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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>82994</law_id><section_number>51.1-165.01</section_number><catch_line>Partial lump-sum option for payment of retirement allowance</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>51.1-163</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="51.1">Pensions, Benefits, and Retirement</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="1">Virginia Retirement System</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="9">Benefits</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> For purposes of this section:
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Normal retirement</span>&#x201D; means <span class="dictionary">normal retirement</span> as described in &#xA7;&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Service retirement" href="/51.1-153/">51.1-153</a>, <a class="law" title="Service retirement generally" href="/51.1-205/">51.1-205</a>, <a class="law" title="Service retirement generally" href="/51.1-216/">51.1-216</a> or &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Service retirement generally" href="/51.1-305/">51.1-305</a>, in accordance with the retirement plan covering the <span class="dictionary">member</span>. <a id="paragraph-297513" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/51.1-165.01/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> The following <span class="dictionary">members</span> are eligible to receive a portion of their <span class="dictionary">retirement allowance</span> paid in a lump-sum distribution upon retirement as provided in this section: <a id="paragraph-297514" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/51.1-165.01/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Any retiring <span class="dictionary">member</span> who (i) has satisfied the requirements for <span class="dictionary">normal retirement</span> after January 1, 2004, or has been credited with at least three years of <span class="dictionary">creditable service</span> for service performed after the date he was first eligible for an unreduced service <span class="dictionary">retirement allowance</span> and (ii) was in service for at least three full years after January 1, 2001, is eligible to elect one of the partial lump-sum options described in either subdivision C 1, C 2, or C 3. <a id="paragraph-297515" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/51.1-165.01/#B1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Any retiring <span class="dictionary">member</span> who (i) has been credited with at least two years of <span class="dictionary">creditable service</span> for service performed after the date he was first eligible for an unreduced service <span class="dictionary">retirement allowance</span> and (ii) was in service for at least two full years after January 1, 2001, is eligible to elect one of the partial lump-sum options described in either subdivision C 1 or C 2. <a id="paragraph-297516" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/51.1-165.01/#B2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Any retiring <span class="dictionary">member</span> who (i) has been credited with at least one year of <span class="dictionary">creditable service</span> for service performed after the date he was first eligible for an unreduced service <span class="dictionary">retirement allowance</span> and (ii) was in service for at least one full year after January 1, 2001, is eligible to elect the partial lump-sum option described in subdivision C 1.
				For purposes of this subsection, service of an <span class="dictionary">employee</span> of a locality participating in the <span class="dictionary">Retirement System</span> shall mean service for which retirement credit is granted under this chapter. <a id="paragraph-297517" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/51.1-165.01/#B3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> An eligible retiring <span class="dictionary">member</span> may make a one-time election to receive a portion of his <span class="dictionary">retirement allowance</span> paid in a lump-sum distribution upon his retirement. The monthly amount of the service <span class="dictionary">retirement allowance</span> otherwise payable to such <span class="dictionary">member</span> making the election shall be reduced on an actuarially equivalent basis to reflect the payment of such lump-sum distribution. Any optional payment of the <span class="dictionary">retirement allowance</span>, pursuant to &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Optional benefits" href="/51.1-165/">51.1-165</a>, shall also be based upon such reduced <span class="dictionary">retirement allowance</span>. The computation and payment of any service <span class="dictionary">retirement allowance</span> that is reduced on an actuarially equivalent basis to reflect the payment of a lump-sum distribution shall also reflect the provisions of subsection B of &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Limits on creditable compensation; maximum benefits; mandatory payment of allowance" href="/51.1-168/">51.1-168</a> applicable to the total retirement benefit including the lump-sum distribution. An eligible retiring <span class="dictionary">member</span> may elect one of the following partial lump-sum options pursuant to the limitations provided in subsection B: <a id="paragraph-297518" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/51.1-165.01/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> A lump-sum distribution shall be paid to such <span class="dictionary">member</span> upon his retirement equal to twelve times the monthly amount of his service <span class="dictionary">retirement allowance</span> as