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Life & Career Changes

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Leaving FCPS Employment

If you leave an ERFC-covered position with FCPS, you have two options when it comes to your ERFC accumulated contributions. 

Your Options

1.  Leave your accumulated ERFC contributions on deposit.

Vested members (5 or more years of service). You can leave your funds with ERFC and become a deferred vested member. Your funds will continue to accrue interest until you’re eligible to retire. If you return to an ERFC-covered position at FCPS before you retire, you’ll return to active member status and resume contributing and earning service years under your current plan.

Unvested members (less than 5 years of service). You can leave your funds with ERFC, but they’ll stop earning interest after 10 years. At that time, if you aren't returning to FCPS, you'll want to consider refunding or rolling over your funds. If you leave your funds with ERFC and return to an ERFC-covered position at FCPS before you retire, you’ll resume contributing and earning service years under your current plan.

2. Refund or roll over your accumulated ERFC contributions (plus interest).

Please Note: If you take a direct refund of the amount, meaning you’d get a physical check in the mail, ERFC will withhold 20% federal and 4% Virginia state tax (for Virginia residents). If you refund or roll over your ERFC contributions, you forfeit the employer contributions and your ERFC credited service will be canceled. If you were vested, you'll no longer be eligible for a monthly ERFC benefit when you retire.

It's your responsibility to initiate a refund or rollover. To do so, log in to your ERFCDirect account the month after your last day of work. Under “Forms,” select Election to Request Refund or Rollover of Contributions (ERFC 21A). After you’ve completed the form, mail it to our office or request a secure email to electronically submit it. Once we approve your ERFC 21A, we’ll process your request within 60-90 days.

Impact of a Refund or Rollover

If you have 5 or more years of service in your ERFC plan and you refund or roll over your ERFC contributions, you forfeit the employer contributions and your rights to a monthly benefit beginning at your retirement age. Please also note the following details that apply based on which plan you're in:

  • ERFC Legacy Plan Members (Hire Date: Before July 1, 2001): You will be unable to return to coverage under the ERFC Legacy benefit structure. If you withdraw your contributions and you are later hired into an ERFC-covered position, you’ll be automatically enrolled in the ERFC 2001 Tier 2 plan.
  • ERFC 2001 Tier 1 Plan Members (Hire Date: July 1, 2001 to June 30, 2017): If you’re rehired into an ERFC-covered position within five years of your FCPS termination, you can redeposit your accumulated contributions with interest within 90 days after you’re rehired. This will restore your previous service credit. However, you’ll be enrolled as a new employee under the ERFC 2001 Tier 2 plan benefit structure, and your previous service will accrue to that plan. It is your responsibility to notify ERFC if you want to redeposit your accumulated contributions if you're rehired.
  • ERFC 2001 Tier 2 Plan Members (Hire Date: July 1, 2017 to Present): If you’re later hired into an ERFC-covered position, you’ll be enrolled as a new employee under the ERFC 2001 Tier 2 plan.

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New Contact Information

ERFC communicates vital information to members throughout the year. So it's important that you let us know if your address, email, or other contact information changes.

As a current FCPS employee, log in to UConnect to make the needed updates. 


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Marriage or Children

Major life events such as marriage, birth/adoption of children, or divorce call for a review of your beneficiary designations. Ensuring your beneficiaries are up to date is extremely important to make sure your loved ones are taken care of.

Log in to ERFCDirect and click on “Named Beneficiaries" to make any changes.


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Divorce

If, during a divorce proceeding, it's determined that you will keep 100% of your ERFC benefit, we don't need any paperwork from you.

However, if it's determined that you and your former spouse will be dividing your ERFC benefit, you'll need to submit a Domestic Relations Order (DRO) to ERFC. 


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Authorizing Someone to Access Your ERFC Account

At some point, you may need to elect a family member or another trusted person to talk to ERFC about your benefits or act on your behalf.

Authorize Someone to Discuss Your ERFC Information

The Authorization to Discuss Member Information (ERFC 31) gives ERFC permission to discuss your retirement benefits and account information with the person you’ve named. This person is only authorized to have access to information, not to act on your behalf. ERFC representatives must speak with you before providing bank account and bank routing numbers, medical records, beneficiary information, and Approved Domestic Relations Orders.

Designate Someone to Act on Your Behalf

If you want to elect someone to act on your behalf and in accordance with your wishes, complete the ERFC Durable Power of Attorney (ERFC 38), have it notarized, and send it to ERFC. This form gives the person you name permission to:

  • Designate or change a beneficiary for you
  • Change an address
  • Set up direct deposit

A power of attorney provided through your personal attorney is also acceptable.

The ERFC durable power of attorney remains in effect unless you revoke or change it.

Both the Authorization to Discuss ERFC Member Information (ERFC 31) and the ERFC Durable Power of Attorney (ERFC 38) relate only to ERFC information.


Report a Death

In the Event of Your Death

If you pass away while you're an active member, your beneficiary, spouse, or parent should contact ERFC as soon as possible at 703-426-3900 or by email at erfcretirement@fcps.edu. We will assist in coordinating any ERFC benefits that may be due.

Please Note: ERFC benefits are not paid automatically. Beneficiaries must apply to ERFC in writing to receive any benefits to which they're entitled. For death-in-service cases, a certified copy of a death certificate is required in addition to the application. If an application is delayed, the beneficiary may lose a portion of the benefit.

If you have questions about updating any of your information, please call us at 703-426-3900, M-F, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.