Source: https://www.stlouisprs.org/Benefits/Handbook/
Timestamp: 2019-02-23 09:27:08
Document Index: 320391157

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 1', 'art 2', 'art 3', 'art 1', 'art 2', 'art 3']

St. Louis Police Retirement System DROP Handbook
Since October 1, 1957, The Police Retirement System of St. Louis (PRS) has been helping ensure the financial security of its members and their families. This handbook will help you understand how the System works for you.
As shown in the table of contents, this handbook is divided into two main parts. The first part provides an overview of the System and the allowances and benefits it provides. In some cases, references within the overview direct you to more detailed information in the second part of the handbook. The second part contains the statutes that define and govern the System as of July 11, 2002.
Please keep in mind that if any difference exists between the overview and the statutes, the statutes will govern in all cases. If you have any questions about information in this handbook, please contact The Police Retirement System office at 314-241-0800.
Police Retirement System Highlights
All St. Louis Police Officers who join the police department on or after October 1, 1957 are automatically members of the System as of their date of hire.
Both members and the City of St. Louis contribute to the System. You contribute 7% of each paycheck. The City contributes a percentage of the total annual Police Officer payroll based on the funding requirements of the System as certified by the actuary.
A Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP) is available to members who reach age 55 or complete 20 years of creditable service and who wish to continue active employment instead of retiring. After a member enrolls, he or she no longer makes contributions to the System and the service retirement allowance earned to that point is frozen. The monthly service retirement allowance (without COLA increases) is credited to his or her DROP account in the Fund while the member continues active employment (up to a maximum of 5 years). The DROP account is credited with the System's investment return annually, and an annual statement is available online or on your personal portal.
Effective October 1, 2001, a member may elect to terminate his DROP participation prior to the end of the maximum 5-year participation period. Also effective October 1, 2001, a member who continues to work as a Police Officer after participation ends will return to active participation in the System. His or her DROP account balance is no longer credited with the monthly service retirement allowance after DROP participation ends, however interest is credited annually on the member’s DROP account. In addition, he or she will resume making contributions to the System. Service and compensation earned after the member returns to active participation is used to calculate the retirement allowance payable after retirement.
Members who reach age 55 or complete 20 years of service are eligible for service retirement and a service retirement allowance. The amount of this allowance is based on the member's average final compensation and years of service with the police department.
Members who become permanently disabled may be eligible for a disability allowance from the System. The System pays a "service connected disability allowance" to a member who becomes disabled in the line of duty. The System pays an "ordinary disability allowance" to an eligible member who becomes disabled due to other causes after five (5) years of service.
The spouse and dependent children of a member who dies before retirement is eligible for monthly benefits from the System. If the member has no spouse or dependent children, the System will return the accumulated contributions to the member's beneficiary.
The spouse and dependent children of a member who dies after retirement are also eligible to receive monthly benefits from the System.
In any event, if the total benefit paid to or on behalf of a member (including the lump sum return of the Member's contributions) is less than the member's accumulated contributions, the member's beneficiary will receive the difference.
Death benefits are paid following proper proof of the member's death. For more information, see Sections 86.280, 86.283 and 86.287 of the Missouri Revised Statutes, as amended.
Members who leave employment as a Police Officer with the City of St. Louis before they are eligible for retirement, or before disability or death, will receive a refund of their accumulated contributions.
Under some circumstances, a member and/or his spouse and dependent children may be eligible for death or disability benefits from Workers' Compensation or a similar law in addition to benefits from the System. In those cases, the benefits paid from the System will be reduced to account for the benefits from the outside source. For complete information, see Section 86.297 RSMo.
During your years of employment with the police department, you are a member of the System. This section provides information about your relationship to the System during your working years.
If you were commissioned as a Police Officer in the City of St. Louis after October 1, 1957, you automatically became a member as of your date of hire. The System covers all commissioned officers of the department. This includes turnkeys, probationary patrolmen, patrolmen, sergeants, lieutenants, captains, senior officers and detectives. Membership in the System is not open to clerical staff or civilian employees who do not have police duties.
Your membership in the System will continue as long as you are a Police Officer and receiving compensation for your services. If you leave the police department and later are rehired as a Police Officer with the City of St. Louis, you will again become a member as of your date of rehire.
