Category: Newsroom

As you prepare to file your taxes, here’s how to obtain your 2019 Tax Form 1099-R information:

To be mailed on January 31, 2020

A hard copy of your 1099-R tax form will be mailed to your address on file via US mail on January 31, 2020.  If you have questions regarding Form 1099-R, please review the Frequently Asked Questions on our website or contact the Accounting Section at (213) 279-3040 or (844) 88-LAFPP ext. 93040.

Some members may receive more than one 1099-R tax form in a year. Here are some of the possible reasons: 

1. You exited DROP and received at least one monthly pension payment in the same year (one 1099-R for DROP, one 1099-R for monthly pension payments)
2. You have a non-tax dependent covered on your LAFPP-subsidized health insurance plan (e.g., domestic partner or child of a domestic partner)
3. Your IRS tax distribution code changed during the year (e.g., when member attains 59 ½ years old by June of the same year)
4. You moved to a different state during the year
5. You received pension payments based on your City service and from a qualified domestic relations order (QDRO) or as a beneficiary

Need to make changes to your income tax withholdings?

Make them electronically through the MyLAFPP Portal! You can make your changes in 5 easy steps:

1. Access MyLAFPP
2. Click Retiree Benefits 
3. Click Tax Withholding 
4. Click Update Pension Tax Withholding Instructions
5. Fill in all the information. Please fill in all the information even if you are only changing either Federal or State of California withholdings. 
6. Click Submit

IMPORTANT NOTE: In addition to Federal taxes, LAFPP is responsible for tax withholding only in the state of California. Since LAFPP does not have an operating business presence in other states, we do not offer tax withholding for states other than California.

For questions, please contact the Retirement Services Section at (213) 279-3125 or (844) 88-LAFPP, ext. 93125.

Federal and CA state income tax withholding tables were updated for the 2020 tax year. Starting with the January 31, 2020 pension payment, you may see a change in your taxes withheld. You may change your withholding by logging into MyLAFPP or downloading the Income Tax Withholding Form.

You may also contact Retirement Services to make changes or for any questions by calling (213) 279-3125 or (844) 88-LAFPP, ext. 93125.

SPECIAL NOTICE: This article only applies to retired members of the Los Angeles Fire & Police Pension Plan

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has increased the standard Medicare Part B monthly premium to $148.50 effective January 1, 2021; however, you may pay a different amount determined by CMS.

• If you are a new Medicare Part B enrollee in 2021, you will be reimbursed the standard monthly premium of $148.50 and do not need to provide additional documentation.  
• If you received a Medicare Part B reimbursement of $144.60 on your pension check in 2020, you do not need to provide documentation and your Part B reimbursement will automatically increase to $148.50 for 2021. 
• If you received less than a $144.60 Medicare Part B reimbursement on your pension check in 2020, LAFPP will notify you by email or mail with instructions on how to update your Part B premium amount on record.
   

To update your Part B reimbursement for the 2021 calendar year, please submit a copy of your:

• Social Security New Benefit Amount statement for 2021; or
• Next Medicare monthly or quarterly billing statement (if you do not receive Social Security benefits)

To update your Part B reimbursement for premiums paid during the 2020 calendar year, please submit a copy of your:

• Social Security Form 1099 for 2020; or
• First Medicare monthly or quarterly billing statement for 2020

Please send all documents to LAFPP’s Medical and Dental Benefits Section via:

• Email to: mdb@lafpp.com;
• Fax to: (213) 628-7782; or
• Mail to: Department of Fire and Police Pensions, Attn: Medical & Dental Benefits, 701 E. 3rd Street, Suite 200, Los Angeles, CA 90013

Due to the anticipated high volume of submissions, it may take at least three months to process your Part B documentation and update your reimbursement amount on your LAFPP pension payment.

As a reminder, Part B reimbursement only applies to Retirees or Qualified Survivors who are eligible for an LAFPP health subsidy and are enrolled in both Medicare Parts A and B. Any additional Part B penalties or fees charged by CMS are not eligible for reimbursement.

January 2021 begins with more good news for LAFPP! As of January 12, 2021, the Fund reached an unaudited market value in excess of $28.3 billion dollars. This greatly exceeds the $25 billion total as of January 2020, just before the stock market declined due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The rebound in the Plan’s market value is due to the strong recovery in the equity markets and the City’s annual contribution payment received in July 2020.

You should also be assured that the Board and staff continually monitor your pension fund, which is invested for the long term. There is a strategic asset allocation plan in place with ongoing adjustments to manage periodic fluctuations.

Thank you for your dedication and service as first responders to the residents of Los Angeles. For any questions or concerns, please contact us at (213) 279-3000, (844) 88-LAFPP, or at Pensions@lafpp.com.

