Category: Newsroom

LAFPP NEW OFFICE HOURS!

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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

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.

MEDICARE PART B PREMIUM REIMBURSEMENT FOR 2020

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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.

ELECTION – POLICE DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEE MEMBER BOARD OF FIRE AND POLICE PENSION COMMISSIONERS

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The current term for the Police Department Employee Member of the Board of Fire and Police Pension Commissioners will end on June 30, 2020.  The Office of the City Clerk, in conjunction with the Department of Fire and Police Pensions, is scheduled to conduct an Election on Tuesday, March 17, 2020, to fill that position. All active, sworn members of the Police Department are encouraged to participate. The candidate elected will serve a five-year term that begins July 1, 2020 and ends June 30, 2025.

BOARD MEMBER DUTIES – The Board exercises the prudent person standard in the discharge of its duties.  It has sole and exclusive fiduciary responsibility to administer the Fire and Police Pension System (System) and its assets; has the authority to set and adopt investment policies for over $23 billion in fund assets; and has the duty to establish actuarial assumptions and adopt rules and regulations necessary to properly fund and administer the System.

Preparation for regular and special meetings requires a Commissioner to commit several hours of advance reading of Board Reports and disability cases.  The Board normally meets on the first and third Thursdays of the month at 8:30 a.m.  The duration of most meetings is from two to four hours.

CANDIDATE PROCESS – Only active, sworn Los Angeles Police Department members of the System are eligible to run and vote for this Board seat. Members who wish to qualify for the ballot are required to complete and submit the following documents to the Office of the City Clerk – Election Division, 555 Ramirez Street, Space 300, Los Angeles, CA 90012: 1) Notice of Intent to run for office; 2) Occupational Ballot Designation (Optional); and 3) Statement of Qualifications for office (Optional). The Office of the City Clerk will mail these documents beginning on Friday, January 17, 2020, to all eligible members with further instructions.  Candidates who wish to hand deliver their completed Notice of Intent may do so beginning on Wednesday, January 22, 2020, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. The Notice of Intent must be received by mail or in person by the Office of the City Clerk – Election Division by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, January 31, 2020. 

VOTING PROCESS – After the candidates are determined, ballots will be mailed to eligible voters beginning on Friday, February 21, 2020.  Voters who wish to submit their ballots in person may do so beginning Friday, March 6, 2020.  To be counted all completed ballots must be received by mail or in person by the Office of the City Clerk – Election Division by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 17, 2020.  The ballots will be tallied on Thursday, March 19, 2020 in the presence of the observers designated by each candidate. 

QUESTIONS – Inquiries regarding the election process may be directed to the Office of the City Clerk – Election Division at (213) 978-0440 or the Administrative Services Section of the Department of Fire and Police Pensions at (213) 279-3080.

ELECTION – FIRE DEPARTMENT RETIRED MEMBER BOARD OF FIRE AND POLICE PENSION COMMISSIONERS

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The current term for the Fire Department Retired Member of the Board of Fire and Police Pension Commissioners will end on June 30, 2020.  The Office of the City Clerk, in conjunction with the Department of Fire and Police Pensions, is scheduled to conduct an Election on Tuesday, March 31, 2020, to fill that position. All retired, sworn members of the Fire Department are encouraged to participate. The candidate elected will serve a five-year term that begins July 1, 2020 and ends June 30, 2025.

BOARD MEMBER DUTIES – The Board exercises the prudent person standard in the discharge of its duties.  It has sole and exclusive fiduciary responsibility to administer the Fire and Police Pension System (System) and its assets; has the authority to set and adopt investment policies for over $23 billion in fund assets; and has the duty to establish actuarial assumptions and adopt rules and regulations necessary to properly fund and administer the System.

Preparation for regular and special meetings requires a Commissioner to commit several hours of advance reading of Board Reports and disability cases.  The Board normally meets on the first and third Thursdays of the month at 8:30 a.m.  The duration of most meetings is from two to four hours.

CANDIDATE PROCESS – Only retired, sworn Los Angeles Fire Department members of the System are eligible to run and vote for this Board seat. Members who wish to qualify for the ballot are required to complete and submit the following documents to the Office of the City Clerk – Election Division, 555 Ramirez Street, Space 300, Los Angeles, CA 90012: 1) Notice of Intent to run for office; 2) Occupational Ballot Designation (Optional); and 3) Statement of Qualifications for office (Optional). The Office of the City Clerk will mail these documents beginning on Friday, January 31, 2020, to all eligible members with further instructions.  Candidates who wish to hand deliver their completed Notice of Intent may do so beginning on Wednesday, February 5, 2020, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. The Notice of Intent must be received by mail or in person by the Office of the City Clerk – Election Division by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, February 14, 2020. 