Contributing to The Police Retirement System
You make your contributions to the System automatically. Each pay period, 7% of your eligible compensation is deducted and placed in your individual account in the System's Members' Savings Fund. Your contributions earn interest until you die or retire, or until your contributions are withdrawn, whichever occurs first. No contributions are made while you are participating in DROP.
The City of St. Louis also contributes to the System. The City's contribution is a percentage of the annual police payroll. The actual amount is based on the funding requirements of the System as determined by an outside actuary. The actuary determines the amount of contributions needed to provide all future allowances and benefits expected to be paid by the System.
Electing the Deferred Retirement Option Plan
A Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP) is available to members who reach age 55 or complete 20 years of creditable service. You have the option to enroll at any time after you become eligible, as long as you are an active Police Officer. Your monthly retirement benefit (service retirement allowance) will not increase while you are in DROP.
Under DROP, your service retirement allowance is frozen and you stop making contributions. Your period of DROP participation does not count as creditable service. In return, the System credits your monthly service retirement allowance to your DROP account while you remain an active Police Officer. For example, if your service retirement allowance on the date you enter DROP is $1,000 a month, $1,000 a month will be credited to your DROP account within the System Trust Fund. This will continue for up to 60 months, or until you die, retire or elect to exit DROP early. Your service retirement allowance will not be increased or decreased for cost-of-living adjustments until after you actually retire.
Your DROP account will be credited with the annual investment return that the System’s Trust Fund earned the previous year (after reduction for investment expenses), beginning with the second fiscal year of your DROP participation. For example, if you entered DROP in February 2017, you will receive no interest in September 2017. Your October 1, 2017 DROP account balance will be credited interest on September 30, 2018 using the Trust Fund's overall rate of investment return for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2017. While you have a DROP account, the System will provide you with an annual statement of your DROP account balance on your PRS website portal.
To elect DROP, you must make an appointment with the System's Executive Director or designated staff member at least 30 days before you want to begin participating in DROP. The System's Executive Director will review your election and its implications. Following your appointment, you can complete a DROP election form.
More information about DROP can be found in other sections of this summary plan description.
Exiting the Deferred Retirement Option Plan
Your DROP participation will end at the earliest of completion of 5 years in DROP, termination of employment as a Police Officer due to death, disability, retirement or your election to end DROP participation early. An Early Exit Election can become effective as of the first day of any month ending on or after October 1, 2001.
Once your DROP participation ends for any reason, you cannot re-enter DROP.
If you continue to be employed as a Police Officer after your DROP participation ends, you will automatically re-enter active participation in the System. If you participated in DROP before October 1, 2001 and your DROP participation ended prior to October 1, 2001, you will reenter the System as an active member on October 1, 2001 if you are still actively employed.
If you re-enter the System following DROP, you will resume making contributions. Service earned after re-entry will count as creditable service and earnings paid on or after such date will be included in your average final compensation.
No further payments will be credited to your DROP account after your DROP participation ends, but your DROP account will continue to be credited with interest based on the System's investment results until your retirement date. The DROP account is not payable until you terminate employment.
Purchasing Creditable Service (Portability)
You may purchase creditable service towards a benefit from the System once you reach age 55 or complete 5 years of creditable service under the System if either:
You earned creditable service but are not vested under the provisions of any state or local retirement system in Missouri;
You were a state or local government employee in Missouri and you were not covered by a retirement plan.
There is a reciprocal agreement between your previous plan and the PRS.
(See "How to Reinstate or Purchase Creditable Service" in the second section below this section, page 13.)
Similarly, if you earned creditable service under the System and you quit before age 55 and before completing 20 years of creditable service, you may be able to purchase creditable service under another state or local retirement system in Missouri that covers you in a new job or upon re-employment with the Department.
If you are reemployed as a Police Officer within 90 days after your discharge from the military, your period of military service will count as creditable service and your prior creditable service will be reinstated. Creditable service will not be reinstated if you withdrew your accumulated contributions when you left for military service and you fail to repay them, with interest, following your return. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event will your creditable service and your benefit be less than the amount determined in accordance with the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Act of 1994 (USERRA) if you are entitled to reemployment under USERRA. (See "How to Reinstate or Purchase Creditable Service" below, following this section).
