Employer Update

What do hazardous duty-covered members need to know when leaving employment or transferring between hazardous duty positions?

Members of the Virginia Law Officers’ Retirement System (VaLORS) or the State Police Officers’ Retirement System (SPORS) automatically are covered for hazardous duty benefits. Certain political subdivision hazardous duty employees may also be eligible if the employer has elected enhanced hazardous duty benefits.

• Retirement benefits and eligibility are determined based on the employee’s current covered position.
• Employees who change positions need to be aware of how their benefit eligibility may change if they move to a non-hazardous duty position, a hazardous duty position with another employer, or return to work after retirement.
• Remind employees that a change in their position or plan could impact their service retirement multiplier, age and service requirements for retirement and eligibility for the hazardous duty supplement.

When counseling members who are transferring between hazardous duty positions, refer to the following:

• Hazardous Duty chapter of the VRS Employer Manual
• Transferring Between Hazardous Duty Positions
• Hazardous Duty FAQs
• Hazardous Duty Retirement Multiplier