Welcome to SFERS!  Retirement is a major milestone in one’s life and it is never too early to start planning for that day.

As a member in a SFERS safety plan, you have privileges to two benefit programs administered by the San Francisco Employees’ Retirement System (SFERS):

A Pension Plan (defined benefit plan): provides service retirement benefits calculated using a formula based on age at retirement, years of service and final compensation.

A 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan (defined contribution plan): allows participants to acquire additional tax deferred retirement savings through voluntary contributions designed to supplement your pension benefits

While training to become a Police Officer or a Firefighter (Police or Firefighter Academy), the service you earn 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 also receive an additional monthly benefit for the service you earned in the Miscellaneous Plan as a trainee.

SFERS Firefighter Plans

Charter Section	Plan Name	Membership
A8.604	Firefighter New Plan Tier III	Firefighter employees hired on or after January 7, 2012
A8.601	Firefighter New Plan Tier II	Firefighter employees hired on or after July 1, 2010, and before January 7, 2012
A8.598	Firefighter New Plan Tier I	Firefighter employees hired on or after January 1, 2003, or Non-retired Firefighter employees who were members of Plan A8.588 on January 1, 2003, and transitioned to Plan A8.598
A8.596	Firefighter Old Plan	Non-retired Firefighter employees who were members in Plan A8.585 on November 5, 2002,  and who elected membership in Plan A8.596 on or before December 31, 2002

 

SFERS Police Plans

Charter Section	Plan Name	Membership
A8.605	Police New Plan Tier III	Police employees hired on or after January 7, 2012
A8.602	Police New Plan Tier II	Police employees hired on or after July 1, 2010, and before January 7, 2012
A8.597	Police New Plan Tier I	Police employees hired on or after January 1, 2003, or Non-retired Police employees who were members of Plan A8.586 on January 1, 2003, and transitioned to Plan A8.597
A8.595	Police Old Plan	Non-retired Police employees who were members in Plan A8.559 on November 5, 2002, and who elected membership in Plan A8.595 on or before December 31, 2002

 

New Member Enrollment

Your Membership Status	Enrollment Process	What to bring	Other Actions
Hired as a Permanent Employee	Attend New Member Enrollment Orientation (date and time TBD by department) Enroll in the San Francisco Deferred Compensation 457 (b) Plan (SFDCP)	Employee Processing Form Picture ID	Designate a Beneficiary Elect Reciprocity (if applicable) Register for mySFERS (30 days after enrollment)