All persons who are carried on the membership roll of a participating fire department, excluding any unpaid (i.e., volunteer) firefighters, are eligible to participate in the Plan upon completing one (1) Year of Service with their department, as determined by the Plan Administrator on a uniform and consistent basis.

The participant will enter the plan as of the first day of the plan year coinciding with or next following the completion of a year of service in which eligibility was met.

Vested Balance: The participant’s balance that is non-forfeitable and is owned by the participant as calculated per the vesting schedule. Also, normal retirement, disability or death will result in the participant being 100% vested.

Vesting Schedule: Every fire department chooses a schedule that assigns a vesting percentage for each year of service with the fire department. Vesting schedules vary across fire departments.

Department Contributions: Contributions can be deposited into the fund any time during the plan year. However, they must be allocated in the same plan year in which they are deposited. So, deposits received after December 31 will be allocated in the new plan year.

Allocation of Contributions: All eligible participants of the department shall receive an equal allocation and must be employed as of September 30 of the plan year during which such contributions are paid to the plan.

Voluntary Contributions: Contributions may be made by individual participants with after-tax dollars for up to 10% of compensation. The earnings on these funds will be tax-free until distributed to the owner. The participant is always 100% vested in these funds.

Normal retirement age is between age 55 and 62 as chosen by the department or 20 years of service, whichever is earlier.

Complete the designation of beneficiary form found under the Members tab under the Resources tab. The person listed as the primary beneficiary will receive the death benefit.

A new beneficiary form must be completed upon divorce, marriage or death of the beneficiary or death of the spouse. If you do not designate a beneficiary or if the beneficiary you have named dies before you do, you will be treated as having designated a beneficiary in accordance with the following order: your spouse; your children, including adopted children, in equal shares; your natural parents in equal shares; your brothers or sisters; however, any children of a deceased brother or sister will be entitled to split their parents share; and your estate.

Upon termination of employment, retirement, death or disability, a participant may elect a rollover distribution of their vested benefits to an IRA or another eligible plan. The vested benefits can be paid in a single lump sum or in installment payments. Please go to Forms to download and complete your distribution form.

All persons who are carried on the membership roll of a participating fire department and who perform fire fighting and prevention services as a bona fide volunteer, are eligible to participate in the plan upon completing one (1) Year of Service with the fire department, as determined by the plan administrator on a uniform and consistent basis.

For purposes of this plan, a bona fide volunteer means any individual whose compensation received from the participating fire department is in the form of reimbursements for expenses and reasonable benefits and nominal fees in connection with the provision of fire fighting and prevention services. Any bona fide volunteer firefighter on the roster of the department for one year of service, as defined as a consecutive 12 month period ending on December 31, shall meet eligibility requirements.

The participant will enter the plan as of the first day of the plan year coinciding with or next following the completion of a year of service which eligibility was met.

Vested Balance: The participant’s balance that is non-forfeitable and is owned by the participant as calculated per the vesting schedule. Also, normal retirement, disability or death will result in the participant being 100% vested.

Vesting Schedule: Every fire department chooses a schedule that assigns a vesting percentage for each year of service with the fire department. Vesting schedules vary across fire departments.

Department Contributions: Can be deposited into the fund any time during the plan year. However, they must be allocated in the same plan year in which they are deposited. So, deposits received after December 31 will be allocated in the new plan year.

Allocation of Contributions: All eligible participants of the department shall receive an equal allocation and must be employed as of September 30 of the plan year during which such contributions are paid to the plan.

Normal retirement age is between age 55 and 62 as chosen by the department or 20 years of service, whichever is earlier.

Complete the designation of beneficiary form found under the Members tab under the Resources tab. The person listed as the primary beneficiary will receive the death benefit. A new beneficiary form must be completed upon divorce, marriage or death of the beneficiary or death of the spouse. If you do not designate a beneficiary or if the beneficiary you have named dies before you do, your benefits will be paid to your estate.

Upon termination of employment, retirement, death or disability, the vested benefits can be paid in a single lump sum or in installment payments. Please go to Forms to download and complete your distribution form.