CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — House and Senate negotiators hope to resolve their differences on competing plans to reform New Hampshire's public pension system by the end of the month, at the same time the state's retirement system is experiencing a big increase in applications from retirement-eligible employees.

Employees are telling the retirement system staff that "uncertainty involving pension legislation is what's leading them to apply for retirement," Kim France, the retirement system's executive director, said Monday. "We're also hearing that members and retirees are concerned the retirement system will become bankrupt if immediate changes aren't made. That is not true. The retirement system is solvent and will continue to pay benefits."

France said 500 workers have filed applications to retire on June 1. She said if everyone who filed an application actually retired, that would represent a 455 percent increase over June 2010 retirements.