As a precaution during the holiday season, APERS is implementing additional measures to safeguard member account data. Please note that we are unable to change any personal information over the phone or by fax.

Please contact our office at 501-682-7800 if you have questions or need assistance.

APERS
AJRS
Schedule a retirement counseling appointment
report a death
file for reciprocity and/or purchase a service credit
submit a Power of Attorney
submit a Qualified Domestic Relations Order
Search
Close this search box.

Tier Two Trooper

Home » Members » Retirement Benefits » Tier Two Trooper

Tier Two Trooper

Eligibility for Benefits

Any member who has acquired five years but less than 28 years of actual service and has attained the required age may retire upon application. For a member with less than 28 years of actual service, the required age is 65 reduced by 0.75 of a month for each month of actual service, but in no event younger than 55.

Any member with 28 or more years of actual service may retire at any age upon application. A member or former member who is vested for a benefit may retire early within 10 years of full benefit age.

If you retire early, your benefit will be reduced by ½ of 1% for each month your retirement precedes the normal retirement age.

Eligibility for Disability Benefits

To be eligible for disability benefits, you must have five years of actual service, but that requirement is waived if you receive Workers’ Compensation for a disability arising solely and exclusively out of an injury in the course of your employment as a state police officer.

Upon application filed with the Board of Trustees of the system or by the Director of the Arkansas State Police on behalf of the member, a member who is in the employ of the Arkansas State Police, who becomes totally and permanently incapacitated for duty in the employ of the Arkansas State Police by reason of a personal injury or disease may be retired by the Board of Trustees, but only after a medical examination of the member.

The examination shall be made by or under the direction of a board of medical professionals as defined in the rules of the Board of Trustees, using the active-duty criteria supplied by Arkansas State Police in determining the extent of the disability.

Tier Two DROP

In lieu of terminating employment and accepting a pension, a Tier Two member with 28 years of actual service and who is eligible to receive a service retirement pension may elect to participate in the DROP.

In the DROP, a Tier Two member receives 72% of the monthly retirement benefit that would have been payable had the employee elected to cease employment and receive a service retirement pension. The funds shall be paid into the member’s DROP account.

Maximum Participation

A member may participate in the DROP for up to seven years. At the conclusion of a state trooper’s participation in the plan, he or she shall terminate employment and start receiving his or her monthly annuity from ASPRS. The balance of the DROP account will be paid out according to the member’s election.

DROP Payout

When a member exits the DROP, he or she may elect to receive the accrued DROP account balance as a lump sum payment, a rollover to another retirement plan, a monthly annuity, or a combination of these payment methods. 

If a member dies prior to exiting the DROP, the DROP balance will be paid to the member’s designated beneficiary.

Benefit Estimates

You can request a benefit estimate for a projection of what you will earn in retirement or in the DROP. You can run an estimate in your myASPRS portal by clicking Your Benefits, then New Estimate, or you can request a counselor-prepared estimate by calling 501-682-7800.

How to Apply

If you are ready to apply for retirement or the DROP, you may apply in myASPRS by clicking Your Benefits, then Apply for Benefit. If you prefer a paper application, contact our retirement support center at 501-682-7800.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What are the available annuity options under ASPRS?

  • Straight Life (Tier Two)
  • Option A60
  • Option A120
  • Option B50
  • Option B75

Can you explain the Straight Life (Tier Two) option?

If you choose the Straight Life option, your monthly annuity will be paid for your lifetime only. Any balance of employee contributions not paid to you will be refunded to your named contributions beneficiary. If no balance remains, nothing will be payable.

Can you explain Option A60 and Option A120?

Under these annuity options, a monthly annuity will be paid for your lifetime. If you die before receiving 60 (for Option A60) or 120 (for Option A120) monthly payments, your beneficiary will receive the remaining monthly annuity payments, less the temporary annuity (if applicable). 

You may name anyone you choose as an Option A60 or Option A120 beneficiary. If you name multiple beneficiaries, the benefit will be divided among them. Please note that a beneficiary cannot be removed except for death or divorce.

  • Under Option A60, you will receive 96% of the Straight Life annuity amount. 
  • Under Option A120, you will receive 90% of the Straight Life annuity amount.

