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Welcome to the home for the PFANJ Alumni Association. The Association was created in the interest of keeping our retirees informed. Alumni Association Director:
**Note: all documents are in .pdf format - Acrobat Reader required Click here for an important letter for your Alumni Association Director. NEWS...IAFF Launches New Online Resource that HELPS IAFF Members IAFF - January 2008 - The IAFF has developed a new online resource to assist retirees in benefiting from the Health Care Enhancement for Local Public Safety Officers (HELPS), which gives retirees a tax-free distribution of up to $3,000 from retirement plans to help pay for health insurance or long-term care insurance premiums. The IAFF won an unprecedented congressional victory in 2006 in passing HELPS, and encourages all affiliates to remind retirees about this benefit and the new online resource. The web site provides a brief FAQ written for IAFF members and offers links to other helpful information on HELPS, including the National Conference on Public Employees Retirement Systems (NCPERS). Under the benefit, the IRS will allow retired fire fighters to exclude from income distributions made from eligible retirement plans up to $3,000 annually to pay the costs for accident or health insurance or long-term care insurance. The funds can cover the retiree, spouse or dependents. The distribution must be made directly from the retirement plan to the insurance provider. Eligible retirement plans include qualified trusts, pension plans, section 403(a) plans, section 403(b) annuities and section 457(b) plans. For more information, contact the IAFF Department of Education at (202) 824-1550. For assistance with taking advantage of HELPS benefits, contact your retirement plan administrator or your tax accountant. Important information for all Retirees covered by the
State Health Benefits Program - click here. |
