A: A member has three options:
- A member may leave his/her funds on account with the Falmouth Retirement System to preserve his/her contribution rate should he/she return to work for the Town of Falmouth or for another Chapter 32 system (i.e., a different town, city, county, or the Commonwealth of Massachusetts). Should a member find a job with another Chapter 32 System, the Falmouth Retirement System, upon notification from the new retirement system, would transfer his/her retirement deductions to that system.
- If a member is vested, he/she may leave his/her retirement deductions on account with the Falmouth Retirement System, and he/she may receive a retirement allowance when all the retirement requirements have been met.
A member may roll his/her retirement deductions into a qualified retirement plan with no tax penalties. Or, a member may take a lump-sum distribution of his/her accumulated deductions. If a member takes a lump-sum distribution, the Falmouth Retirement System will withhold 20% for the federal tax payment due on that portion of a member’s retirement contributions made after January 12, 1988. In addition, if a member takes a refund prior to reaching the age of 59 1/2, there may be an additional penalty due at years end.
The Falmouth Retirement System has all of the paperwork needed to effectuate any of the above options.