• Option A: Full retirement allowance in monthly payments as long as you live.
  
  
• Option B: Lifetime allowance that is, on the average, 3% less than Option A.
  
  
• Option C: Joint survivor allowances that is 7% less than Options A.

The selection of an option cannot be revoked or changed after the date of retirement. However, the law allows for a lump-sum payment, in lieu of a monthly retirement benefit, to be made to the surviving spouse of a member/retiree who had chosen Option A or B and died within thirty days of the effective date of retirement. There is a unique condition assigned to Option C. In cases in which the nominated survivor dies before the retiree, the option automatically changes from "C" to "A" on the date of death of the survivor. The retiree then will receive the "Full Retirement Benefit."

• Group 1: General employees (i.e. clerical, administrative, technical workers, laborers), elected officials, and all others not classified.
  
  
• Group 2: Employees with hazardous occupations, such as ambulance attendants, licensed electricians, police and fire signal repair personnel, and some corrections officers.
  
  
• Group 3: Not applicable to City of Boston employees
  
  
• Group 4: Police officers, firefighters, and certain correction officers.