Membership
The service you earn while training to become a Police Officer or a Firefighter with your respective academy is in the SFERS Miscellaneous Plan. Once you are hired as a sworn police officer or firefighter, you are automatically enrolled as a member in the applicable SFERS Police or Firefighter plan and begin earning service as a safety member in that plan.
When you qualify to retire for service as a police officer or firefighter, you will receive an additional monthly benefit for the service you earned in the Miscellaneous Plan as a trainee.
Enrollment
To finalize your enrollment as a new member of the SFERS pension plan, follow the directions below.
| If you were: | You will need to: | Provide these documents: | Take these actions: |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hired as a Permanent Employee | 1. Email SFERS to request your New Member Enrollment packet 2. Designate a beneficiary | 1. Employee processing form (from the hiring department). 2. Picture ID | 1. Elect reciprocity (if applicable) 2. Log in to mySFERS (30 days after enrollment) 3. Enroll in the San Francisco Deferred Compensation 457(b) Plan (SFDCP) |
Learn more about enrollment
SFERS Firefighter Plans
| Plan | Membership based on hire date |
|---|---|
| New Plan Tier III – A8.604 | Hired on or after 1/7/2012 |
| New Plan Tier II – A8.601 | Hired on or after 7/1/2010 and before 1/7/2012 |
| New Plan Tier I – A8.598 | Hired on or after January 1, 2003, or Non-retired Firefighters who were members of Plan A8.588 on January 1, 2003 and transitioned to Plan A8.598 |
Service Retirement
- For all plans, you must be at least 50 years old and have 5 years of credited service.
- The Service Benefit Calculation is Credited Service x Age Factor x Average Monthly Pensionable Compensation = Monthly Benefit
- The maximum annual service benefit is 90% of the average final pensionable compensation.
| Plan | Average Final pensionable compensation |
|---|---|
| New Plan Tier III – A8.604 | Highest average monthly pay in any three consecutive fiscal years or, average monthly pay in the 36 consecutive months immediately prior to retirement |
| New Plan Tier II – A8.601 | Highest average monthly pay in any two consecutive fiscal years or, average monthly pay in the 24 consecutive months immediately prior to retirement |
| New Plan Tier I – A8.598 | Highest average monthly pay in any fiscal year or, average monthly pay in the 12 consecutive months immediately prior to retirement |
SFERS Police Plans
| Plan | Membership based on hire date |
|---|---|
| New Plan Tier III – A8.605 | Hired on or after 1/7/2012 |
| New Plan Tier II – A8.602 | Hired on or after 7/1/2010 and before 1/7/2012 |
| New Plan Tier I – A8.597 | Hired on or after January 1, 2003, or Non-retired Firefighters who were members of Plan A8.588 on January 1, 2003 and transitioned to Plan A8.598 |
Service Retirement
- For all plans, you must be at least 50 years old and have 5 years of credited service.
- The Service Benefit Calculation is Credited Service x Age Factor x Average Monthly Pensionable Compensation = Monthly Benefit
- The maximum annual service benefit is 90% of the average final pensionable compensation.
| Plan | Average Final pensionable compensation |
|---|---|
| New Plan Tier III – A8.605 | Highest average monthly pay in any three consecutive fiscal years or, average monthly pay in the 36 consecutive months immediately prior to retirement |
| New Plan Tier II – A8.602 | Highest average monthly pay in any two consecutive fiscal years or, average monthly pay in the 24 consecutive months immediately prior to retirement |
| New Plan Tier I – A8.597 | Highest average monthly pay in any fiscal year or, average monthly pay in the 12 consecutive months immediately prior to retirement |
