Sworn members of the FDNY (firefighters, fire officers, fire marshals, EMS officers in fire-pension class).
The FDNY Pension Fund covers sworn FDNY members — firefighters, fire officers, fire marshals, and EMS officers in fire-pension class. The election structure parallels NYCPPF (Maximum Service Retirement Allowance, 100%/75%/50% J&S, Five-Year/Ten-Year Certain, Pop-up variants) but the disability framework is materially different. The World Trade Center Health Program disability and presumption rules create tax-favored disability options that change the comparison between service retirement and disability retirement for affected members. The Variable Supplements Fund (Fire VSF) supplements the base pension with annual investment-return-funded payments. Tier 3 Enhanced (Article 22) is the current entrants' tier and has different benefit formulas than legacy Tier 2/3. Most FDNY retirees leave service in their late 40s or early 50s and face the same long bridge to Medicare, the same 457(b) rollout decision, and the same household-level coordination work as NYCPPF retirees — with the added complexity of WTC-related disability options where applicable. Camba's FDNY work focuses on the household sequence: pension election, disability framing where relevant, VSF treatment, 457(b) rollout, Social Security timing, and how all of it interacts.
Educational content only. Camba Capital, LLC is not yet registered as an investment adviser and is not currently providing advisory services. Plan rules vary by tier and amendment; verify on your most recent benefit statement.
Tier structure
Tier 2 — hired before 7/1/2009
Tier 3 — hired 7/1/2009–3/31/2012
Tier 3 Enhanced (Article 22) — current entrants
Final Average Salary
Tier 2: highest 1 year. Tier 3: highest 3 consecutive years. Overtime included subject to caps.
Election options
Maximum Service Retirement Allowance
100% / 75% / 50% Joint-and-Survivor
Pop-up versions
Five-Year / Ten-Year Certain
Performance-of-Duty / Accidental Disability / Line-of-Duty death benefits
COLA
Capped COLA: 50%-of-CPI on first $18K, 1%–3%. Begins 5 years post-retirement at 62, or earlier under disability/death rules.
Social Security coverage
Members are covered by Social Security on these earnings — WEP / GPO generally do not apply unless other non-covered employment is present.
Decision points to discuss
Variable Supplemental Fund (Fire VSF) supplements the base pension; tracked separately and varies year to year.
Tier 3 Enhanced Article 22 is the current-entrant plan and has different benefit formulas than legacy Tier 2/3.
Many FDNY retirees retire after 20 years with substantial pre-tax 457(b) balances; the rollout sequence is a real decision.
What Camba watches for in FDNY Pension reviews
World Trade Center Health Program disability and presumption rules create tax-favored disability options that change the pension/disability comparison materially.
Camba treats the FDNY pension as the income floor, the VSF as a variable supplement, and the 457(b) as the optionality bucket — rather than treating them as a single pool.
Plan rules summarized for educational discussion. Verify on your most recent benefit statement and plan packet — tier rules, contribution rates, and election mechanics vary by hire date and amendment. Camba Capital is not yet registered as an investment adviser; this content is informational, not advice.
Frequently asked questions — FDNY Pension
Plan-specific questions households actually ask.
Q01
What is the difference between a service retirement and a WTC-related disability retirement?
Service retirement pays the standard pension benefit under the elected option. WTC-related disability retirement, available to eligible members under the WTC Health Program presumption rules, can pay a higher benefit (often three-quarters of FAS) with portions of the benefit exempt from federal income tax. The application process, medical documentation, and benefit formula are different. The decision between filing for service retirement vs disability retirement, where both are available, is consequential and has compliance and benefit implications.
Q02
What is the FDNY Variable Supplements Fund (Fire VSF)?
The Fire VSF is a supplemental annual benefit paid to eligible retired FDNY members, funded from investment returns of the fund. Like the NYC Police VSF, the amount varies year to year and is in addition to the base pension. It is not guaranteed at a specific level; investment returns shape the annual payment.
Q03
What is FDNY Tier 3 Enhanced (Article 22)?
Tier 3 Enhanced (Article 22) is the current-entrant tier for FDNY members, with benefit formulas distinct from legacy Tier 2 or Tier 3. Specifics include different FAS rules, contribution structure, and option election mechanics. Legacy Tier 2 members and Article 22 members run their election analysis under different rule sets.
Q04
How does the 457(b) Deferred Comp account fit with my FDNY pension?
The NYC Deferred Compensation Plan (DCP) is a separate 457(b) account most career FDNY members participate in. At separation, the DCP balance can be left in place, rolled to an IRA, or paid out. Government 457(b) plans have a structural feature private 401(k)s lack: penalty-free withdrawals at any age post-separation. For FDNY retirees in their early 50s, that feature is genuinely valuable as bridge-year income.
Q05
Does the FDNY Pension Fund offer a lump-sum buyout?
No. The FDNY Pension Fund pays a lifetime annuity under the elected option. The member contribution balance can be paid as a lump sum at retirement (with corresponding annuity reduction); the base pension is paid only as monthly income for life.
Further reading
Long-form notes that apply to FDNY Pension households.
A plain-English walkthrough of the New York State Police and Fire Retirement System election — how tier and plan section change the benefit formula, and what that means for the option election.
Rolling an old 401(k) into an IRA is the right call for many Long Island households — but not all of them. A working framework covering the five factors that actually drive the decision, in plain English.
Camba covers all the Long Island pension systems through the calculator's plan picker — including NYS Optional Retirement Program (TIAA), MTA, hospital systems (Northwell, Stony Brook Medicine, NYU Langone, Catholic Health, Mount Sinai South Nassau), Nassau and Suffolk County PD, BERS, and Taft-Hartley union plans.
Walk through your FDNY Pension numbers with Dan Zimon.
A pension election is permanent. The conversation is free, no obligation, no sales pitch — and Dan Zimon reads your most recent statement before the call so the meeting starts with your actual numbers, not a generic intake form.