Retirement Information

Retirement Planning Presentation

This presentation covers the pension plans for General Government and Public Safety employees. Also covered in this presentation is the Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP) which allows eligible employees to retire without terminating active employment for up to three years.

Columbus Consolidated Government Retirement Planning Presentation

Pension Plans for City Employees

Effective as of January 1, 1965, in order to create a retirement fund for the payment of benefits to eligible employees, the Employees' Retirement Fund of the City of Columbus was established pursuant to Ordinance No. 64-49 enacted by the City Commission of the City of Columbus, Georgia.

• Public Safety Pension Plan
• General Government Pension Plan

Ordinances Amending Pension Plans:

• 20-011: Effective April 1, 2020, any retirees who retired prior to July 1, 1998 and selected the joint and survivor life income option will be entitled to a single life income benefit if they were/are predeceased by an eligible spouse.
• 19-018: Address the erroneous application of the tables in the determination of the different forms of Pension payments prior to May 1, 2019.
• 17-39: No employees hired or rehired by the Hospital Authority of Columbus after June 30, 2017 may be eligible members of the Pension Plans.
• 14-56: Amend section 33 pertaining to retiree health insurance.
• 12-44: Add Keep Columbus Beautiful Commission to the list of departments whose employees may be eligible for the General Government Pension Plan.
• 12-27: Require employee contributions beginning July 1, 2012. Change the vesting period from five years to ten years for employees hired after June 30, 2012. Addition of Deferred Retirement Option Plan to Pension Plan.

Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP)

The Columbus, Georgia Employees Deferred Retirement Option Plan is created and administered by the Board of Trustees of the Columbus Georgia Pension Plan for General Government Employees. The purpose of this optional plan shall be to allow the Government to anticipate retirement of personnel in an orderly fashion and to allow Employees the opportunity to make an irrevocable election which gives them the benefit account of the pension fund while still receiving a salary for up to three years.

For more information, review the Deferred Retirement Option Plan.

Supplemental Retirement (457 Deferred Compensation Plan)

Deferred Compensation, in accordance with the Internal Revenue Code Section 457, is a tax-deferred Supplemental Retirement Program which allows public sector employees to contribute a portion of their salary before federal and state taxes to a retirement account.

The Columbus Consolidated Government offers this program to encourage employees an opportunity to build financial security in anticipation of retirement. The Variable Annuity Life Insurance Company- VALIC Retirement Services Company- became the sole vendor for deferred contributions by new employees in 2016. New employees are eligible to enroll in the CCG Deferred Compensation Program from the first day of employment.

• 457 Deferred Compensation Plan
• Service Provider Agreement

Interested in setting up a 457 account or have additional questions? Contact VALIC representative:

Christine Bone
Financial Advisor
Direct: 706.969.3935
Office: 770.395.4706
Christine.Bone@aig.com

Julie Copelan
Financial Advisor
Direct: 706.587.9625
Office: 770.395.4706
Julie.Copelan@aig.com

Major Disability

To qualify for disability retirement, an employee must have separated employment before they can apply for disability with the Social Security Administration. To qualify for disability retirement, an employee must be certified disabled by the Social Security Administration. There is a five month waiting period before they are eligible to receive any benefits from Social Security. If approved, the employee is entitled to 60% of their average monthly earnings based on the last 60 months prior to becoming disabled. The benefit amount shall vary pending on the date the SSA declares the employee disabled. This amount is reduced by any amount received from SSA, regular City pension, and any federal disability they were already receiving when they came to work for the City. Also, it is reduced by any amount they may be receiving from Worker's Compensation. There is no service or age requirement, however the date Social Security declares you disabled must be a date that you were employed as a full-time employee.

Social Security Resource Center

• Georgia Social Security Offices
• Alabama Social Security Offices
• Social Security Retirement Benefits
• Social Security Disability Benefits
• Social Security Medicare Benefits
• 2022 Medicare Booklet

Forms

• Required Retirement Documents
• Benefit Payment Options
• Direct Deposit Form
• W-4P (Federal Withholding Certificate for Pension or Annuity Payments)
• G-4P (Georgia Withholding Certificate for Pension or Annuity Payments)
• Affidavit Verifying Status for Columbus, GA Public Benefit Application
• Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services - Request for Employment Information Form