AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE STATE EMPLOYEES’ PENSION PLAN.

New pension formula and credit for lawmakers

The law updates pensions for Delaware General Assembly members. If you are elected in November and serve through the next November Election Day, you get full service credit for that whole term. Example: five House terms count as 10 years; five Senate terms count as 20 years. Your service, disability, and survivor pensions are based on your pay as an elected official, and contributions use that pay. The law sets a minimum pension equal to your Assembly years times the highest per‑year pension rate paid to any retired member. Pension start dates depend on when you were first elected: before January 1, 2012, you can start after age 60 with 5 years, or after age 55 with 10 years. Elected on or after January 1, 2012, you can start after age 60 with 20 years, or after age 65 with 10 years. If you also have other state service, that pension is calculated separately under the regular rules.