2018 PERA Volunteer Firefighter Department Annual Report Training

Transcription

1 2018 PERA Volunteer Firefighter Department Annual Report Training

2 Who Is the Public Employees Retirement Association of New Mexico (PERA)? PERA is a 401a qualified government plan governed by the New Mexico Public Employees Retirement Act. PERA provides benefits to almost 60,000 active members and over 40,000 retirees, and beneficiaries. PERA has over 30 coverage plans. PERA is governed by a 12-member Board of Trustees. It is comprised of state, municipal and county employees, retirees, the Secretary of State, and the State Treasurer. The Board of Trustees oversees a trust fund from which retirement benefits are paid and agency operations are funded.

3 Volunteer Firefighters Retirement Program Overview In 1983, the New Mexico Volunteer Firefighters Retirement Act (VFRA) was established and designated PERA to administer the Volunteer Firefighters (VF) Retirement Program and the funds would be provided by the State Fire Marshal s Office. Currently, there are approximately 400 Volunteer Firefighter Units, 7,982 active VF members and 1,254 retired VF members. The act applies to volunteer non-salaried firefighters who are listed as an active member on the rolls of a volunteer fire department, and whose first year of service credit was earned during or after the year they turned 16 years old.

4 Volunteer Firefighters Retirement Program Overview To qualify for a pension from PERA, you must be age 55 or older with 10 or more years of service credit. The monthly amount of your pension is determined by your years of service. At least age 55 with 25 or more years of service you will receive $250 per month At least age 55 with 10 or more years of service you will receive $125 per month You may continue as a volunteer firefighter after you retire however you will not be allowed to earn additional service credit. Upon your death your surviving spouse or dependent child (under 18 years of age) will be paid two-thirds of the amount of pension you were receiving at the time of your death. A pension to a surviving spouse terminates upon either remarriage or death. A pension to a dependent child ceases when they reach age 18 or death.

5 VFRA Legislative Past & Current Updates Prior to January 1, 2009, a member had to attend 75% of all scheduled fire drills, 75% of all scheduled business meetings, and participate in at least 50% of all emergency response calls in order to receive annual service credit. As of January 1, 2009, to qualify for service credit, each volunteer firefighter must attend 50% of scheduled fire drills, 50% of scheduled business meetings, and participate in at least 50% of all emergency response calls the member is held responsible to attend. As of June 19, 2009, a member can receive a pension from another state system (PERA, Judicial, Magistrate, or Educational Retirement Systems) in addition to VFRA pension as long as you meet age and service requirements in each plan. Effective January 1, 2016, a member may only adjust/correct service credit for the two previous reporting years. PERA expects a new adjustment period will be proposed during the 2019 Legislative Session. If you have members who want to adjust their service credit please encourage them to start gathering their documentation/evidence now.

6 PERA s VFRA Role PERA plays many roles in the coordination of the VF Retirement Program, which include: Receiving, correcting and processing annual reports from all 400+ VF Units Maintaining service credit records on all VF members Processing pensions for VF members Educating VF members on VFRA policies and procedures

7 VFRA Annual Reporting Current VF Unit reporting rules require all VF Unit Chiefs to ensure that each calendar year qualification information for unit members is received by PERA in hard copy format beginning January 1 st but no later than March 31 st of the following calendar year. Hard copy reports must be mailed via U.S. Postal Service, UPS, or FedEx by March 31 st of each calendar year. PERA suggests that you keep copies of every form and every form of identification for your department s records in the case of an audit conducted by the State Fire Marshal s Office.

8 VFRA Annual Reporting Form Download current PDF form from Complete Section A. Include all current contact information. Complete Section B. Double check department totals. These total numbers must reflect all members included in the Qualification Record Form and 100% of the members reflected on your roster. Complete Section C. PERA will NOT accept forms that are missing required signatures and notarized signatures. All dates must match the notary signature. No strikethroughs or white-out marks will be permitted. PERA will require you to complete and submit a new form. Mail (suggest via preferred method of delivery confirmation) or hand deliver completed form to PERA on or before March 31st. Keep a copy for your department s records.