LAFPP continues to be one of the largest public safety pension funds in the U.S. The Plan administers retirement and health subsidy benefits for over 26,000 current and retired public safety employees and their beneficiaries for the City of Los Angeles.

As of January 1, 2020, our new business hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding City holidays.

Looking for information during non-business hours?

Access MyLAFPP, our online member self-service portal that gives you 24/7 access to your personalized benefit information. Registration is required for MyLAFPP. If you have not registered, here is a step by step guide on how to register.

Browse the LAFPP website for general pension information

• Active members
• DROP members
• Retired members
• Qualified Survivors

Email us at pensions@lafpp.com – We’ll respond to your email in one business day.

We sincerely value your feedback. If you have any questions, please contact our office at (213) 279-3000 or (844) 88-LAFPP, or email pensions@lafpp.com.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has recently announced that the standard Part B monthly premium for the 2020 calendar year will increase to $144.60 on January 1, 2020. 

Eligible Retirees and Qualified Survivors – If your Medicare Part B premium has increased or if it differs from the reimbursement amount shown on your pension check statement, you can update your Part B reimbursement amount by submitting a copy of your:

• Social Security New Benefit Amount for 2020 or
• next Medicare Billing Statement

Please send all documentation to the Medical and Dental Benefits Section via:

1. Email to: mdb@lafpp.com
2. Fax to: (213) 628-7782
3. Mail to: Department of Fire and Police Pensions, Attn: Medical and Dental Benefits, 701 E. Third St., Ste 200, Los Angeles, CA 90013

Due to the anticipated high volume of submissions, it may take two to three months after receipt of valid Part B documentation for your new reimbursement amount to be reflected in your pension check. 

As a reminder, Part B reimbursement only applies to Retirees or Qualified Survivors who are eligible for an LAFPP health subsidy and are enrolled in both Medicare Parts A and B. Any additional fees required by CMS are not eligible for reimbursement.

If you have specific questions about your current Part B reimbursement amount, please contact the Medical and Dental Benefits Section at (213) 279-3115 or toll-free at (844) 88-LAFPP ext. 93115.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How do I know if I am eligible for Part B reimbursement?

You must be a retired member or qualified survivor who is receiving a pension and enrolled in both Medicare Parts A and B.

2. What document do I need to submit to receive my correct Part B reimbursement amount?

You may submit a copy of your Social Security benefits verification statement (Your “New Benefit Amount”) or a copy of your 2020 CMS billing statement.    

3.  My spouse (non-LAFPP member) is currently enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B.  Does he/she need to submit Medicare Part B premium documentation?

No. Only the member or a Qualified Surviving Spouse/Domestic Partner enrolled in Parts A and B is eligible for Medicare Part B premium reimbursement.

4.  I received a letter stating that I pay a higher Part B premium based on my income level (Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount, i.e., IRMAA). May I submit this letter as proof of my Part B premium?

Yes.  You may submit a copy of the first page of your IRMAA letter as long as it contains your name, address, and 2020 monthly Medicare Part B premium deduction.  LAFPP does not reimburse IRMAA fees, so the Part B reimbursement will not exceed $144.60 per month.

5.   I receive a monthly Social Security payment, but I did not receive / cannot locate my “New Benefit Amount” Statement. What can I do?

You can call or visit your local Social Security Administration (SSA) office.  You can also access proof of your 2020 Medicare Part B basic premium online at the SSA website: https://www.ssa.gov/myaccount/. You may be required to create or register your SSA account.

6.   When do I need to provide LAFPP documentation of my Part B Premium?

You may submit your documentation at any time during 2020 and receive a retroactive reimbursement for up to 12 pension roll months from the date your submission is received.

On May 2, 2019, the Board of Fire and Police Pension Commissioners approved a 5.5 percent increase to the non-Medicare health subsidy.  The new non-Medicare health subsidy maximum is $1,820.29 per month, effective July 1, 2019.

While the upper limit of the Board’s authority to increase the non-Medicare subsidy is the lesser of seven percent or the Board-approved actuarial medical trend rate, an increase of 5.5 percent will subsidize health insurance premiums in a manner consistent with the Board’s fiduciary duty to all participants of the Plan.  The approved increase to the maximum non-Medicare subsidy is based on objective factors, including changes in the actual retiree health plan premiums and market trend, and the overall impact to current and future retirees. 

Members who either: (1) entered DROP or retired prior to July 15, 2011, (2) are members of Tier 6, or (3) chose to opt-in to pay an additional two percent in contributions, are eligible to receive a maximum non-Medicare health subsidy not to exceed $1,820.29, effective July 1, 2019.

For more information regarding the non-Medicare Health Subsidy increase or if you have specific questions regarding a pending subsidy credit, please contact Medical & Dental Benefits at (213) 279-3115.