You may apply for monthly pension fund benefits after you:

• Have 20 years of creditable service as a firefighter or rescue squad worker, and
• Reach age 55

Pension Fund Eligibility Change Effective October 1, 2014

With the passage of Session Law 2014-64, members of the Firefighters’ and Rescue Squad Workers’ Pension Fund who are at least 55 years old and who have completed their necessary roster and contribution requirements (20 years, unless certain disability situations apply), will now be eligible, effective October 1, 2014, to receive their pension regardless of whether they are a volunteer or paid firefighter/rescue squad worker (even if they haven’t terminated their paid position). The previous law indicated that “no member shall be entitled to a pension until their official duties as a fireman or rescue worker for which the member is paid compensation shall have been terminated and the member shall have retired.” Now, this language has been removed from the statute, so that a member who is at least 55 years old and has met their contribution and roster requirements can begin collecting their pension fund payment, regardless of their employment or volunteer status. In other words, paid firefighters/rescue workers who meet the pension fund eligibility requirements for retirement can continue to work and earn compensation for their job and also receive their pension fund benefit, which is currently $170 per month.

As a result of this new legislation, the Pension Fund has updated the Form 6FR, “Retiring From the Firefighters’ and Rescue Squad Workers’ Pension Fund.” Although our office will continue to accept old versions of the 6FR (last revised in 2013) beyond the October 1, 2014 effective date, we encourage use of the newly-updated form. All Pension Fund forms are available in ORBIT.

Should you have any questions regarding this law change, please contact the pension fund office at (919) 814-4590.

Creditable Service

Creditable service is defined as service for any period during which you paid and maintained contributions in the fund or for which you purchased service credit in the fund.  

Creditable service as either a firefighter or rescue squad worker counts toward membership in the fund. However, if you work and/or volunteer both as a firefighter and as a rescue squad worker during the same month, you can only receive one month of pension fund credit for that month.

The present pension fund benefit is $170 per month.

To begin receiving benefits, you must complete and submit to the Pension Fund:

• Form 6FR, “Retiring from the Firefighters’ and Rescue Squad Workers’ Pension Fund”
• Form 170, “Authorizing Direct Deposit”

Applying for Benefits​

You must apply for benefits. They are not paid automatically. Your application and direct deposit form should be returned to the Pension Fund 30 days before your scheduled retirement date.