Office Hours and Office Location:

• A: Benefits Specialists are available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and on Fridays from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. You may also contact us by telephone at (915) 771-8111.

• A: We are located in Downtown El Paso on the 16th floor of the Chase Tower Building at 201 E. Main, Suite 1616, El Paso, TX 79901. Please view our location maps and photos.

• A: Yes, it is highly recommended that you call ahead and make an appointment to ensure that a Benefits Specialist will be available. Please call the Pension Fund office at (915) 771-8111 to schedule a time. If you just drop by, you will more than likely have to wait for a Benefits Specialist to become available.

• A: Yes, valet parking is available on the Mesa side of the Chase Tower Building. After your appointment, staff will validate your parking sticker.

• A: Members of the Base Plan, may retire at the earlier of: (1) age 45 with 20 years of vesting service, (2) any age with 20 years of vesting service; however reduction factor will be applied for ages less than forty-five, or (3) at age 50 with at least 10 years of vesting service. Members of the Second Tier Plan may retire at the earlier of: (1) age 50 with 25 years of vesting service, or (2) at age 50 with at least 10 years of vesting service.

• A: For members of the Base Plan, the survivor benefit under the standard benefit payment pays 100% of a retiree's pension amount to the retiree's spouse after the retiree's death. However if there are eligible children, the retiree’s spouse will receive 2/3 of the retiree’s pension amount and the children will split the remaining 1/3 of the retiree’s benefit.
  For members of the Second Tier Plan, the survivor benefit under the standard benefit payment pays 75% of a retiree's pension amount to the retiree's spouse after the retiree's death. However if there are eligible children, the retiree’s spouse will receive 2/3 of the retiree’s pension amount and the children will split the remaining 1/3 of the retiree’s benefit.

• A: As per Section 3.09 of the Plan Document, Final Wages is defined as the greater of: (i) the highest regular monthly Wage, excluding overtime pay and lump-sum payments for accrued vacation and/or accrued sick leave, on which a Member made contributions to the Pension Fund within that twelve (12) month period preceding the earlier of June 30, 2007, or the Final Wages Determination Date, provided the Member has six (6) months in his then permanent current rank (except for Disability Pensions under Section 11 and Death Benefits under Section 12), or otherwise meets the requirements of an Appointed Position as described under Section 17, and the Member has made contributions on such Wage in effect for not less than thirty (30) days, or (ii) the average of the regular monthly Wages, excluding overtime pay and lump-sum payments for accrued vacation and/or accrued sick leave, on which a Member made contributions to the Pension Fund during the consecutive thirty-six (36) month period preceding the Final Wages Determination Date that produces the highest average.

• A: Participating systems recognize service from other participating systems. A member with service credit in more than one participating retirement system may be eligible to combine that service in order to satisfy the length of service requirements used to determine eligibility for service retirement. Retirement benefits will be paid separately from each system, based only on the service performed in that system

• A: Yes, but you will be required to pay a lump sum equal to your refund, plus regular interest.

• A: When you have attained ten years of vesting service, you become a vested member of the retirement system.
  This means that you have a right to receive a monthly annuity when you reach retirement eligibility. Even if you terminate employment before reaching eligibility, if you are vested, you can decide to leave your contributions in the system and begin drawing your annuity when you reach age 50. If you terminate employment prior to reaching retirement eligibility, you will receive a deferred retirement once you reach age 50; however you will not be eligible for cost of living increases.

• A: If you have 5 or more years of vesting service, you may receive a refund of your contributions.

• A: No. The only way you can receive a distribution from the EPFPPF is to terminate your service with the City of El Paso. You may have heard of other Police Officers taking a loan or a distribution from the EPFPPF but they are most likely referring to a distribution from their 457 Plan or a loan or distribution from their spouse’s 401(k) plan. These types of plans are quite different from the EPFPPF and have different sets of rules and regulations. Finally, you also cannot receive all or a portion of your contributions to pay for a medical emergency or for a college education without terminating service.

• A: A retiree must be married to his spouse prior to his/her retirement date for the survivor to be entitled to benefits. If you married after you retired, you must have been married for two years prior your death.

• A: Yes, we encourage you to do this. To initiate direct deposit, fill out an Electronic Fund Transfer Authorization form and attach a voided check. If you are mailing this form to our office, the form must be signed in the presence of a Notary Public. If you are bringing this form to us in person, you will be required to provide two forms of identification in order for your request to be processed.