9 Volunteer Firefighter Service Credit Qualification Record Form Download current PDF form from There are separate forms for New Members, Retired Members, Previous Members and Transferred Members. Make sure and include SSNs and dates of birth for each member. Indicate if member met service credit eligibility for the reporting period. Verify that the Department Fire Chief or authorized person signed and dated at the bottom of the form. Mail (suggest via preferred method of delivery confirmation) or hand deliver completed form to PERA on or before March 31st. Keep a copy for your department s records.

10 Member Enrollment for Volunteer Firefighters Form Download current PDF form from when new volunteer firefighter joins the department. Keep a copy for your department records. Complete Member Information section using formal name (ex: John Martinez vs Johnny Martinez). Please do not use nicknames. Make sure and include a SSN or PERA ID Number. Include spouse s information (if member is married). Verify that the new member and VF Department Chief have included the start date and have signed the form. Attach a copy of the new member s social security card and driver s license. Mail (suggest via preferred method of delivery confirmation) or hand deliver completed form to PERA on or before March 31st. Keep a copy for your department s records.

11 Online Reporting By statute, you are required to submit your annual report both electronically and in hard copy format. Beginning in January 2019, PERA will submit your report electronically based off of your submitted hard copy report. This is due to an evaluation of the reporting process. Posted status Accepted status Suspended status Added status VERY IMPORTANT! If your report is in an Accepted, Suspended or Added status your members will NOT receive service credit until it is corrected and in a Posted status

12 Internal VF Unit Policies PERA is aware that some VF Units have internal policies when it comes to probationary periods, etc. PERA cannot require otherwise if you have those internal policies.

13 PERA Annual Reporter Tips When filling out the Annual Reporting Form, please double check member totals. Do not strikethrough, initial and/or white out your forms especially the Annual Reporting Form, which is notarized. PERA will NOT accept it. Make sure that your forms are signed by the appropriate individuals. PERA will NOT accept forms that are missing required signatures and notarized signatures. When new members join the VF Unit, download the current fillable PDF Member Enrollment for Volunteer Firefighters Form from New Members must complete this form and mail, or scan and it to PERA and keep the other copy for the department s files. The forms should be mailed out by annual reporting time, but preferably during the year when the new member joins. Gather driver s licenses and social security cards for all members if it hasn t been done and make two printed copies of each form of identification. Mail or scan and in one copy to PERA and keep the other copy for your department s files. You will not be required to do this every year as long as you have already sent a copy to PERA. Check PERA s website for updated forms.

14 PERA VF Member Tips Make sure that you have submitted a PERA Member Enrollment for VF Form along with a copy of your social security card and driver s license. Make sure that you include your correct start date. Make sure that you and your VF Chief have both signed it.. Be a proactive member and check-in with your Chief come reporting time and ensure that you are being reported. Encourage your Chief & Online Reporter to make sure there are no suspended reports. Create an account in PERA s RIO Self-Service Website and view your service credits: Retirement Information Online (RIO) Go to the PERA website homepage at and you ll see the yellow button on the top of the page. You can set up your personal account and select your User Id and Password. You can view your account information 24/7. NOTE: Your RIO self-service password expires every 120 days.

15 PERA VF Retirement Preparation If you are considering retiring, PERA requests that you submit the following documents to us at least sixty (60) calendar days in advance of your anticipated retirement date. The forms referenced in the list will be available on the Volunteer Firefighter Retirement webpage: PERA Information Sheet Volunteer Firefighter Retirement provides a checklist of personal documentation, required forms and important details.

16 PERA RIO Information Some members inquire about their PERA and VF service credit as reflected in their RIO Self-Service account because they are an active employee with a PERA-affiliated entity. Your VF service credit is not considered paid PERA service credit. It is a separate total. Your VF service credit cannot be combined with your PERA service credit. This may be confusing as it is combined on your RIO account:

17 PERA s @PERANEWMEXICO

18 PERA Locations & Contact Information Santa Fe Address: 33 Plaza La Prensa, Santa Fe, NM Voice: (505) or (800) Temporary Fax: (505) Albuquerque Address: 2500 Louisiana Blvd., NE, Suite #400, Albuquerque, NM Voice: (505) or (800) Fax: (505)