How to Reinstate or Purchase Creditable Service
Effective January 1, 2002, three methods are available to you for reinstating your prior creditable service following your return to police duty and purchasing creditable service towards a benefit from the System. You may use one or more of the following methods, as long the total amount paid to the System does not exceed the amount required to reinstate your prior service or purchase creditable service, whichever is applicable:
Payment to the System of your own funds on an after-tax basis.
Direct or indirect rollover to the System of an eligible rollover distribution from a traditional IRA, a tax-sheltered "403(b)" annuity, an eligible governmental deferred compensation plan or another qualified retirement plan. The rollover cannot include any non- taxable funds.
"Trustee to trustee" transfer to the System of funds from your tax-sheltered "403(b)" annuity or your account under an eligible governmental deferred compensation plan. The custodian or trustee of the annuity or plan must agree to make the transfer. The transfer cannot include any non-taxable funds.
All payments, rollovers and transfers must comply with procedures established by the Board of Trustees.
If You Die While A Member (except accidentally in the line of duty), then...
Surviving Dependent Benefit
Your surviving spouse... An annual benefit of 40% of your average final compensation for life or until he or she remarries plus the lump sum payment of your System contributions and DROP account
Each dependent child... An annual benefit of 15% of your average final compensation as long as the child meets the “dependent” definition
If you don’t have a surviving spouse, then your dependent children ... An annual benefit split equally among them of at least 40% of your average final compensation plus children 15% for each dependent child up to three as long as the children meet the “dependent” definition
If you die while you are a member (except accidentally in the line of duty), your surviving spouse will receive a benefit equal to 40% of your average final compensation. This benefit will be paid in monthly installments until death or remarriage of surviving spouse, whichever occurs first. (Your spouse may also be eligible to receive cost-of-living adjustments if the deceased member was eligible for service retirement. For more information, see page 25 of this handbook.)
Your surviving spouse will also receive a lump sum payment of your contributions to the System without interest. Effective January 1, 2002 this lump sum is an "eligible rollover distribution" (See "Direct Rollover Option" on page 19).
The System will pay an additional 15% of your average final compensation for each of your dependent children. This additional 15% benefit per child is also paid in monthly installments and continues as long as that child qualifies as dependent. The System defines dependent children as unmarried children who are either:
Under age 18, or under age 23, if enrolled as a full-time student;
Totally and permanently disabled and unable to care for themselves. A disabled child must have become disabled before age 18 and must not be a resident of a public-supported institution.
If you do not have a surviving spouse, your dependent children will receive the monthly benefit that would have been paid if you had a spouse (40% of your average final compensation plus 15% per dependent child). Each of your dependent children will receive an equal share of this benefit in monthly installments until they no longer qualify as a “dependent child.” (However, if at any time there is only one dependent child, he or she will receive half of the spouse's benefit amount plus the additional 15% child’s benefit.)
If you have neither a surviving spouse nor dependent children, your designated beneficiary will receive your accumulated contributions (contributions plus interest) in a lump sum.
If you are participating in the Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP), your DROP account balance will be paid to your surviving spouse in a lump sum. The surviving spouse's lump sum is an "eligible rollover distribution." (See "Direct Rollover Option" on page 19.) Otherwise:
If you do not have a surviving spouse, your dependent children will receive equal shares;
If you have no dependent children, your named beneficiary will receive the payment;
If no beneficiary is then living, payment will be made to your estate.
For more information about the in-service death benefits for your spouse and dependent children and/or parents, see Section 86.280, 86.251 and 86.288 RSMo.
Accidental Service-Connected Death
If you die in an accident through no negligence of your own, then…
Your surviving spouse... An annual benefit of 75% of your average final compensation for life or until he or she remarries plus the lump sum payment of your System contributions and DROP account
If you don’t have a surviving spouse, then your dependent children ... An annual benefit split equally among them of at least 75% of your average final compensation plus 15% for each dependent child up to three as long as the children meet the “dependent” definition
If you die in an accident in the line of duty (through no negligence of your own), your surviving spouse and dependent children may be eligible for benefits. Your spouse will receive a benefit equal to 75% of your average final compensation. This benefit will be paid in monthly installments for your spouse's life or until your spouse remarries, whichever occurs first. The System will pay an additional 15% of your average final compensation for each of your dependent children. This additional benefit is also paid in monthly installments.
Your surviving spouse will also receive a lump sum refund of your contributions to the System without interest. Effective January 1, 2002, this lump sum is an "eligible rollover distribution" (See "Direct Rollover Option" on page 19).
