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2016 NJ State PBA Collective Bargaining Seminar ‘Are you ready?’ POLICE & FIRE RETIREMENT SYSTEM & DISABILITY PENSION Christopher Grey, Esq. Sciarra & Catrambone Peter Andreyev NJ State PBA Pension Benefits Coordinator As one PBA member who attended the Collective Bargaining Seminar put it: he has two years, 175 days, 52 hours and four seconds before retirement, or something to that accord. With retirement on the brain and a countdown in place, it’s imperative to not only understand the Police & Fire Retirement System but how and when to apply. “We suggest you apply four months out because it’ll take that long to process everything,” stated Peter Andreyev, the PBA Pension Benefits Coordinator. Andreyev went on to explain everything law enforcement officers nearing retirement need to know, stressing the importance of obtaining a retirement estimate from the Members Benefit Online System. “Are you ready?” asked Andreyev. “You have to have a plan and the first thing you want to figure out is ‘how much am I going to get?’” Don’t neglect Fact Sheet 86, he reminded, which explains the rules and regulations regarding seeking employment post retirement. “If you’re going to retire, read this and understand it,” emphasized Andreyev. “Err on the side of caution. If you don’t, it could cost you several hundred thousand dollars.” Retirees must terminate all relationships with public employment and cannot pre-plan to work in the 180-day \