determined in subsection A of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Service retirement allowance" href="/51.1-155/">51.1-155</a>, subsection A of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Service retirement allowance" href="/51.1-206/">51.1-206</a>, subsection A of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Service retirement allowance" href="/51.1-217/">51.1-217</a>, or subsection A of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Service retirement allowance" href="/51.1-306/">51.1-306</a>, in accordance with the retirement plan covering such <span class="dictionary">member</span> but without regard to the limitation set forth in subsection B of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Limits on creditable compensation; maximum benefits; mandatory payment of allowance" href="/51.1-168/">51.1-168</a>. <a id="paragraph-297519" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/51.1-165.01/#C1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> A lump-sum distribution shall be paid to such <span class="dictionary">member</span> upon his retirement equal to twenty-four times the monthly amount of his service <span class="dictionary">retirement allowance</span> as determined in subsection A of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Service retirement allowance" href="/51.1-155/">51.1-155</a>, subsection A of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Service retirement allowance" href="/51.1-206/">51.1-206</a>, subsection A of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Service retirement allowance" href="/51.1-217/">51.1-217</a>, or subsection A of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Service retirement allowance" href="/51.1-306/">51.1-306</a>, in accordance with the retirement plan covering such <span class="dictionary">member</span> but without regard to the limitation set forth in subsection B of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Limits on creditable compensation; maximum benefits; mandatory payment of allowance" href="/51.1-168/">51.1-168</a>. <a id="paragraph-297520" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/51.1-165.01/#C2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> A lump-sum distribution shall be paid to such <span class="dictionary">member</span> upon his retirement equal to thirty-six times the monthly amount of his service <span class="dictionary">retirement allowance</span> as determined in subsection A of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Service retirement allowance" href="/51.1-155/">51.1-155</a>, subsection A of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Service retirement allowance" href="/51.1-206/">51.1-206</a>, subsection A of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Service retirement allowance" href="/51.1-217/">51.1-217</a>, or subsection A of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Service retirement allowance" href="/51.1-306/">51.1-306</a>, in accordance with the retirement plan covering such <span class="dictionary">member</span> but without regard to the limitation set forth in subsection B of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Limits on creditable compensation; maximum benefits; mandatory payment of allowance" href="/51.1-168/">51.1-168</a>. <a id="paragraph-297521" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/51.1-165.01/#C3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> The lump-sum distribution, if elected by the eligible retiring <span class="dictionary">member</span>, shall be paid at the same time that the first monthly annuity payment is paid to such <span class="dictionary">member</span>. <a id="paragraph-297522" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/51.1-165.01/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> Before an eligible retiring <span class="dictionary">member</span> may make an election to receive a lump-sum distribution, such <span class="dictionary">member</span> shall have been provided from the <span class="dictionary">Retirement System</span> the amount by which his monthly <span class="dictionary">retirement allowance</span> shall be reduced under each of the partial lump-sum options provided in subsection C, as available to such <span class="dictionary">member</span>. No eligible retiring <span class="dictionary">member</span> shall be allowed to make an election for a lump-sum distribution pursuant to this section more than once in his lifetime. <a id="paragraph-297523" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/51.1-165.01/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="F"><p><span class="prefix-number">F.</span> The election of any one of the options stated in this section shall be void if the <span class="dictionary">member</span> dies prior to the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> receiving written notification of the <span class="dictionary">member</span>&#x2019;s effective date of retirement. If the death of the <span class="dictionary">member</span> occurs prior to the effective date of retirement but after the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> has received written notification of the <span class="dictionary">member</span>&#x2019;s effective date of retirement, benefits shall be paid in accordance with the provisions of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Death after retirement" href="/51.1-163/">51.1-163</a> and the requirement that the <span class="dictionary">member</span> be in service shall not apply. <a id="paragraph-297524" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/51.1-165.01/#F"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2001, cc. 679, 699; 2002, c. 404.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