If you do not have a surviving spouse, your dependent children will receive the monthly benefit that would have been paid to the spouse (75% of your average final compensation plus 15% per dependent child). Each of your dependent children will receive an equal share of this benefit in monthly installments until they no longer qualify as a "dependent child." (However, if at any time there is only one dependent child, he or she will receive half of the spouse's benefit amount plus the additional 15% child's benefit.)
If you do not have a surviving spouse or dependent children, the monthly benefit that would have been paid to your spouse (75% of your average final compensation) may be paid to your father or mother, if the Board of Trustees determines that one is dependent on you for support.
If you do not have a surviving spouse, dependent children or dependent parents, your designated beneficiary will receive your accumulated contributions (contributions plus interest) in a lump sum.
If you are participating in the Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP), your DROP account balance will be paid to your surviving spouse in a lump sum. The surviving spouse’s lump sum is an “eligible rollover distribution.” (See “Direct Rollover Option” on page 16.) Otherwise:
If you have no dependent children, your mother or father (if dependent on you for support) will receive the payment;
If you have no dependent mother or father, payment will be made to your beneficiary;
If your death occurs in the line of duty, and meets certain requirements of the IRS, your surviving spouse or dependent child may elect to have your DROP account balance paid in the form of a monthly survivor annuity that is exempt from income tax.
For more specific information about the benefits payable to your spouse, dependent children and/or dependent parents, see Section 86.287, 86.251 and 86.288 RSMo.
If You Leave the Police Department
If you leave the Police Department before you retire, become disabled or die, you can request a refund of your accumulated contributions (contributions plus interest). If you have fewer than 20 years of service, you will receive your refund in a lump sum within one year. Effective January 1, 2002, your entire lump sum is an "eligible rollover distribution." (See "Direct Rollover Option" below, following this section.)
If you or your surviving spouse receive a lump sum distribution from the System on or after January 1, 2002, the lump sum is an “eligible rollover distribution." You may elect to have all or part of the taxable portion of your eligible rollover distribution directly rolled over to a traditional IRA, or to a tax-sheltered "403(b)" annuity, governmental deferred compensation plan, or qualified retirement plan that accepts rollovers. You may elect to have all or part of the non-taxable portion of your eligible rollover distribution directly rolled over to a traditional IRA or to certain other retirement plans that accept rollovers. Eligible rollover distributions that are directly rolled over are not subject to current income taxation; taxable eligible rollover distributions that are not directly rolled over are subject to 20% mandatory federal income tax withholding. More information and an election form will be provided when an eligible rollover distribution becomes payable.
At retirement, you may be eligible for an allowance from the System. This section of the overview explains:
The eligibility requirements for retirement
When your contributions are refunded
How to calculate your service retirement allowance
How you receive your DROP account
When your allowance may be adjusted for changes in the cost-of-living
How to become a Special Consultant or Special Advisor
The benefits paid to your spouse and dependent children if you die during service retirement
Reaching Service Retirement Eligibility
You are eligible for service retirement when you reach age 55 or when you complete 20 years of service. No more than 90 days before you plan to retire, you should submit a written application for retirement to the Board of Trustees.
Retirement is required at age 65. However, if you receive permission from the Board of Trustees, you may continue your employment beyond age 65. For more information about continued employment past age 65, you can contact The Police Retirement System office at 241-0800.
Receiving Your Contributions at Service Retirement
When you retire, the System will refund your contributions to you without interest in a lump sum. You will receive this refund in addition to your monthly service retirement allowance. You can expect to receive your contributions in a lump sum within 60 days after your retirement.
Calculating Your Service Retirement Allowance
If you do not enter DROP, your service retirement allowance is based on your average final compensation and your years of service at retirement. If you enter DROP, your service retirement allowance is based on your average final compensation and your years of service when you enter DROP plus any compensation and service after DROP ends and you reenter the System. Your years of service are counted in years and months. You receive one month of service for each full and partial month you are a member. If you earn any years of service on or after August 11, 1999, the System uses the following formula to calculate your service retirement allowance:
Service Retirement Allowance Formula
(for service up to 25 years)
2% x Average Final Compensation
Years of Service (up to 25 years)
= Part 1 Allowance
(for service between 25 and 30 years)
4% x Average Final Compensation
Up to 5 Years of Service in excess of 25 years
= Part 2 Allowance
(for service over 30 years)
Effective August 11, 1999
5% x Average Final Compensation if Years of Service equal or exceed 30 Years
= Part 3 Allowance
(for total service)
Total from Part 1
Total from Part 2
Total from Part 3
= Total Annual Allowance*
*The maximum service retirement allowance available from the System is 75% of your average final compensation.