VOTING PROCESS – After the candidates are determined, ballots will be mailed to eligible voters beginning on Friday, March 6, 2020.  Voters who wish to submit their ballots in person may do so beginning Thursday, March 19, 2020.  To be counted all completed ballots must be received by mail or in person by the Office of the City Clerk – Election Division by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 31, 2020.  The ballots will be tallied on Thursday, April 2, 2020 in the presence of the observers designated by each candidate. 

QUESTIONS – Inquiries regarding the election process may be directed to the Office of the City Clerk – Election Division at (213) 978-0440 or the Administrative Services Section of the Department of Fire and Police Pensions at (213) 279-3080.

2019 Non-Medicare Health Subsidy Increase

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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.

COLA 2019

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The Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) is 2.5% for 2019 and was approved by the Board of Fire and Police Pension Commissioners on March 21, 2019.  The COLA will be effective July 1, 2019, and all eligible pensioners and DROP participants will receive an increase accordingly, beginning with the pension payment dated July 31, 2019.  For new pensioners or DROP entrants in Tiers 3-6, the first year’s COLA is prorated based on the number of completed months since the effective pension date.

  • Tiers 1 and 2 will receive 2.5%.
  • Tiers 3 and 4 will receive up to 2.5%.
  • Tiers 5 and 6 will withdraw and apply 0.5% from their COLA bank balance of 0.6% and receive up to 3.0% (NOTE: Must have retired or entered DROP prior to June 2, 2018 in order to have available COLA bank balance).

Consumer Price Index/Bureau of Labor Statistics

The COLA is based on the annual change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) as published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).  The 2019 COLA was calculated based on the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim area using a 12-month period from March 2018 through February 2019.

How does this affect LAFPP Pensioners?

This is an example of how a monthly pension benefit of $5,890 would be affected by this year’s COLA of 2.5%:

For Tiers 1 through 4

If 2.5% of $5,890 = $147.25

($5,890 x 0.025)

Then the monthly pension benefit would be increased to $6,037.25.

($5,890 + $147.25)

For Tiers 5 and 6 with available COLA bank

If 3.0% of $5,890 = $176.70

($5,890 x 0.030)

Then the monthly pension benefit would be increased to $6,066.70.

($5,890 + $176.70)

Tiers 5 and 6 will have 0.1% remaining in their COLA bank.

Questions?

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

For detailed information on the calculation of the CPI, please visit the BLS website or call (202) 691-7000.

Passing of Gary Mattingly

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It is with great sadness that we announce the recent passing of Gary Mattingly, former General Manager of the Department of Fire and Police Pensions.

Gary was appointed by the Board of Fire and Police Pensions on June 6, 1982. He retired on December 4, 2004 but continued to serve as interim General Manager until June 2005 when Michael Perez was selected as the new General Manager.

Gary was one of the longest serving General Managers at LAFPP. When he was appointed, the Fund was valued at nearly $1.5 billion and grew to $12.3 billion when he left City service in 2005. He was the first general manager to institute an asset allocation plan, which directly contributed to the growth in assets of the Plan. Gary was committed to the welfare of the Fund and to the sworn members of LAFPP. There are many Board members and staff, both past and present, that will remember and recognize his service to the System.

Special Election – Police Department Employee Member Board of Fire and Police Pension Commissioners

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The current term for the Police Department Employee Member of the Board of Fire and Police Pension Commissioners will end on June 30, 2020.  Commissioner Robert von Voigt will be resigning from the Board as the Police Department Employee Board Member effective September 30, 2018. Since Commissioner von Voigt’s term was scheduled to expire on June 30, 2020, his resignation leaves an unexpired term of twenty-one (21) months. The Office of the City Clerk, in conjunction with the Department of Fire and Police Pensions, is scheduled to conduct a Special Election on Tuesday, August 28, 2018, to fill that position.

BOARD MEMBER DUTIES – The Board exercises the prudent person standard in the discharge of its duties.  It has sole and exclusive fiduciary responsibility to administer the Fire and Police Pension System (System) and its assets; has the authority to set and adopt investment policies for over $22 billion in fund assets; and has the duty to establish actuarial assumptions and adopt rules and regulations necessary to administer the System.