• A: Please fill out an IRS Form W4-P and mail it to our office. We can process many variables. View IRS Form W4-P withholding information.
  The W-4P can be found in the Forms section of our webpage.

• A: Yes. We will need to verify your Social Security number and date of birth when you call in. We will then mail it to the mailing address that is on file. Or
  The Fund must receive a completed Member Request for Information Form in order to process this request.

• A: You can authorize the Pension Fund to make deductions for taxes.
  Complete the IRS Form W4-P, and mail or bring in it to the Pension Fund office. The Pension Fund will make deductions for health, dental/vision, and life insurance only as directed by the City’s Insurance and Benefits office or the Fire Association. For health insurance questions, contact the City’s Benefit Office at, (915) 541-4208.

• A: No. You receive this benefit for life. However, the amount of your benefit may be reduced in accordance with your divorce decree/Domestic Relations Order (DRO). In the event that you remarry, your new spouse will not be eligible to receive any of your benefits at your death, unless you have been married for two years prior to your death.

• A: Yes, a qualified spouse must be unmarried in order to receive benefits; once that spouse remarries, survivor benefits will cease.

• A: When an unmarried child turns age 19, his or her monthly benefit stops; unless he/she is registered as a full-time student at an accredited secondary university, technical, or trade school approved by the Board of Trustees. The child must submit official transcripts at the end of every semester from the institution of higher learning in order to continue as an eligible qualified child. The benefit will continue until he/she turns age 23, provided he/she remains qualified. If you have more than one child, the money is shared equally with the remaining qualified child(ren).
  Dependents who have been deemed physically disabled and non-self supporting or declared mentally incompetent as determined by the Board of Trustees will continue to receive survivor benefits for as long as the incompetence or disability exists.

• A: Contact the Pension Fund office as soon as possible at (915) 771-811, and ask for a Benefits Specialist. We will need a certified copy of the member’s death certificate.

• A: You may continue your group medical insurance coverage with the City of El Paso. The premium payment for this coverage may be withheld from your monthly pension check. Please note that retiree premium rates are much higher than active premium rates.

• A: This depends on your retirement date and when data on your final payout is received from the City of El Paso. In most cases, you will receive your first check on the last business day of the month following your retirement date. As an example, if your retirement date is September 4th, your first check would be paid to you on the last business day of October. This delay is caused by the fact that the EPFPPF may not actually receive data on your final payout from the City of El Paso until several weeks after your retirement date. Until we receive this data we are unable to complete your retirement paperwork and process your payment. Each case is different and if you would like to know exactly when your first check will be sent, contact a Benefit Specialist at (915) 771-8111.

• A: If you are retired, your new spouse will not be eligible for a survivor's benefit until the two of you have been married for a period of 2 years. If you die anytime after the 2-year anniversary he/she would be eligible for the lifetime survivor's benefit. Please provide the Pension Fund office with your marriage documentation, your spouse’s social security card, and your spouse’s driver’s license.

• A: Police retirees classified under the Base Plan will receive the COLA on the earlier of their sixtieth birthday or the second anniversary of their Pension Commencement Date and every January 1st thereafter.
  Fire retirees classified under the Base Plan will receive the COLA on the earlier of their sixtieth birthday or the fifth anniversary of their Pension Commencement Date and every January 1 thereafter.
  
  Police and Fire retirees classified under the Second Tier Plan may receive a COLA on an AD HOC basis.

• A: Impossible. You get your usual earnings statement by mail, but your hard-earned money is already safe and sound in your bank account each month.

• A: It cannot happen. You will never have to go through the trouble of having to stop payment on a lost check, ask for a duplicate, and wait for a replacement check. Replacement checks will not be processed until after ten business days.

• A: Never. Nobody can forge your signature on your check since it is already in the bank.

• A: Forget them. You can spend your day doing something better than standing in line. (Ever stop to think how much time and trouble you spend running around with your check?)

• A: Do not worry. Write yourself a check whenever you want. We automatically put your pension benefit in your account, even if you are thousands of miles away from home.

• A: No problems here. Since your check does not go through the mail system, there is no chance that it can get lost or delayed. We will continue to send you a statement through the U.S. Mail with your benefit information.

• A: No need to send someone to deposit your check. Your money is always deposited right on time.

• A: To initiate direct deposit, fill out an Electronic Fund Transfer Authorization form and attach a voided check. If you are mailing this form to our office, the form must be signed in the presence of a Notary Public. If you are bringing this form to us in person, you will be required to provide two forms of identification in order for your request to be processed.
  
