Wise County Schools offers retirement benefits to full-time, contracted employees by enrollment in a defined-benefit retirement program administered by the Virginia Retirement System (VRS). Highlights of the program include:Membership cost paid 80% by Wise County School Board

• Vested member of the system after 5 years of service
   

• Disability and death benefits provided
   

• Annual cost-of-living adjustments to retirement benefits
   

• For active employees or those with service credit before July 1, 2010, you are in the VRS Plan 1.

You become eligible to retire with an unreduced benefit at age 65 with at least five years of service credit or age 50 with at least 30 years of service credit. You can retire as early as age 55 with at least five years of service credit or age 50 with at least 10 years of service credit under the VRS early retirement reduced benefits.

For active employees or those with service credit after July 1, 2010, you are in the VRS Plan 2.

You become eligible for an unreduced retirement benefit when you reach your normal Social Security retirement age and have at least five years of service credit or when your age and service equal 90. An example is age 60 with 30 years of service credit. You become eligible for a reduced retirement benefit at age 60 with at least five years of service credit.