Benefit FAQs

Your benefit is determined by a formula:

Final average compensation (FAC) X benefit service years X multiplier = annual benefit

Applicable FAC calculations and multipliers are determined by the type of retirement you take and the tier you are in. You can learn more about this in the Summary Plan Description / Handbook, by attending a Retirement Road to Success Class or by talking with your Member Services Specialist.

You can use the Member Portal to run calculation options on your benefit or you may contact a Member Services Specialist. Calculations cannot be run until you are vested (meaning you have five years of service).

It is the average of the highest annual wages over a period of time, determined by your employer. We review your entire work history and pull the highest years of wages, even if they are not the most current years.

City contributions are not paid into individual accounts. They are paid into the general fund and used as assets to pay all current and future retirement benefits.

The following may qualify to receive benefits as an eligible survivor depending on your tier, vested status and type of retirement:

• A spouse to whom you are married at least one year prior to your retirement date;
• Unmarried children under the age of 18;
• Dependent parents
• A “designated beneficiary” named at retirement
  
  More information can be found in the Summary Plan Description / Handbook, by attending a Retirement Road to Success Class or by consulting with your Member Services Specialist.

DROP is the Deferred Retirement Option Program. DROP is a deferral of retirement that allows a member to accumulate a lump-sum benefit payable upon retirement. You continue to work and still get paid your regular paycheck while your monthly DROP benefit accrues. That account balance is then available to you at retirement. In essence, the lump-sum is the monthly pension we would have paid to the member had member retired at that time. The DROP is not an election of retirement. Read more about election of benefits.

Yes, the DROP is available to any employee who reaches his or her Normal or Special Retirement date and is still an active employee.

In an In Line of Duty Death, your qualified surviving spouse is entitled to receive 75% of your pension benefit, based on actual years of service projected to your Normal Retirement date, payable for life. Additionally, your qualified dependent children will each receive a monthly gross pension benefit of $100 so long as they remain qualified. If not married to a qualified spouse, then your qualified dependent(s) is entitled to receive 75% of your pension benefit. If you are not survived by a qualified spouse or qualified dependent(s), then your designated beneficiary or estate (whichever is applicable) is entitled to receive a refund of your total employee contributions plus interest.

In a Not In Line of Duty Death, your qualified surviving spouse, designated beneficiary or estate (whichever is applicable), is entitled to receive a refund of your total employee contributions plus interest.

In an In Line of Duty Death (whether or not you are vested), your qualified surviving spouse is entitled to receive 75% of your pension benefit, based on years of service projected to your Normal Retirement date, payable for life. Additionally, your qualified dependent children will each receive a monthly gross pension benefit of $100 so long as they remain qualified. If not married to a qualified spouse, then your qualified dependent(s) is entitled to receive 75% of your pension benefit. If you are not survived by a qualified spouse or qualified dependent(s), then your designated beneficiary or estate (whichever is applicable) is entitled to receive a refund of your total employee contributions plus interest.

In a Not in Line of Duty Death if you are vested, your qualified surviving spouse is entitled to receive 75% of your pension benefit, based on actual years of service, payable for life. Additionally, your qualified dependent children will each receive a monthly gross pension benefit of $100 so long as they remain qualified. If not married to a qualified spouse, then your qualified dependent(s) is entitled to receive 75% of your pension benefit. If you are not survived by a qualified spouse or qualified dependent(s), then your designated beneficiary or estate (whichever is applicable) is entitled to receive a refund of your total employee contributions plus interest.

Your qualified spouse is entitled to receive 75% of your pension benefit for life and your total DROP account balance accrued at the time of death. Additionally, your qualified dependent children will each receive a monthly gross pension benefit of $100 so long as they remain qualified. If not married to a qualified spouse, then your qualified dependent(s) is entitled to receive 75% of your pension benefit and your total DROP account balance accrued at the time of death.

If you are not survived by a spouse or qualified dependent(s), then your refund beneficiary or estate (whichever is applicable) is entitled to receive the DROP account and the remaining employee contributions plus interest.

General employees are paid for unused short term sick/family time. Upon retirement, major medical sick leave hours earned before 7/20/2019 are converted to benefit service and used in the calculation of your pension benefit. The following is an example of a general employee with 1,022 hours of major medical sick leave (MMSL) time:

• 1,022 MMSL hours divided by 2,080 times 12 months = 5.896
• 5.896 months rounds to 6 months of additional benefit service

Fire Civil Service employees are paid up to 90 days (1,080 hours on a 56-hour schedule) of sick time. Hours earned before 7/20/2019 in excess of 1,080 are converted to benefit service and used in the calculation of your pension benefit. The following is an example of a fire Civil Service employee with 2,580 hours of sick leave (SL) time:

• 2,580 minus 1,080 (90 days paid leave) = 1500 hours
• 1500 SL hours divided by 2,912 times 12 months = 6.181
• 6.181 months rounds to 6 months of additional benefit service

Police Civil Service employees are paid up to 90 days (720 hours on a 40-hour schedule) of sick time. Hours earned before 7/20/2019 in excess of 720 are converted to credited service and used in the calculation of your pension benefit. The following is an example of police Civil Service employee with 1,985 hours of sick leave (SL) time:

• 1,985 minus 720 (90 days paid leave) = 1,265 hours
• 1,265 SL hours divided by 2,080 times 12 months = 7.298
• 7.298 months rounds to 7 months of additional benefit service

Note: This service is used for the benefit calculation only and will not be used for eligibility (to reach your retirement date).

Tier I members will most likely have hours under the Blue and Orange plan. Any hours use will be deducted from the Gray plan first, then Blue followed by Orange.

For questions about leave payouts, please contact the retiree liaison in the city’s Human Resources Department at 817-392-2897.

Who do I need to talk to about changing or continuing my insurance? Although the health insurance is deducted from your retirement pension, all health insurance questions should be directed to the retiree liaison in the city’s Human Resources Department at 817-392-2897. The Retirement Fund does not handle health insurance-related issues.

Yes, but not more than 50% of your pension benefit accrued while married and working. The actual amount depends on the terms of your divorce and the length of your marriage during employment as a member of the retirement plan.

During a divorce, you should contact your Member Services Specialist and get a copy of the model QDRO (Qualified Domestic Relations Order) for your legal counsel to use.

The Retirement Fund does not handle employee insurance. All insurance questions should be directed to the retiree liaison in the City’s Human Resources Department at 817-392-2897.