    |
Police & Fireman's Retirement System
Eligibility in the PFRS is determined by your job title, your age, and your health. Over the years, these criteria for membership have been subject to change and reinterpretation. Municipal employees in eligible job titles who do not meet the age and medical requirements for membership in the PFRS are ineligible for enrollment in the PFRS or any other state retirement system. State and county employees in eligible PFRS titles, who do not meet the age and medical requirements, are eligible to enroll in the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) and possibly, depending on job title, as Law Enforcement Officers (LEOs) in the PERS.
Enrollment in the PFRS is required for permanent, full-time employees appointed to positions in law enforcement or fire fighting in the State of New Jersey. The date of enrollment for the PFRS is the date of permanent appointment to the position, even if the enrollee has yet to complete law enforcement or fire fighter training. Enrollment usually takes about two months to process and requires the submission of an Enrollment Application and a Report of Examining Physician.
Job Requirements
A new employee hired as a permanent, full-time law enforcement officer or firefighter in an eligible PFRS job title or classification who meets the age and medical criteria for membership must be enrolled in the PFRS.
Because the list of the PFRS eligible titles changes periodically, an updated listing of civil service PFRS titles is available by clicking the link above.
In the event an employee, not currently included as a member of the system, believes that he or she performs duties that meet the definition of "policeman" or "fireman," the employee may file an application for membership in the system with the Director of the Division of Pensions and Benefits, stating in detail, the basis for the employee's belief that the employee is a policeman or fireman. The Division will review the application and determine whether the employee meets the definition of "policeman" or "fireman," and then make a recommendation to the Board of Trustees as to whether the employee should be included in the system.
If, after considering the recommendation of the Division, the Board determines that the employee meets the definition of "policeman" or "fireman" the Board will publish a notice in the New Jersey Register proposing to include the employee's position in the retirement system. Interested parties will be given 30 days to comment on the proposal.
If the Board determines that the employee does not meet the definition of "policeman" or "fireman," the employee will be offered an opportunity for a hearing.
Medical Criteria
There are medical requirements for acceptance in the PFRS. When you apply for membership, you must have a medical examination to determine if you satisfy these requirements. The examination, documented on the authorized PFRS form, may be given by the department physician, another physician designated by the employer, or if required, a physician designated by the retirement system.
Age Requirements
Current law prescribes a maximum age for entry into the PFRS. Employees must be eligible on or before their 35th birthday to qualify for enrollment.
Determining the age for entry in the PFRS may vary between Civil Service and non-Civil Service jurisdictions. All employees covered by:
Civil Service (Title 11) whether State, county, or municipal candidates cannot be past their 35th birthday as of the announced closing date of the Civil Service examination. Those candidates meeting the age requirements at that time will be considered as having met the maximum age requirement for the duration of the ensuing Civil Service Eligibility List from which appointments may be made.
Non-Civil Service primarily, municipal employees cannot be past their 35th birthday as of their official date of hire.
There are certain exceptions to the maximum age requirement:
- Military Service - Once you have met the definition of a veteran for pension purposes, certain periods of military service may be used on a one-for-one basis to "reduce" one's age for entry. Such military service must have occurred during the:
- Lebanon Conflict, September 26, 1982 to December 1, 1987
- Grenada Conflict, October 23, 1983 to November 21, 1983
- Panama Peacekeeping Mission, December 20, 1989 to January 31, 1990
- Operation Desert Shield/Storm, August 2, 1990 to the present
- Operation Restore Hope in Somalia, December 5, 1992 to March 31, 1994
- Operations Joint Endeavor/Joint Guard - Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, November 20, 1995 to present
The prospective member must have served in the Armed Forces in the country/region or on ships patrolling the territorial waters of these nations for at least 14 days. If the start of the member's service began on or after the beginning date of the conflict, consideration will be granted as long as any part of the 14 days service falls on or within the dates listed above. If the start of the member's service was prior to the be ginning date of the war era, then the member must have served 14 days in the area within the dates specified for the conflict in order to be considered a veteran. Only that period of service in the area of conflict may be subtracted from an individual's age for eligibility purposes.
The 14-day requirement for service can be waived if the veteran was discharged because of a service-incurred disability. Absent Without Leave (AWOL) status must be deducted from active service and if this reduces the active service to less than the 14-day service requirement, consideration will be denied.
- Prior Police Service - In order to meet the maximum age requirement of 35 years for the position of a municipal police officer a former State trooper, sheriff's officer or deputy, county or municipal police officer, Septa, Delaware River Port Authority, Burlington County Bridge Commission or Amtrak police officer is permitted to use that previous service to reduce actual age. Prior experience in federal law enforcement agencies or law enforcement agencies of other states would also qualify to reduce a candidate's age for the position of municipal police officer. No person may be appointed over the age of 45 except for those who were previously terminated involuntarily (laid-off, or part of a Reduction-In-Force) from their former employment.