Note that if you entered DROP on or before October 1, 2001 and you reenter the System on or after October 1, 2001, your specific circumstances will determine your benefit. If you reenter the System on or after October 1, 2001 for at least two full years, your benefit is calculated based on the above formula and your pre and post DROP service. If you reenter the System for less than two years, your benefit will be calculated based on a combination of your pre DROP benefit and your post DROP benefit calculated based on the above formula. You should discuss your specific circumstances with the System's Executive Director.
The following special definition of average final compensation will apply to you if you participated in DROP on or before October 1, 2001 and you reenter the System after your DROP participation ends:
If you earn two or more years of service beginning on or after October 1, 2001, your average final compensation is the average of your earnable compensation during your last two years of service as a Police Officer.
If you earn fewer than two years of service beginning on or after October 1, 2001 because of your death or disability, your average final compensation is the average of your earnable compensation during your last two years of service (including service prior to October 1, 2001).
If you earn less than two years of service beginning on or after October 1, 2001 for reasons other than your death or disability, your average final compensation will be determined in two parts. For years of service earned before you participated in DROP and before October 1, 2001, it is the average of your earnable compensation during your last three years of service as a Police Officer (including service prior to October 1, 2001). For years of service earned on or after October 1, 2001 it is the average of your earnable compensation during your last two years of service as a Police Officer (including service prior to October 1, 2001).
Example: No DROP
Date of Employment: 12/30/1986
Date of Retirement: 1/1/2018
"Earnable Compensation" from 1/1/2017-12/31/2017: $56,000
"Earnable Compensation" from 1/1/2016-12/31/2016: $54,000
Years of Service: 31 at 1/1/2018
Average Final Compensation = (56,000 + $54,000) / 2 = $55,000
2% x $55,000
4% x $55,000
5% x $55,000
Example: DROP Entry after 10/1/2001 without Re-entry
Date of Employment: 11/01/1984
Date of Retirement: 11/1/2017
Date of DROP Entry: 11/1/2012
"Earnable Compensation" from 11/1/2011-10/31/2012: $54,000
"Earnable Compensation" from 11/1/2010-10/31/2011: $52,000
Years of Service at 11/1/2012: 28
Average Final Compensation = ($54,000 + $52,000) / 2 = $53,000
2% x $53,000
4% x $53,000
= $32,860
For more specific information about your service retirement allowance, including minimums, maximums, cost-of-living and other adjustments, see Section 86.251, 86.253, 86.255 and 86.256 RSMo.
Payment of Your DROP Account
If you participated in DROP, your monthly service retirement allowance (calculated as of the date you entered DROP) will become payable to you when you retire, along with a lump sum equal to your contributions without interest. In addition, your DROP account will be payable. You can elect to have your DROP account paid in a lump sum or to receive it as a series of monthly installments over 10 years. Payments begin upon retirement if paid out over 10 years. The DROP account will be adjusted for the fund's investment performance until it is fully paid out. If payment is made in a lump sum, it will be an "eligible rollover distribution." If payments are made in installments, interest credited during the installment period will be paid in a lump sum at the end of the installment period. The payment of interest will be an "eligible rollover distribution". (See "Direct Rollover Option" on page 19.)
Your allowance may be adjusted during your retirement to reflect changes in the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI). These cost-of-living adjustments are made each October beginning with the second October after your retirement. Depending on the most recent CPI, your allowance may be increased by 1% to 3%. The maximum cumulative increase to your allowance is 30%. If the CPI goes down, your allowance can be decreased. The decrease will never be less than 3% for any one year, and your allowance will never be decreased to less than your original calculated allowance amount.
The service retirement allowance for deferred retirement option (DROP) members is not adjusted for changes in the cost-of-living until after you actually retire.
If you die while you are an active member (but not in the line of duty) and after you reach age 55 or have 20 years of service or if you die while receiving a service retirement allowance, the monthly death benefits paid to your spouse will be adjusted as explained above. The 30% cumulative maximum adjustment includes adjustments during your lifetime as well as adjustments to your surviving spouse's benefit after your death.
