Group Classifications (Group 1, 2, 4)

Massachusetts public employees fall into one of three groups under MGL Chapter 32 § 3(2)(g). Group affects:

The minimum retirement age at which you can collect a benefit
The age factor used in the benefit formula (the higher the factor, the larger the percentage of salary you receive per year of service)
Eligibility for accidental-disability and accidental-death benefits

Your group classification is set by your job title and duties, not by your preference. PERAC's Group Classification regulations (840 CMR 15.00) and individual classification determinations govern which positions fall into which group.

Group 1 — most public employees

The default group. Includes administrative, clerical, professional, technical, and most non-uniformed positions in cities, towns, counties, the Commonwealth, and authorities.

Minimum retirement age: 55 (for members hired before April 2, 2012; 60 for members hired on or after that date — see "Hire date matters" below)
Age factor at minimum age: 1.45% (legacy) / 1.45% (post-2012) — increases with age, capping at age 65 (legacy) or 67 (post-2012)

Group 2 — certain hazardous-duty positions

Includes mental health workers in state hospitals, certain corrections officers below the rank of captain, certain MBTA employees, and a list of specific positions named in MGL Chapter 32 § 3(2)(g).

Minimum retirement age: 55 (legacy) / 55 (post-2012, with reduced factor at 55)
Age factor at minimum age: 2.00% (legacy) — slightly higher than Group 1

Group 4 — uniformed public safety

Police officers, firefighters, certain corrections officers, and similar uniformed public-safety positions.

Minimum retirement age: 55 (legacy) / 55 (post-2012)
Age factor at minimum age: 2.50% (legacy) — significantly higher than Groups 1 or 2
Mandatory retirement: age 65 for police and firefighters under MGL Chapter 32 § 90A

Hire date matters

The Pension Reform Act of 2011 created two classes of members:

Legacy members: established membership in any Massachusetts contributory retirement system on or before April 1, 2012
Post-2012 members: established membership on or after April 2, 2012

Post-2012 members have higher minimum retirement ages, longer creditable-service requirements for full benefits, and slightly different age-factor schedules. Both classes use the same group classifications (1, 2, 4); the formulas differ.

If you transferred into a Massachusetts retirement system from another MA system without a break, your original membership date carries over.

Multiple groups in one career

If you held positions in different groups during your career — for example, started as a Group 1 administrator and later became a Group 4 firefighter — the board calculates your benefit using the rules for each group on a pro-rata basis. See Creditable Service.

How to verify your group

Your group classification is on your annual benefit statement and in the Member Portal. If you believe your classification is incorrect, contact our office; corrections require PERAC review.