Candidates Who Exceed the Age Limit
Individuals employed by the state or county who exceed the maximum age requirement in the PFRS, but who are otherwise eligible for the position, must establish membership in the PERS one year after being provisionally employed in the title or immediately upon being permanently appointed to the title.
Individuals seeking employment with a municipality in an eligible PFRS title, who are over age 35 on the date of hire, even after any "reductions in age" have been taken into account, cannot establish membership in any State-administered retirement system. Since enrollment in the PFRS is a condition of employment, these individuals cannot be hired.
Candidates Awaiting Permanent Appointment
Employees otherwise eligible for enrollment who are temporary or provisional pending an examination, must be enrolled in the PERS one year after being provisionally employed in the title. After an employee fulfills the enrollment requirements (including age) for the PFRS, the PERS membership may be transferred into the PFRS.
Part-time Employees
Employees who are "part-time" officers should be enrolled into the PERS if they are otherwise eligible for enrollment pursuant to N.J.A.C. 17:2-2.8. They cannot be enrolled in the PFRS.
Enrollment
Enrollment and Certification of Payroll Deductions
Both you and your employer must complete an Enrollment Application for you to enroll in the retirement system. The employer will send the completed application with the results of your medical examination to the Division of Pensions and Benefits for processing. When processing is complete, you and your employer will receive a Certification of Payroll Deductions showing the date deductions will begin, your rate of contribution, and any back deductions due.
It is important to keep the Certification of Payroll Deductions on file with your other important papers so that you have a record of your enrollment in the retirement system.
Proof of Age
All members of the PFRS must provide proof of their age. Acceptable evidence of your age includes a copy of:
- your birth certificate
- a baptismal certificate
- your passport, naturalization, or immigration papers
- certain other records including military records (DD Form 214), census records, age recorded on marriage licenses, and insurance or children's birth records.
You should attach a non-returnable photocopy of your proof of age to your enrollment application. For more information regarding the PFRS age requirements.
PFRS Enrollment Form: http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/pensions/epbam/exhibits/pdf/pf1069.pdf
PFRS Report of Examining Physician: http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/pensions/epbam/exhibits/pdf/pf1061.pdf
PFRS Report of Transfer: http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/pensions/epbam/exhibits/pdf/et0547.pdf
After a new employee and employer complete an enrollment application, the completed application is sent to the Division of Pension and Benefits. The Division of Pension and Benefits will issue a Certification of Payroll Deductions that will indicate the date your pension will begin, your rate of contribution and any back deductions that are due. This Certification of Payroll Deductions will be sent to you by the Office of Human Resources.
As a New Jersey State-Administered Pension PFRS member, you will have access the Member Benefits Online System (MBOS). Use your PFRS membership number to register for MBOS.
MBOS is a set of Internet based applications that allow registered active members access to:
Member Account Information
Pension Loans - estimates and online loan application
Online Application for Purchase of Service Credit
Designation of Beneficiary - verification and online update
Retirement Estimates and Online Retirement Application
Application for Withdrawal
State Health Benefits Program account information
Loans
Active contributing members are eligible to borrow up to one half of their pension contribution twice per calendar year. You must have three years of pension membership credit posted to your account in the retirement system. Interest is charged at the rate of 4% per year on the remaining balance. You may obtain a loan from the retirement system through MBOS or by filing a properly completed Loan Application with the Division of Pensions and Benefits. Loan application forms are also available from the Office of Human Resources and can be faxed to the Division of Pensions and Benefits at (609) 341-2760.
Purchases
Since your retirement allowance is based in part on the amount of service credit posted to your account at the time of retirement, it may be beneficial for you to purchase additional service credit if you are eligible to do so. Only active members of the retirement system are permitted to purchase service credit. An active member is one who has made contributions to the retirement system within two years of his or her purchase request and who has not retired or withdrawn his or her contributions. Please click here for additional information on purchasing service credit. You can use MBOS to complete send your application to purchase service credit to the Division of Pension and Benefits or click here for a Purchase application.
Withdrawing Contributions
If you terminate covered employment before retirement, you may withdraw all your contributions plus a small amount of interest less any outstanding loan or other obligations. No interest is paid if you were a member for less than three years. You may withdraw only the money you have contributed and no partial withdrawal is permitted. If your membership has been inactive for two years and you have not filed for and received a withdrawal of contribution, the Division of Pensions and Benefits will send an expiration notice to your last known address (and a copy to your last employers in case they have a more current address) to remind you that your money is still in the System. Should you return to covered employment before the 2 year period ends, remember that you have the option of intra- or interfund transfer if you otherwise qualify. Should you return to covered employment after your account has expired or you have withdrawn your account, you will be treated as a new member in all respects. Service credit from a former membership may be purchased by members returning to the system after withdrawal of a former account. You can withdrawal your contributions through MBOS or click here for a withdrawal application. For more information concerning the Police and Fire Retirement System (PFRS), please visit the NJ Division Pensions and Benefits web site or contact our Human Resource Office.
