Leaving Before Retirement (Pension)

Leaving your Town job, but not retiring? Your pension will work differently depending on how long you've worked as a public employee in Massachusetts.

Note: Since all state and municipal employees in Massachusetts are in the same retirement system, your years in other state or municipal jobs will carry over when you are hired by the Town of Brookline, and vice versa.

Under 10 Years of Service

Your pension is not yet "vested." That means when you retire, you won't get a pension payment from Brookline. But you still paid money into the system, so now you have two options: 

  1. Keep your money in the Retirement System in case you get a new job someday in the Massachusetts Public Retirement System (this will keep your "credit" for the time you worked in Brookline), or,
  2. Get a refund for the money you paid into the system. (If you do this, and later take another public job, you'll lose all the credit for the years you worked here).

Refund/Rollover Application

We strongly advise you to contact the Retirement Department before deciding how to proceed. 

10 or More Years of Service

Your pension is now "vested." That means you have two options:

  1. You're now eligible to receive a pension payment when you finally retire, even if your last job isn't with Brookline or another public pension system. Check our page on Retiring & Retired Employees for more information.
  2. Get a refund for the money you paid into the system. (If you do this, and later take another public job, you'll lose all the credit for the years you worked here).

Refund/Rollover Application

We strongly advise you to contact the Retirement Department before deciding how to proceed.