  To start your direct deposit or to change direct deposit information, just print out the Electronic Funds Transfer Authorization, and mail it to the El Paso Firemen & Policemen’s Pension Fund with a voided check.

• A: Contact the Pension Fund office and notify us of your intent to pay an amount equal to what you would have contributed had you remained on active status in the department. You will then be given three times the amount of time you were absent to pay in full such amount (five year maximum).

• A: If your separation from active military service is honorable, any service with the following groups:
  • U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard, including the reserve units
  • Army National Guard and Air National Guard
  • The commissioned corps of the Public Health Service
  • Any other category of persons designated by the President in time of war or national emergency

• A: If you cannot return to work because of your disability, your pension benefits will be the same as if you left employment with your department at the time you were called to active military duty. You will have a vested benefit if you are not old enough for a service retirement.
  • If you return to your job at the department and a disability develops from something that happened while you were in the military, you will have the same benefits as any Pension Fund member who becomes disabled off duty.

• A: In the event of your death, your pension plan survivor benefits will be calculated as if you left employment with the department at the time you were called to active military duty.

• A: You will pay your member contribution of 13.89% for Police members or 15.28% for Fire members of your calculated pay that you would have been paid if you had remained in service with your department.

• A: Immediately upon return to employment as a police officer or firefighter, contact our office and request an appointment to receive a calculation of the amount required to establish pension credit for your time on military leave. Please remember:
  • Your release from active duty status must have been under honorable conditions.
  • For full-time active military duty, you must apply for reinstatement with your employer within 90 days of your discharge.
  • If you were in a reserve unit, you must return to employment within 31 days of your discharge.
  • You can buy pension service for the period from the time you were called to active military duty until you return to your job as a police officer or firefighter (including any time off in between) through payment of your contributions.
  • You can purchase the service interest-free with after-tax dollars by making payment in a lump sum or installments, but only if you do so shortly after your return (within a period of three times the length of your military service, but not more than five years after your return to employment from active military duty).
  • Payments may not be made after you terminate active service with the department, retire, or die.

• A: Your benefits would be the same as if you left active duty for any other reason on the date you left for active military duty, and you will not be allowed to purchase the lost pension service.
  
  The information above is a summary of Plan provisions regarding the purchase of pension service for a period of military leave. Your rights are determined by the Federal law and the El Paso Firemen & Policemen's Pension Fund Plan Document.

• A: A Back (DROP) Deferred Retirement Option Program is a provision that gives a member an option to go back to an earlier retirement date for up to 3 years prior to his/her original retirement date. For members who were hired before July 1, 2007, the member must have 20 1/2 years of retirement credited service and must be 50 years of age on the effective retirement date in order to participate in the Back-DROP. The minimum Back DROP period is 6 months and the maximum period is 3 years. Members hired after July 1, 2007 fall under the second-tier plan. These members must be 50 ½ years of age and have in excess of 25 ½ years of credited service to participate in the Back DROP program.

• A: No. A member’s Back DROP election is irrevocable.

• A: You can still participate in the Back DROP; however your benefits will be limited to the 77% maximum of your final wages. You will be required to continue to make contributions to the Fund as long as you are still an active member. While you can work 30 or more years for the Department, when you elect to Back DROP, you still Back DROP to the maximum of 28 years of credited service. Your benefit will be calculated based on the final wages used as of the Back DROP date.

• A: It doesn’t. The COLA is effective from the date of retirement not the Back DROP benefit computation date. The COLA works the same as if you had retired normally.

• A: Your contributions will continue, as will the City’s. The Fund is a defined benefit plan so your contributions are not used in the benefit formula. There is no provision for terminating your contributions, nor the City’s, to the Fund. Remember that when you elect to participate in the Back DROP, your retirement benefit will be calculated using final wages and credited service at the time you elect to Back DROP.
  Any contributions paid into the Fund during the Back DROP period will be counted towards your total contributions to the Fund for tax purposes only.

• A: Yes, in accordance with your QDRO, your ex-spouse will receive a portion of your Back DROP Lump Sum Distribution.