Becoming a Special Consultant or Special Advisor
Retirees and surviving spouses whose monthly service retirement allowance or survivor benefit is less than $650 per month (effective August 18, 1999) are eligible to become Special Consultants and receive a minimum monthly retirement benefit of $650. To become a Special Consultant, you must apply to the Board of Trustees. As a Special Consultant, the Board may ask for your advice on retirement issues.
Special Consultants receive the greater of the $650 minimum monthly benefit or their original service retirement allowance (or survivor benefit), adjusted for changes in the cost-of-living. (See page 25 of this handbook for information about these adjustments.)
For information about applying to be a Special Consultant, contact The Police Retirement System office at 241 0800.
Effective July 1, 1994, any retired member age 60 or older can become a Special Advisor to the Board of Trustees on retirement issues. Effective October 1, 1999, any surviving spouse age 60 or older can become a Special Advisor. To become a Special Advisor, you must apply to the Board of Trustees. As a Special Advisor, the Board may ask you to share your opinions on matters such as retirement and aging. For your services, you will be paid an additional $10 per month for each full year over age 60. For example, a Special Advisor who is age 68 would receive an additional $80 per month: 8 years x $10 = $80. The System pays this Special Advisor monthly benefit in addition to all other payable allowances.
For information on applying to be a Special Advisor, contact The Police Retirement System office at 241-0800.
Death After Service Retirement
If you die after receiving a service retirement allowance, then...
Your surviving spouse... An annual benefit of 40% of your average final compensation for life plus your cost-of-living adjustment the lump sum payment of your System contributions and DROP account
If you don’t have a surviving spouse, then your dependent children... An annual benefit split equally among them of at least 75% of your average final compensation plus 15% for each dependent child as long as the children meet the “dependent” definition.
If you die after payment of your service retirement allowance begins, your surviving spouse will receive a monthly benefit equal to 40% of your average final compensation. This benefit will be paid in monthly installments until your spouse dies or remarries, whichever occurs first. The System will pay an additional 15% of your average final compensation for each of your dependent children. This additional benefit is also paid in monthly installments. (Your spouse may also be eligible to receive cost-of-living adjustments. For more information about these adjustments, see page 25 of this handbook.)
If you do not have a surviving spouse, your dependent children will receive the benefit that would have been paid to the spouse (40% of your average final compensation plus 15% per dependent child.) Each of your dependent children will receive a share of this benefit. (However, if at any time there is only one dependent child, he or she will receive half of the spouse's benefit amount plus the additional 15% child's benefit.) Your dependent children will receive this benefit in monthly installments.
If you have a DROP account, and you die before receiving the full amount in your DROP account, the remaining account balance will be paid to your surviving spouse in a lump sum. The surviving spouse's lump sum is an "eligible rollover distribution." (See "Direct Rollover Option" on page 19.) Otherwise:
If you have no dependent children, your mother or father (see Section 86.251.8 RSMo) will receive the payment;
If you have no dependents, payment will be made to your beneficiary.
In no event will the total amount paid to you and your beneficiaries be less than your accumulated contributions.
For more information about service retirement death benefits for your spouse and dependent children and/or dependent parents, see Section 86.283 and 86.251 RSMo (DROP).
If you become permanently disabled in the line of duty through no negligence of your own, you may qualify for a service connected disability retirement allowance. If you become disabled during any other activity after 5 years of service, you may be eligible for an ordinary disability retirement allowance.
The following table summarizes your disability allowances:
If you become Disabled and
your disability is caused
by .... Then ...
Any off duty accident or illness You may be eligible for a disability retirement allowance if you have at least 5 years of service, if through a medical examination, your disability meets certain requirements
An accident that occurs while you are working You may receive a service-connected accidental disability allowance if through a medical examination, your disability meets certain requirements
The remainder of this section explains:
Both types of disability allowance
What happens if you recover from your disability
The benefits payable to your spouse and dependent children if you die while you are receiving a disability retirement allowance
Ordinary Disability Retirement Allowance
If you become disabled while a member, you may be eligible for a disability benefit allowance from the System. You are eligible to apply for an ordinary disability retirement allowance if you have at least 5 years of service and your disability did not result from a job-related accident.
