Thinking about retiring?  This page will help you prepare for retirement, whether you plan to retire this year or well into the future. 

Now

Enroll in mySRPS to determine your eligibility to retire and create an estimate of your benefits.  Find out how to register with this Quick Enrollment Guide.

1 Year Prior to Retiring

Apply to purchase any eligible service by filing a MSRA form 26 Request to Purchase Previous Service with the State.  The form includes information about what types of service can be purchased and several pages of FAQs.

If you are eligible to claim additional credit for military service, submit form 43 Claim of Retirement Credit for Military Service to MSRA.

While not mandatory, the full day Pre-Retirement Seminars and Webinars and short videos hosted by MSRA include useful information including Social Security and financial planning.

For information that is specific to AACPS, view our Information Session online. 

Information Session

Forms Workshop

The Maryland State Retirement & Pension System provides benefits for two types of disability retirement; ordinary and accidental.  MSRA website has a short Disability Overview video with information.

It is a two-step process, and timeliness is essential. 

When you have the necessary forms to file a disability claim completed, including medical documentation, meet with your AAPCS Retirement Specialist to review and submit.

When you retire and begin receiving retirement benefits, your intention should be to permanently retire from employment with the State or participating government employer. 

However, if after your retirement you consider reemployment with an employer that participates in the Maryland State Retirement and Pension System, you need to be aware of two important issues.  First, IRS requirements regarding reemployment, second Maryland retirement law regarding reemployment.

There is a short reemployment after retirement video on the MSRA webpage.

The Maryland State Retirement and Pension System has a long history of providing retirement benefits to employees and teachers of Maryland state and local employers. 

Benefits include:

• Survivor protection if a member dies before retirement
• Disability coverage in the event that a member is unable to continue working due to a disabling injury or illness
• A basic monthly retirement allowance based on the member’s age, service and salary upon retirement
• And more

mySRPS is a secure website that lets eligible SRA pension plan participants get information and make transactions related to their retirement account.  See contributions, both in terms of time and money, when you are eligible to retire and how much you can expect when you do. Register through the MSRA website with the help of this how to enroll guide.

A leave of absence without pay, that has been approved both by AACPS and Maryland State Retirement for one of the following qualifying reasons:

• Member’s personal illness; or
• Birth or legal adoption of child; or
• Career-related study

Will benefit with:

• Survivor benefit protection
• Eligibile to purchase service credit

Submit a form 46 Qualified Leave of Absence Request or Notification of Military Service Entry for approval prior to your leave, and submit a form 26 Request to Purchase Previous Service when you return to purchase that service. 

Failure to submit a form 46 could impact the death benefit paid to your beneficiaries and your ability to purchase back your leave time when you return to work.

Maryland State Retirement & Pension System offers a short Leave of Absence video on their website.

Separating from Membership  

If you leave AACPS as a vested member of the Maryland State Retirement & Pension System, your accumulated benefits are protected, and you are guaranteed to receive a future benefit unless you withdraw your accumulated contributions.

For those who separate before earning a future vested benefit, that do not plan on returning to service within four years of separation, MSRA encourages the withdrawal of any accumulated contributions made to the System while employed with AACPS.

To find out whether you are a vested member or not, either call MSRA, or log on to or enroll in mySRPS.  This how to enroll how to enroll guide for former employees might be helpful.

You can request a refund of member contributions to the pension only if you are separated from all and any employment with an employer that participates in the Maryland State Retirement & Pension System.  This includes temporary, emergency and contractual positions.

If you have been separated from employment for less than 6 months, AACPS must certify your separation date on the appropriate form within the package. Your signature on the withdrawal form must be notarized. 

For the latest version of the Maryland State Retirement Agency's newsletters for both Employees and Retirees: Newsletters