• A: 1. A Qualified spouse, means the unmarried widow/widower of a deceased Member or Retiree who (a) was married to the deceased Member before his/ her retirement; or, (b) if married after the Member's retirement, the unmarried widow/widower of a deceased Retiree shall have been married to the Retiree at least two (2) years prior to his death.
  2. Qualified Child or children, means the surviving unmarried dependent child or children of a Member or Retiree (a) under the age of nineteen (19); or (b) if over the age of nineteen (19), and under the age of twenty-three (23), then a full-time student at an accredited secondary university, technical or trade school approved by the Board; or (c) regardless of age, deemed physically disabled and nonself supporting by the Board of Trustees or declared mentally incompetent by a court of competent jurisdiction for as long as such incompetence or disability exists. For purposes of this sub-section "dependent" means a child who is less than fifty percent (50%) selfsupporting. Notwithstanding these criteria, in no case shall "non-selfsupporting" be construed to include persons over the age of nineteen (19) and disabled by excessive use of drugs or alcohol as determined by the Board of Trustees. If you have a child who you believe is permanently and totally disabled from a mental or physical illness, injury, or retardation, please notify the Pension Fund office to certify your child's disabled status.

• A: If you do not have any eligible survivors, you can name someone as a beneficiary to receive a refund of any eligible pension contributions. If you do not designate a beneficiary, your estate will receive a refund of any eligible pension contributions.

• A: Yes. Please send a copy of your marriage documentation, so that we may have accurate survivor information.

• A: No. The statute governing the EPFPPF allows for the withdrawal of monies from the Fund only upon the member's termination of employment with the City of El Paso.

• A: Nothing in the law requires a public retirement system to decide how benefits should be divided between the member and a possible alternate payee (ex-spouse). Once your divorce is final and a decision is made as to what your ex-spouse will receive from your pension, you or your lawyer can file a certified (signed by a Judge) Domestic Relations Order (DRO) with the Fund (EPFPPF) for approval. If the Fund approves (qualifies) your DRO then it will be a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO). A QDRO is a DRO which creates or recognizes the existence of the rights of an Alternate Payee, or assigns to an Alternate Payee the right to receive all or a portion of the benefits payable to a Member or Retired Member of the EPFPPF.
  
  For active members whose divorce occurred prior to October 20, 2004, benefits will be paid upon the member's retirement from the City of El Paso in the form of a monthly annuity. Active members, whose divorce occurred after October 20, 2004, will be paid in a lump sum distribution after the DRO has been qualified. For retired members, the alternate payee will be paid in the form of a monthly annuity once the DRO has been qualified.
  Under Texas law, the System's Executive Director or his designee must certify that a DRO is a QDRO before any payments may be made by the Fund. To be certified by the Executive Director, a DRO must comply with all of the applicable provisions of the Government Code and rules as deemed necessary by the Board of Trustees in order to implement Section 804 of the Government Code.

• A: Yes. A sample DRO has been provided to serve as a guideline in creating a domestic relations order. This sample DRO can be found in the Forms section of this website. It should not be construed as legal advice. The DRO should follow the criteria set forth in Chapter 804 of Texas Government Code.

• A: A member must submit a Statement by Member for Disability Retirement form which describes in detail the nature of the disability as well as the manner in which the disability occurred. The member must also provide an Assessment by the Department Head form, a Physician’s Statement, an Authorization for Release of Medical Information form, and any medical reports and test results as of the date of the disability. All of these forms will be reviewed by the Disability Committee. The Disability Committee can order an independent medical review of each case as deemed necessary. After reviewing all the medical documentation received from the member regarding his/her disability, the Committee will make a recommendation to the Board of Trustees to approve or not approve the disability pension. The Board will then take a vote and determine if a disability pension is merited.

• A: Yes, if it is determined that the disabled retiree’s condition remains. The Board, at its own discretion, may order a disabled retiree to undergo a medical examination to determine his/her continued disability at any time after the disability pension has been approved (where the member had less than 20 years of creditable service at the time of retirement).

• A: Yes, the death benefit will equal 100% of the disabled retiree’s pension.

• A: Credited service is service that is used in computing retirement benefits. Your membership service is the eligible service during the employment period where a member makes payroll contributions to the fund. In addition to your membership service, members may be able to purchase certain periods of time when the member did not make payroll contributions. Any additional amount of time purchased, would add on time to your credited service which would give the member a higher annuity when computing retirement benefits.

• A: 1. Qualified Military Service – a member must pay back all contributions that would have been made if the member did not leave active service. No interest is charged if member pays within the allotted timeframe.
  2. Worker’s Compensation – if no pension contributions were made, a member must pay all contributions that would have been made if the member was not out of active service. The member must also pay regular interest.
  3. Leaves of Absence – a member must pay all contributions that would have been made if the member was not out of active service as well as all contributions that would have been made for the member by the City of El Paso and all applicable regular interest.
  4. Contributions in Repayment of Refunds – a member must re-pay the amount of the original refund plus regular interest incurred from the time the refund was issued.