Defined Benefit Plan (DBP)

The SVF DBP currently offers benefit levels ranging from $500 to $20,000 per year of credited service. This range is subject to statutory change. Benefit levels are set in $100 increments.

The fire department’s governing body determines the SVF-DBP benefit level for its volunteer firefighters. 

Each year, the governing body may choose to approve a benefit level increase, which would take effect on January 1 of the following year. 

To assist with this decision, the Annual Funding Report includes a cost analysis estimating the financial impact of a benefit level increase. This analysis is designed to help the fire chief and governing body evaluate whether an increase is appropriate for their department. To learn more about the Annual Funding Report, visit the SVF Financial Information page.

Benefit Level Increase Resolutions must be submitted by December 31 of the current year to take effect January 1 of the following year. Late submissions may not be accepted. For detailed instructions on how to request a benefit level increase, see Increasing the SVF Plan Benefit Level.

To be eligible to collect a Statewide Volunteer Firefighter (SVF-DBP) benefit, a volunteer firefighter must:

1. Separate from active service. A firefighter must be separated from active service for at least 30 days.
2. Be at least 50 years old. If a firefighter is not age 50, the retirement benefit will be deferred without interest until the member applies for their benefit after turning 50.
3. Meet vesting requirements. A firefighter must have served the minimum number of years to vest their retirement benefit, according to the fire department’s vesting schedule.

To apply for retirement benefits, a volunteer firefighter must complete and submit the SVF Plan Retirement Benefit Application form to PERA. Follow the instructions on the application form.

The succession of SVF Plan survivor beneficiaries is set in state statute.  

A survivor is the:

1. spouse of the member, or if none,
2. the minor child or children of the member, or if none,
3. the estate of the member

The survivor benefit amount is equal to the retirement benefit that would have been payable to the firefighter at age 50 based on their service credit earned as of the date of death.

No beneficiary form is required.  

Reporting Deaths  

To report a death, Fire Chiefs should email PERA’s SVF Team at PERASVF@mnpera.org. All others should contact Member Services at 651-296-7460 or 1-800-652-9026.

For firefighters who defer their retirement benefit AFTER the fire department joins the SVF Plan: No interest is earned on benefits deferred under the SVF Plan. When the firefighter eventually collects their deferred retirement benefit, the lump-sum amount is calculated as:

[Years of Service x Benefit $ Level effective at time of deferral x Vested % = $ Retirement Benefit]

For firefighters who defer their retirement benefit BEFORE the fire department joins the SVF Plan: If a firefighter deferred their benefit prior to the fire department joining the SVF Plan, the rules of the relief association will apply to the calculation of their benefit. In other words, PERA will calculate the firefighter’s retirement benefit according to the relief association’s vesting requirements, benefit level, interest earnings, and retirement age applicable at the time the firefighter deferred.

The federal government requires the firefighter to start the SVF benefit by age 73 (RMD age).