In response to letter [“City retirement benefit questions,” Recorder, April 7], all of this information is available either at the Public Employee Retirement Administration Commission (PERAC) website at https://www.mass.gov/orgs/public-employee-retirement-administration-commission, ssa.gov, or on the city of Greenfield’s website.

A member’s contribution rate depends on when they became a member. For current members it ranges from 7%-9% of non-overtime and most members pay an additional 2% for earnings over $30,000. Regular retirements are based on age at retirement, length of service, and their highest average annual compensation. The details of the calculation change for members hired on or after April 2, 2012.

The age factor is generally between 1% at age 50 and 2.5% at age 65 (age 40 to 55 for police and fire), service is calculated to the nearest full month and the calculation of these two is capped at 80%.

Members generally use their highest 3-year average earnings. If a regular employee retires at age 65 with $60,000 in highest average earnings, the maximum benefit would be $15,000 with 10 years, $30,000 with 20 years, and $48,000 with 40 years.

Benefits other than the retirement allowance vary by town but generally include continued health and life insurance. It’s paid for by a combination of member contributions and assessments to towns. For Greenfield, the retirement assessment is about 10% of their budget. This is just a very brief overview, and I encourage anyone who’s interested in this topic visit PERAC’s website show above for much more information.

Carolyn Olsen

Bernardston