FAQ - Retirement Estimates
Disclaimers
Every effort is made to ensure the completeness and accuracy of information; however, this figure is an estimate, not a guarantee of future benefits. All of the displayed information are components of the estimate calculation. Please check all displayed information for accuracy and report any discrepancies to the Allegheny County Retirement Office at (412)350-3256. Please be aware that final benefit calculations will be reduced if compensation exceeds the limits of Internal Revenue Code Section 401(a)(17) or the benefit would otherwise exceed the limits of IRC Section 415
Retirement Information
For more information about your retirement benefits, the pension fund or general financial planning education please visit the Retirement Office’s website at https://www.alleghenycounty.us/Government/Employment/Retirement-Office
Q&A
Why is my salary for my final year of work so low?
Your salary for the year you retire only covers the portion of the year you plan to work. As such, your salary estimate will be a fraction of the previous year unless you plan to retire on New Year’s Eve. Please note this is only an estimate and not a guarantee of future benefits, as mentioned above.
- For example, retiring on April 30th should give you approximately one third of the expected yearly salary for your final year of service
Why is my salary for this year so low?
The amount displayed for the current year is only your projected earnings for the rest of the year and does not include any payments you’ve already received. The later in the year you run the estimate, the smaller percentage of the year’s salary will be displayed.
- For example, running an estimate on September 1st should give you approximately one third of the expected yearly salary for the current year.
What is a ‘Final Average Salary’?
The final average salary is calculated using a selection of your highest-earning paychecks over the last four years (if Act 125 does not apply) or eight years (if Act 125 does apply).
What is Act 125? And does it apply to me?
Act 125 of 2013 of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a legal amendment that applies to any county employee hired since February 21, 2014. This Act adjusts the schedule for qualifying for retirement and the rate at which you accrue pension service. Feel free to read more about Act 125 on our Member Benefits page.
Why am I getting a different amount for my pension than a previous estimate?
Our calculator relies on several factors to determine your expected pension amount, from the information you input before calculation to records of your work history to even today’s date. Small variations are inevitable, but if you see an unexpected significant change to your calculation, please contact the Retirement Office for more information.
Contact
If I have questions or need assistance, who can I contact?
Please email pension@alleghenycounty.us or call 412-350-4674
Acceptable use
How may I use or not use the information on the member portal?
Authorized users should be aware that the data and files they create on the Retirement Calculator immediately become the property of the Retirement Board of Allegheny County. Because of the need to protect the Allegheny County network, there is no guarantee of privacy or confidentiality of any information stored on any network device belonging to Allegheny County.
Access is granted through the County Intranet. Users must log on from a county device in order to access the online calculator. Please be aware that use of the calculator is limited to the employee and their benefits. Unauthorized access of another employee’s account is strictly prohibited and can result in appropriate action, including the suspension of your account.