Preparation for regular and special meetings requires an individual to commit hours of advanced reading of Board Reports and disability cases.  The Board normally meets on the first and third Thursdays at 8:30 a.m.  Most meetings are from two to four hours.

CANDIDATE PROCESS – Only active, sworn Los Angeles Police Department members of the System are eligible to run and vote for this Board seat.  Members who are interested in becoming a candidate are required to complete and submit a Notice of Intent form, with optional Occupational Ballot Designation and Statement of Qualifications, that will be mailed to all eligible members with further instructions.

To qualify, candidates must mail or hand deliver the completed Notice of Intent, with optional Occupational Ballot Designation and Statement of Qualifications, to the Office of the City Clerk – Election Division, Piper Technical Center, 555 Ramirez Street, Space 300, Los Angeles, CA 90012. The completed Notice of Intent must be received by mail or in person by the Office of the City Clerk – Election Division by 5:00 p.m. on July 17, 2018.  Candidates who wish to hand deliver their Notice of Intent may start on July 6, 2018, seven (7) business days preceding the above due date, and between the hours of 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Postmarked letters are not sufficient and Notice of Intent forms received by the Office of the City Clerk – Election Division after 5:00 p.m. on July 17, 2018 will not be accepted.

VOTING PROCESS – After the candidates are determined, eligible voters will receive a ballot in the mail.  Voters who wish to submit their election ballots in person may do so beginning        August 21, 2018.  All completed ballots must be received by mail or in person, by the Office of the City Clerk – Election Division by 5:00 p.m. on August 28, 2018 to be counted.  The ballots will be tallied on August 30, 2018 in the presence of the observers designated by each candidate. 

QUESTIONS – Inquiries regarding the election process may be directed to the Office of the City Clerk – Election Division at (213) 978-0440 or the Administrative Services Section of the Department of Fire and Police Pensions at (213) 279-3080.

2018 Non-Medicare Subsidy Increase

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On May 3, 2018, the Board of Fire and Police Pension Commissioners approved a six percent increase to the non-Medicare health subsidy.  The new non-Medicare health subsidy maximum is $1725.39 per month, effective July 1, 2018.

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 medical trend rate, an increase of six percent will subsidize health insurance premiums in a manner consistent with the Board’s fiduciary duty to all participants of the Plan.  The proposed maximum non-Medicare subsidy of $1725.39 is based on known factors related to medical inflation and market trend, taking into account the overall impact to current and future retirees. 

Members who either (1) entered DROP or retired prior to July 15, 2011, or (2) 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 $1,725.39, effective July 1, 2018.

For 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.

COLA for 2018

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The Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) is 3.6% for 2018 and was approved by the Board of Fire and Police Pension Commissioners on April 19, 2018.  The COLA will be effective July 1, 2018, and all eligible pensioners and DROP participants will receive an increase accordingly, beginning with the pension payment dated July 31, 2018.  

  • Tiers 1 and 2 will receive 3.6%.
  • Tiers 3 through 6 and DROP will receive 3.0%*; and
  • Tiers 5 and 6 will have the additional 0.6% stored in a COLA bank.

*For new pensioners or DROP entrants (excluding Tier 2 DROP entrants), the first year’s COLA is prorated based on the number of completed months since the effective pension date, and may not receive the full 3.0%.

How does this affect LAFPP Pensioners?

This is an example of how a monthly pension benefit of $5,686 would be affected by this year’s COLA of 3.6%:

For Tiers 1 and 2

If 3.6% of $5,686 = $204.70

($5,686 x 0.036)

Then the monthly pension benefit would be increased to $5,890.70.

($5,686 + $204.70)

For Tiers 3 through 6 and DROP

If 3.0% of $5,686 = $170.58

($5,686 x 0.030)

Then the monthly pension benefit would be increased to $5,856.58.

($5,686 + $170.80)

Tiers 5 and 6 will receive a 0.6% in their COLA bank.

New Geographic Area

The COLA is based on the annual change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), as published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).  In January 2018, the BLS introduced new geographic area samples for the CPI. The 2018 COLA was calculated using a 12-month period from March 2017 through February 2018, based on the new Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim area sample.

For questions regarding the COLA, please contact the Retirement Services Section at (213) 279-3125 or (844) 88-LAFPP, ext. 93125.  For detailed information on the calculation of the CPI, please visit the BLS website at http://www.bls.gov/cpi/ or call (202) 691-7000.