REFUND OF CONTRIBUTIONS

If you separate from City employment, you may request a refund of your employee contributions from the Fund. Refund requests can only be processed after all required steps have been completed, including:

• Your termination must be processed in Workday.
• Any lump sum vacation or sick leave payments much be processed by the City Controller’s Office.
• Your final paycheck must be issued by the City.
• You must submit a signed and notarized Refund Application to ERF.
• If you have worked for the City for five years or more, you must submit a signed and notarized Release/Waiver form.

All refunds are issued on the last business day of each month, provided all necessary steps are completed by the 15th of that month.

Click HERE to download the Refund Application.

Please contact ERF at 214-580-7700 if you have been employed for five years or more and need a waiver/release letter. Completed and notarized forms may be submitted by email at refunds@dallaserf.org, in person, or by fax at 214-580-3515. This contact information is also provided in the footer of your Refund Application.

If you made contributions before December 16, 1997, you will receive a single payment that includes both your pre-tax contributions and your after-tax contributions made on or after December 16, 1997.

Federal income taxes generally apply only to the refund of pre-tax contributions.

Note: If you choose to receive a refund of your contributions, you will permanently forfeit any future retirement benefits from the Fund. Contributions made by the City of Dallas on your behalf are not refundable.

ROLLOVER YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS

Instead of receiving a direct refund, you may choose to roll over your eligible contributions into another qualified retirement plan, such as:

• 401(k) plan
• Individual Retirement Account (IRA)
• Annuity Plan
• Qualified Trust

A direct rollover allows you to defer federal income taxes on eligible pre-tax contributions until those funds are withdrawn from the receiving retirement account.

Click HERE to download the Refund Application. Completed applications may be submitted by email at refunds@dallaserf.org, in person, or by fax at 214-580-3515.

If you have a question regarding the Rollover process, please click here to contact ERF.

MAINTAINING YOUR PENSION

If you are a Tier A member and at least age 60 or a Tier B member and at least 65, you may begin receiving your monthly pension.

Tier A members under age 60 and Tier B members under age 65 who are vested with at least five years of pension service credit when you terminate, you have earned a deferred pension benefit and at age 60 for Tier A members or 65 for Tier B. Members are entitled to retirement benefits as long as you leave your contributions in the Fund.

As a former employee, it will be your responsibility to update your address with ERF to ensure there is no delay in your payments beginning when you reach age 60 if you a Tier A member or 65 if you are a Tier B member.

If you have at least 10 years of pension service credit when you terminate, you will be eligible for disability retirement benefits should you become totally and permanently disabled after leaving the City.

RETURNING TO THE CITY

If you take a refund and return to work for the City within six years of your termination date, you may be able to re-pay or buy back your refunded contributions and reinstate your prior pension service. If you would like more information about the process of buying back contributions, please click here.