PENSION BENEFITS REPORT
Enrollment into PFRS
In the past few weeks, I have received some
questions regarding enrollment into the Police
and Fire Retirement System (PFRS). Most of the
questions have been about the enrollment date.
For most of our members, the enrollment date
into PFRS should be the first of the month. How-
ever, there are some members who were enrolled
during the month. I have received some clarifica-
PETER
tion from the Division of Pensions regarding the
ANDREYEV enrollment date for new employees in a regular
appointment (civil service) or regularly budgeted
position (non-civil service).
Employers who report pensions on a monthly basis. The re-
quired enrollment date shall be fixed as the first of the month
for an employee whose regular civil service appointment or
date of hire into a non-civil service position falls from the first
through the 16th of the month.
The required enrollment date shall be fixed as the first of the
following month for an employee whose appointment date falls
between the 17th and the end of the month. (See N.J.A.C. 17:2-
2.4(a)1 and (c)2.)
Employers who report pensions on a biweekly basis. The re-
quired enrollment date shall be fixed as the first day of the pay
period for an employee whose appointment date falls on the
14
NEW JERSEY COPS
■ JUNE 2018
first through seventh day of the biweekly pay period.
The required enrollment date shall be fixed as the first day
of the following biweekly pay period for an employee whose
appointment date falls on any subsequent date within that pay
period. (See N.J.A.C. 17:2-2.4(a)2 and (c)3.)
For optional enrollees. An employee who is an optional en-
rollee shall be enrolled as of the first of the month if the em-
ployer reports on a monthly basis, or the first day of the next
biweekly pay period if the employer reports on a biweekly ba-
sis following the receipt of the enrollment application. (See
N.J.A.C. 17:2-2(b).)
So basically, the takeaway is this:
If you as the employer are enrolling someone new, and he or
she is hired between the 1st and the 15th, you should enroll him
or her for the month. If the employee is hired on the 16th, he or
she should be enrolled as of the next month.
If someone is already enrolled but hasn’t worked until the
16th, then you as the employer can use your discretion as to
whether he or she should be reported as being in pension that
month.
Hopefully this clarifies some of the confusion regarding en-
rollment into PFRS. As always, I am available by phone or email
should you have any further questions. d