Example: a member selected Option A120 at retirement and died after receiving 47 monthly payments. The beneficiary(ies) will be eligible to receive the remaining 73 monthly payments (less the temporary annuity, if applicable).

Can you explain Option B50 and Option B75? 

Under these annuity options, a monthly annuity will be paid for your lifetime. When you die, your beneficiary will receive 50% (Option B50) or 75% (Option B75) of your monthly annuity, less the temporary annuity (if applicable), for the beneficiary’s lifetime.

For these options, your beneficiary must be either your spouse (to whom you have been married for at least six months) or a dependent child 40 years of age or older whom you claimed as a dependent on the previous year’s federal tax return.

  • Under Option B50, you will receive 83% of the Straight Life annuity amount, adjusted upward or downward 0.5% for each year difference in age between you and your beneficiary. 
  • Under Option B75, you will receive 75% (Tier Two) of the Straight Life annuity amount, adjusted upward or downward 0.75% for each year difference in age between you and your beneficiary.

Example: a member selected Option B50. The beneficiary will be eligible to receive 50% of what the member was receiving monthly (less the temporary annuity, if applicable) for the beneficiary’s lifetime. If the member was receiving $1,000.00 monthly, then the beneficiary would receive $500.00 monthly.

Can you explain the temporary annuity?

The temporary annuity is a benefit payable to non-contributory members who retire prior to the age of 62. It is payable only to the member and expires when the member turns age

Contact

Phone:
(501) 682-7800
(800) 682-7377
Address:
124 W. Capitol, Suite 400
Little Rock, AR 72201
Hours:
8:00AM - 4:30PM
Employment Opportunities
Legal Disclaimer

Quicklinks

ASPRS Board

ASPRS Member Handbook

Contact Us

Qualified Domestic Relations Order

Retirement Benefits

Filing Deadlines

Take Me To

Information For

©2024 Arkansas State Police Retirement System

Disclaimer on Benefits and Rights

Disclaimer Concerning Benefit Calculations, Benefit Projections, Counseling, and Certain Conditions Regarding APERS Benefits and Rights

The purpose of this Disclaimer is to summarize, in plain language, existing APERS policy concerning benefit calculations, benefit projections, counseling, and certain conditions regarding APERS benefits and rights. This Disclaimer does not reflect any alteration or amendment of existing APERS policy. This site includes general information about APERS programs and benefits and may not represent or include completely the law and/or rules that govern APERS. Arkansas law and/or administrative rules will supersede any information in conflict.

APERS strives to provide accurate information and assistance to plan participants who have questions regarding their APERS benefits. All information and calculations concerning benefits are based upon current law and policy, even though information often concerns future benefits. Likewise, laws and policies affecting plan participants are subject to change from time to time. The Arkansas General Assembly, U. S. Congress, federal agencies, and the APERS Board of Trustees may change how benefits are calculated and change other rights of plan participants. Any benefit projection or information provided by APERS is subject to future law or policy that is applicable to APERS.

APERS staff depends upon information provided by the plan participants and offers counseling and projects future benefit estimates based upon that information. Such estimates can vary materially from actual results. Calculations concerning benefits, as well as the information APERS provides during counseling, can be materially affected if the plan participant provides inaccurate or incomplete information, or omits material facts. Plan participants are presumed to have knowledge of all publicly available laws and policies that affect their APERS benefits and rights. APERS is under no duty to ensure that plan participants are specifically informed of a new law or policy unless required within the law or policy itself. If APERS attempts to notify plan participants who may be affected by a change of a law or policy, the failure to notify a specific plan participant does not create any right or cause of action for the plan participant.

APERS does not provide plan participants with specific recommendations regarding retirement options, tax advice, or legal advice. Each plan participant is solely responsible for determining whether benefit calculations, benefit projections, benefit estimates, and retirement plan options are suitable for the plan participant based upon his or her specific retirement objectives and personal and financial situation. APERS encourages plan participants to consult their own lawyer, accountant, tax professional, or other retirement adviser before making a decision that affects their benefits and rights regarding APERS.

Federal law and policy, state law and policy, APERS records and documents, and accurate data always govern the final determination of plan participant benefits and rights. An error by APERS does not create any common law rights on behalf of the plan participant. The rights of a plan participant are solely governed by the rights set forth in law and policy applicable to APERS.