NJ Cops June2018 | Page 14

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