LECOS Retirement for Active Employees
The following retirement information is for those who contribute to the Law Enforcement and Custodial Officer Supplemental (LECOS) Retirement Fund. LECOS membership begins on your hire date in a LECOS-contributing position. There are currently three retirement groups. Your group is based on your hire date:
- Group 1 - hired before September 1, 2009
- Group 2 - hired September 1, 2009 - August 31, 2013
- Group 3 - hired September 1, 2013 – August 31, 2022
Note: Employees hired on or after September 1, 2022 will be in Group 4. Information on Group 4 retirement eligibility and benefits will be available starting summer 2022.
If you leave state employment, withdraw your ERS retirement account balance and return to state employment later, you will be in a different retirement group based on your later hire date. If you do not withdraw your retirement account when you leave state employment, you will stay in your original retirement group.
Group 1 LECOS (hired before September 1, 2009)
This retirement information is based on current laws and ERS rules. If you withdraw your ERS retirement account balance, you no longer have those years of service credit in your account. They will not count toward your years of service credit at retirement.
Type 1 | Type 2 | Type 3 | Type 4 | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Service Credit | 5 years of any service credit | 10 years of LECOS service credit | 10 years of any service credit | 20 years of LECOS service credit |
Age | 60 or above | 55 or above | 60 or above | any age |
Lifetime Payment | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes Payment will be reduced if you retire before age 50. Reduction is based on your age at retirement. |
LECOS Supplement Benefit | No | No | No | Yes Payment will be reduced If you retire before age 50. Reduction is based on your age at retirement. |
Health Insurance* | No | Yes | Yes** | Yes |
*Notice about Health Insurance
Depending on your insurance eligibility at retirement, your health insurance may not be effective right away.
Health and other insurance benefits for employees and retirees are subject to change based on available State funding. The Texas Legislature determines the level of funding for such benefits and has no continuing obligation to provide those benefits beyond each fiscal year.
**Optional benefits available at retirement and health insurance available at age 65.
Group 2 LECOS (hired September 1, 2009 - August 31, 2013)
This retirement information is based on current laws and ERS rules. If you withdraw your ERS retirement account balance, you no longer have those years of service credit in your account. They will not count toward your years of service credit at retirement.
Type 1 | Type 2 | Type 3 | |
---|---|---|---|
Service Credit | 10 years of LECOS service credit | 10 years of any service credit | 20 years of LECOS service credit |
Age | 55 or above | 65 or above |
any age |
Lifetime Payment | Yes Payment will be reduced 5% for each year you retire before age 60 (25% cap) |
Yes | Yes Payment will be reduced 5% for each year you retire before age 55 (25% cap). |
LECOS Supplement Benefit | No | No | Payment will be reduced 5% for each year you retire before age 55 (25% cap). |
Health Insurance* | Yes | Yes | Yes |
*Notice about Insurance
Depending on your insurance eligibility at retirement, your health insurance may not be effective right away.
Health and other insurance benefits for employees and retirees are subject to change based on available State funding. The Texas Legislature determines the level of funding for such benefits and has no continuing obligation to provide those benefits beyond each fiscal year.
Group 3 LECOS (hired September 1, 2013 - August 31, 2022)
This retirement information is based on current laws and ERS rules. If you withdraw your retirement account balance, you no longer have those years of service credit in your account. They will not count toward your years of service credit at retirement.
Type 1 | Type 2 | Type 3 | |
---|---|---|---|
Service Credit | 10 years of LECOS service credit | 10 years of any service credit | 20 years of LECOS service credit |
Age | 55 or above | 65 or above | any age |
Lifetime Payment | Yes Payment will be reduced 5% for each year you retire before age 62 |
Yes | Yes Payment will be reduced 5% for each year you retire before age 57 (no cap). |
LECOS Supplement Benefit | No | No | Yes Payment will be reduced 5% for each year you retire before age 57 (no cap). |
Health Insurance* | Yes | Yes | Yes |
*Notice about Insurance
Depending on your insurance eligibility at retirement, your health insurance may not be effective right away.
Health and other insurance benefits for employees and retirees are subject to change based on available State funding. The Texas Legislature determines the level of funding for such benefits and has no continuing obligation to provide those benefits beyond each fiscal year.
Resources
- ERS CPOs/COs Retirement and Insurance Overview (pdf)
- Planning Your Retirement for CPOs/COs booklet (pdf)
- Proportionate Retirement Program
- Purchase Service Credit (video)
- Ready, Set, Retire! for CPOs/COs presentation (pdf)
- Texa$averSM program Overview (personal retirement savings to supplement your State of Texas retirement income)
- Tiered Retiree Insurance
- Regular service retirement overview
- Chapter 615 benefits (pdf)