AFGE applauds the Senate for passing an AFGE-backed bill that would allow law enforcement personnel and first responders to keep their full retirement benefits if they’re injured on the job and return to the federal workforce in another capacity. The bill, which passed the House in July, now heads to President Biden for his signature.
Because of the dangerous nature of their jobs, federal responders and law enforcement personnel such as customs and border protection officers, firefighters, air traffic controllers, nuclear materials couriers, members of the Capitol Police, and others are required to retire at the age of 57. Employees in these jobs, known as "6c" occupations, are entitled to retire after serving for 20 years and reaching age 50.
Their accelerated retirement system also requires them to pay a higher percentage of their salary into their retirement than other federal workers making their payments over the course of 30 years. The 6c personnel’s annuity amount is therefore calculated at a higher rate.
But if they get injured on the job and cannot complete their mandatory 20 years of service, the money they have paid into early retirement disappears even if they continue to serve in a non-6c position.
The First Responders Fair Return for Employees on Their Initial Retirement Earned (RETIRE) Act would address that inequity by allowing these law enforcement officers and first responders to receive retirement benefits in the same manner as if they had not been disabled.
The bill also allows these employees to receive a refund of their contributions if they’re separated from service before they’re entitled to their retirement benefits.
AFGE thanks House Subcommittee on Government Operations Chair Gerry Connolly, D-Va., and Senate Veterans Affairs Committee Chair Jon Tester, D-Mont., for introducing the bill in the House and Senate respectively. We also thank members of Congress who support first responders and law enforcement officers and the work they do.
“This law will bring much needed benefits to federal first responders who protect and serve the American public,” said AFGE President Everett Kelley.
“This is a long time coming,” said AFGE Firefighter Steering Committee Chair Kurt Rhodes. “Our first responders put their life on the line on a daily basis. In the past if they got injured and could not continue to perform the duties of a first responder, they were moved to job that did not qualify for our special retirement. They would lose all the extra retirement they paid into the program. With the passage of this bill, they keep the special retirement and finish out their career in another job.”
“I wish we could make this bill retroactive to the day it was introduced,” he added. “A big thank you to everyone that helped make this happen. Now let's get H.R. 393, the Federal Firefighter Pay Equity Act, passed and pay them the retirement they deserve.”
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