Calculate your Rule of 88 points (age plus years of service), see when you reach 88 and age 55, or solve for the age or service needed, as used by IPERS.

Enter age and credited service in years; decimals are allowed.

Model only: continuous service adds one credited year per year. Defaults are 88 points and age 55. IPERS uses completed birthdays and quarterly service; its age 62 with 20 service years and age 65 routes, vesting and other requirements are not tested.

Rule settings

Default 55. Enter 0 for no minimum age in this model.

Rule Of 88 Formula

The following formula checks the points condition of a Rule of 88 provision. A minimum age and other plan rules may also apply.

P = Age + S
Points condition = P ≥ 88
Minimum-age condition = Age ≥ entered minimum age

Variables:

  • P is your points total (Age + Years of Service)
  • Age is your age in years
  • S is your credited years of service

Add age to credited service to check the points target. This calculator defaults to 88 points and minimum age 55, and lets you change both settings. Its waiting-period mode assumes continuous service and rounds up to whole months; inverse modes hold the other input fixed. IPERS uses completed birthdays and calendar-quarter service credit rather than this decimal-year model. Its other normal-retirement routes, including age 62 with 20 service years or age 65, and vesting and other eligibility requirements are not assessed. Confirm your individual benefit eligibility with the pension system.

What is a Rule Of 88?

The Rule of 88 is a retirement eligibility guideline used by some pension plans. Under this type of “points” rule, you may be eligible to retire once your age plus your years of service equals (or exceeds) 88, subject to any additional plan rules (for example, a minimum retirement age). For example, if an employee is 60 years old and has 28 years of service, their points total is 88 and they meet the Rule of 88 points requirement.

How to Calculate Rule Of 88?

The following steps outline how to calculate the Rule of 88:

  1. First, determine your current age in years.
  2. Next, determine your total credited years of service (S).
  3. Next, use the formula from above: P = Age + S.
  4. Finally, compare your points total (P) to 88 (and check any additional plan requirements, such as a minimum age).
  5. After inserting the variables and calculating the result, check your answer with the calculator above.

Example Problem:

Use the following variables as an example problem to test your knowledge (then add Age + S and compare to 88).

age (years) = 60

total years of service (S) = 28 (so P = 60 + 28 = 88, which meets the Rule of 88 points requirement)