate equal to the lesser of three percent or the increase in the cost-of-living index as provided in subdivision d hereof. In the event of a decrease in the cost-of-living index, the annual benefit shall be decreased by the lesser of three percent or the amount of the decrease in the cost-of-living index, as provided in subdivision d, provided that the benefit, in any event, shall not be reduced below the benefit payable at the initial commencement date. For each month that the benefit commencement date precedes the full escalation date, the escalation rate shall be reduced by one thirty-sixth, and there shall be no escalation where benefits commence more than three years prior to the full escalation date.

d.

Cost-of-living index changes shall be computed on a cumulative basis so that any increases or decreases not reflected in an adjustment to the benefit level shall be carried forward and applied in subsequent years. Benefits shall be escalated commencing with the payment due for the month of April, based on the cost-of-living index as of December thirty-first of the preceding year. If the initial benefit commencement date is May first or later, the initial escalation adjustment for the following April shall be reduced by one-twelfth for benefits commencing on May first, plus a further reduction of one-twelfth for each month the initial benefit commences thereafter.

e.

If a member elects to defer the service retirement benefit, after separation from service, for the purpose of becoming eligible for annual escalation, the benefit so deferred shall be escalated at the full escalation rate until the deferred payment date, and thereafter shall be subject to annual escalation as provided in this section.

f.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, the escalation of any service retirement, disability or death benefit payable in the form of a pension with respect to an elective member shall not result in any increase in the initial benefit payable until such elective member completes or would have completed (had such member continued in service) ten years of creditable service after the date of election of coverage under this article.

g.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, the annual escalation provided in this section shall not apply to the performance of duty disability retirement provided for in section five hundred seven-b of this article.

h.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, the annual escalation provided in this section shall not apply to the performance of duty disability retirement provided for in section five hundred seven-c of this article.

i.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, the annual escalation provided in this section shall not apply to the ordinary disability benefit for New York city enhanced plan members provided for in subdivision c-1 of section five hundred six of this article or the accidental disability benefit for New York city enhanced plan members provided for in paragraph three of subdivision c of § 507 (Accidental disability benefits)section five hundred seven of this article. Such members who receive such ordinary disability benefit or accidental disability benefit shall have a cost-of-living adjustment for such benefit, which shall be computed in the same manner as provided for by section 13-696 of the administrative code of the city of New York.

Source: Section 510 — Escalation of benefits, https://www.­nysenate.­gov/legislation/laws/RSS/510 (updated Sep. 9, 2016; accessed Mar. 23, 2024).

500
Application
501
Definitions
502
Eligibility for service retirement benefits
503
Eligibility for normal and early service retirement benefits
504
Service retirement benefits
504–A
Twenty-year retirement program for New York city correction members below the rank of captain
504–B
Twenty-year retirement program for New York city correction members of the rank of captain or above
504–C
Supplemental retirement allowance
504–D
Twenty-year retirement program for New York city correction members
505
Service retirement benefits
506
Ordinary disability benefits
507
Accidental disability benefits
507–A
Disability retirement
507–B
Performance of duty disability retirement
507–C
Performance of duty disability retirement
507–D
Disability benefits
507–E
Uniformed court officers and peace officers
507–F
Accidental disability retirement
507–G
Payment of both pensions for accident and other benefits prohibited
507–H
Retirement for disability incurred in performance of duty
507–I
Disability benefits
508
Death benefits
508–A
Death benefit for vested members who die prior to retirement
508–B
Death benefit for deputy sheriffs employed by Nassau county
508–B*2
Death benefits for correction officers employed by Nassau county
508–B*3
Death benefits for correction officers employed by Suffolk county
508–B*4
Death benefits for deputy sheriffs employed by Suffolk county
508–C
Death benefits for fire marshals employed by Nassau county
509
Accidental death benefits
509–A
COVID-19 benefit
510
Escalation of benefits
511
Coordination with social security benefits
512
Final average salary
513
Credit for service
514
Options
515
Optional retirement program
516
Vesting
517
Member contributions
517–A
Termination of membership
517–B
Loans to members of a teachers’ retirement system
517–C
Loans to members of certain retirement systems
518
Election of coverage under article
519
Effect of other laws
520
Duration

Accessed:
Mar. 23, 2024

Last modified:
Sep. 9, 2016

§ 510’s source at nysenate​.gov

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