Apply for SVF Benefits

To be eligible for a retirement benefit, a firefighter must be at least 50 years old, have enough years of service to be vested, and be separated from active service for a minimum of 30 days.

Service Credits

Your fire chief reports your earned service to PERA each year. If you had any prior service as a volunteer firefighter, complete the SVF Prior Volunteer Firefighter Service Form and return to PERA.

Rollover

If you transfer your benefit to a tax qualified plan that accepts rollovers, your benefit will not be taxed at the time of the transfer. Your benefit will be mailed to you but issued to your tax-qualified plan.

Lump-Sum

If you choose a lump-sum payment you are subject to federal taxes and state taxes. 

To apply, send PERA the completed items:

1. Notarized SVF Retirement Application. Only applications with original ink signatures will be accepted.
2. (Optional) W-4R federal tax form and/or W-4MNP Minnesota state tax form. If you would like to withhold a tax amount other than the default, send the additional tax forms. Both forms are located on our Forms and Publications page.

Note: If at any time you were divorced while working as a volunteer firefighter, send the entire copy of your divorce decree(s) with your application.