To receive this allowance, you must apply to the Board of Trustees. The Board will require you to have a medical examination. The exam must show that the disability is likely to be permanent and that it prevents you from performing the duties of your job. After receiving your application and exam results, the Board of Trustees will determine your eligibility.
Once you begin receiving this allowance, the Board of Trustees may ask you to submit to a medical exam once per year during the first five years of your disability retirement and then once every three years.
Calculating Your Ordinary Disability Retirement Allowance
If you become disabled when you are age 55 or older or when you have 20 or more years of service, you will receive a service retirement allowance. To learn how to calculate your service retirement allowance, see “If You Retire” page 21 of this handbook.
If you do not qualify for a service retirement allowance, you will receive an ordinary disability allowance. An ordinary disability allowance is the greater of:
90% of your service retirement allowance. (See page 21 of this handbook to learn how to calculate your service retirement allowance. Then, multiply your service retirement allowance by 90%.)
25% of your average final compensation
Additional Disability Retirement Allowance for Dependent Children
If you have dependent children, the System will also pay you a monthly benefit equal to 15% of your average final compensation for each of your dependent children.
For more information about the additional allowance for your dependent children, see Section 86.260 RSMo.
Service Connected Accidental Disability Retirement Allowance
If you become disabled because of an accident that occurs while you are working (through no negligence of your own), you may receive a service connected accidental disability allowance. You are eligible for this allowance if a medical examination shows that your disability:
Prevents you from performing your police duties;
Has arisen within 5 years after the accident occurred (unless you reported the accident and were examined within 5 years)
Once you are receiving this allowance, the Board of Trustees may ask you to submit to a medical exam once per year during the first five years of your retirement and then once every three years.
If you have participated in DROP at any time and you apply for and receive benefits for accidental disability retirement allowance while in DROP, you will forfeit all rights, claims or interest in your DROP account. Your accidental disability retirement allowance will be calculated as if you had not elected to participate in DROP.
The minimum service-connected disability retirement allowance is 75% of your average final compensation. However, if your disability prevents you from performing any work — not just your police duties — the Board of Trustees may increase the allowance up to 100% of your pay at the time you became disabled. In addition, the Board may also pay an allowance for your medical care.
Becoming a Special Consultant
If you are receiving (or you begin receiving) an accidental disability retirement allowance at any time after October 1, 2001, you can apply to be a special consultant. If the Board of Trustees approves your application, your contributions will be returned to you in a lump sum, without interest. As a special consultant, you may be asked to advise the Board of Trustees on retirement issues.
Your disability allowance will stop if you recover from your disability and return to work as a Police Officer. When you return to your police duties, you will resume your membership in the System.
You will also start earning years of service again as of your date of rehire. Your pre disability years of service and your new years of service will both be used to determine your retirement eligibility and average final compensation. However, in the future, if calculations for a retirement allowance reveal that your new average final compensation is lower than the average final compensation used to determine your disability retirement allowance, your pre-disability average final compensation amount will be used.
Death During Disability
If you die while receiving an ordinary disability retirement allowance or an accidental disability retirement allowance, your surviving spouse will receive a benefit equal to 40% of your average final compensation. This benefit is paid in monthly installments until your spouse dies or remarries, whichever occurs first. The System will pay an additional 15% of your average final compensation for each of your dependent children. This additional benefit is also paid in monthly installments.
If you die within five years after beginning to receive an accidental disability retirement allowance, your surviving spouse will receive an additional monthly benefit equal to 10% of your average final compensation. In this case, your spouse's total benefit will be 50% of your average final compensation. This, too, will be paid in monthly installments until your spouse dies or remarries, whichever occurs first.
Your surviving spouse is also eligible to receive the return of your contributions in a lump sum payment, if you have not already received your lump sum contributions.
If you do not have a surviving spouse, or if your spouse dies or remarries, your dependent children will receive the benefit that would have been paid to a spouse (40% or 50% of your average final compensation, as applicable, plus 15% per dependent child). Each of your dependent children will receive a share of this benefit. (However, if at any time there is only one dependent child, he or she will receive half of the spouse's benefit amount plus the additional 15% child's benefit.) Your dependent children will receive this benefit in monthly installments.
For more information about the benefits payable if you die during disability retirement, see Section 86.283 RSMo.
Below, in alphabetical order, you can find definitions to some terms used to describe how the System works.
