How can I access my online benefits statement?
If you are working on a DC Government-issued laptop and you are connected to the DC Government-secured domain, please use the following URL to access the DC Government-secured portal: https://pshcm.dc.gov. Once you’ve logged in, your self-service page should resemble the screenshot below:
I am a firefighter and/or police officer who has not received a Statement of Estimated Benefits.
Statements are only available in the PeopleSoft self-service for active members of the District of Columbia Police Officers and Firefighters’ Retirement Plan (the Plan) who were actively employed on July 1, 2024. Actively employed members with less than one year of employment did not receive statements, and firefighters/police officers who separated employment before July 1, 2024, did not receive statements.
You can calculate your estimated benefit by entering your employment data in DCRB’s Retirement Benefits Calculator.
Why is the salary on my Statement of Estimated Benefits different from my current salary?
The salary printed on your statement is your salary in effect as of July 1, 2024. It does not reflect any changes to your salary since that date.
What should I do if my information needs to be fixed (for example, my service dates are incorrect)?
The personal information printed on your statement reflects the data in PeopleSoft as of July 1, 2024. Contact your human resources (HR) office to discuss any corrections you believe should be applied to your record.
Where is my military and/or other purchased service in this estimate?
Currently, the Statement of Estimated Benefits does not include military or other purchased service. If you would like an estimate of your benefits that includes your military or other purchased service, you can use DCRB’s Retirement Benefits Calculator. Contact your HR office with any questions about entering additional information into the calculator.
How was my police/fire retirement date determined?
The Optional Retirement Date and Tier Code printed on your statement is based upon your hire date or Plan entry date (the date you were first eligible to participate in the Plan), age, and years of service, as follows:
- Tier 1 members were hired before February 15, 1980;
- Tier 2 members were hired from February 15, 1980, through November 9, 1996; and
- Tier 3 members were hired on or after November 10, 1996.
To retire under optional retirement:
- Tier 1 members must have 20 years of police officer or firefighter service;
- Tier 2 must have 25 years of police officer or firefighter service and must also be at least age 50;
- Tier 3 members must have 25 years of police officer or firefighter service.
The mandatory retirement age for both police officers and firefighters is 60, regardless of whether you meet the years of service requirement. The Mayor may grant extensions of the mandatory age.
Is my Fire Academy or Police Cadet service included in this calculation?
Fire Academy or Police Cadet service is not included in the estimated benefits calculation. However, when you become a sworn member of the District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services (FEMS) or Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), you automatically become a member of the Plan, and your service date and contributions to the Plan begin.
What assumptions about future pay increases and retirement dates are present in this estimate?
This statement provides monthly benefit estimates based on your salary as of July 1, 2024. Income projections are not included. Your estimated benefit may increase in the future as your salary continues to grow. Also, the benefit estimate assumes you will retire at your earliest optional retirement date. Your actual monthly benefit during retirement may differ from the amount shown in your Statement of Estimated Benefits depending on your total years of creditable service, average salary, and the type of benefit you select at retirement.
When can I retire?
Your Statement of Estimated Benefits shows the estimated earliest date you can retire with an optional retirement benefit. Your estimated retirement date does not consider any breaks in service or leave periods without pay that you may have experienced during your employment.
When am I vested in the Retirement Plan?
You must complete five years of eligible service to be vested in the Plan.
How is my “average base pay” calculated?
“Average base pay” for Plan members hired before February 15, 1980 (Tier 1) is the highest annual pay rate resulting from averaging your base pay over any 12 consecutive months as a police officer or firefighter. For Plan members hired on or after February 15, 1980 (Tiers 2 and 3), average base pay is the highest annual pay rate resulting from averaging your base pay over any 36 consecutive months as a police officer or firefighter. If you were earning pay at different rates during any of the 12 or 36 consecutive months, each pay rate would be calculated based on the time it was in effect.
Why is there a discrepancy between my benefit shown in the Statement of Estimated Benefits and the output I receive from using DCRB’s online Retirement Benefits Calculator?
The Statement of Estimated Benefits calculates months in completed months, while the online calculator uses rounded months. The online estimate is based on the data you enter into the calculator, which may vary from the data used to calculate your Statement of Estimated Benefits.
What other items may impact my estimate?
Periods of leave without pay, suspensions, previously refunded contributions, and purchases of service, which are not reflected in your Statement of Estimated Benefits, may impact your estimated benefits.
Can I request a revised statement?
Although revised statements are not available on demand, you can use the online Retirement Benefits Calculator, which produces an estimate close to what you would receive in your statement.
Should you experience a salary change or are considering purchasing creditable service under the Plan, the online calculator is available to estimate how those changes might impact your future benefits.
Updated as of 11/2024