All members contribute a percentage of their pay to the System. Your "accumulated contributions" are the total of your contributions and the interest earned on them. Each year the Board of Trustees determines the rate of interest your contributions will earn.
Most allowances and benefits are based in part on your average final compensation.
If you earn any creditable service on or after October 1, 2001 your average final compensation is the average of your earnable compensation during your last two years of service as a Police Officer. If you have fewer than two years of service, your average final compensation is the average of your earnable compensation during all your years of service.
If you earn any creditable service on or after October 1, 2001, your average final compensation for purposes of calculating the death benefit payable to your surviving spouse or surviving dependent child is the average of your earnable compensation during your last two years of service as a Police Officer. If you have fewer than two years of service, your average final compensation is the average of your earnable compensation during all your years of service.
If you did not earn any service on or after October 1, 2001, your average final compensation is the average of your earnable compensation during your last three years of service as a Police Officer. If you have fewer than three years of service, your average final compensation is the average of your earnable compensation during all your years of service.
Under no circumstances will compensation earned while you are not an active participant in the System — including periods of participation in the DROP — be used to determine average final compensation.
A Board of Trustees administers and operates The Police Retirement System of St. Louis. The members of the Board are the Comptroller of the City of St. Louis or his/her deputy, ex-officio, two members appointed by the mayor for two year terms, three active members elected by their fellow active police officers for three year terms, and three retired police officers elected by their fellow retirees for three year terms.
For more information about the Board of Trustees and the Board’s roles and responsibilities, see Sections 86.300 through 86.363.
Trustee P.O. Wallace K. Leopold, Chairman
Trustee Sgt. James H. Long, (Retired) Secretary
Trustee Lt. Michael J. Anderson, (Retired)
Trustee Ms. Bev Fitzsimmons, Deputy Comptroller
Trustee Ms. Kelly Camilleri
Trustee Mr. Richard Kismer
Trustee Sgt. Mickey A. Owens
Trustee P.O. Stephen “Jay” Schroeder
Trustee Sgt. James R. Wurm (Retired)
A "break in service" is a temporary, unpaid leave of absence from your job. If your break in service is more than one month, you will not receive credit during your absence. For example, if you are absent without pay for three months and then return to service, you will not earn any service for the entire three-month period. If you are absent without pay for 29 or fewer days and then return to service, you will earn service for the entire period of absence.
Under some circumstances, the System provides monthly benefits for dependent children of members who become disabled or die. The System defines dependent children as unmarried children who are:
under age 18, or under age 23, if enrolled as a full-time student, or
totally and permanently disabled and unable to care for themselves. (Except in the case of a member's ordinary disability allowance, a disabled child must have become disabled before age 18 and must not be a resident of a public-supported institution.)
Earnable compensation is defined as the regular pay someone in your rank or position would earn in one year and includes base pay, educational incentive and shift differential, but NOT overtime or court time.
If you leave employment as a Police Officer and later return, your prior creditable service will be reinstated if you left your contributions in the System during your absence or if you repaid them (with interest) when you returned to police duty. (See "How to Reinstate or Purchase Creditable Service" on page 13.)
The spouse to whom you are legally married at your death.
Years of Service (Creditable Service)
Your years of service are used to determine your eligibility for benefits from the System and to calculate the amount of benefit to which you are entitled. In this overview, "years of service" is the same as "creditable service."
As soon as you become a member in the System, you begin earning years of service. Each month you work as a Police Officer with pay, except months of participation in the DROP counts towards your years of service. Generally, one full or partial month of service counts as one month of service. Therefore, 12 months of service equals one year of service.
Consider Alice who became a member on July 1, 1988. If she continues her employment as a Police Officer, as of September 18, 2017, she will have earned 29 years and 3 months of service, calculated as follows:
1988 through 2017 = 29 years
July + August + September = 3 months
Total Years of Service: 29 years and 3 months
However, if Alice began participation in the DROP on August 1, 2008 and then reentered the System as an active participant on August 1, 2013 after her DROP participation ended on July 31, 2013, she will have earned 20 years and 1 month of service, calculated as follows:
1988 through 2008 = 20 years
July = 1 month
Total pre-DROP Service = 20 years and 1 month
August 2013 through September 2018 = 5 years and 2 months
Total Post-DROP Service = 5 years and 2 months
Total Years of Service Equals
Total Years of Service = 25 years and 3 months