Rumor Roundup

Hearing ERFC rumors? Wondering if your coworker has it right? Rumor Roundup is here to set the record straight. Dive in to stay informed—we've got some rumors to retire!

Have a question? Submit it below and check back for the answer.

This Just In

Is DROP going away?

No. The Deferred Retirement Option Program (DROP) remains an available retirement choice for ERFC Legacy Plan members eligible for an unreduced retirement. Visit the DROP webpage for all the details.

Are Legacy members the only ones eligible for DROP?

Yes. The Deferred Retirement Option Program (DROP) was created to address a feature specific to the Legacy plan formula. Once a Legacy member became eligible for unreduced retirement with ERFC (age 55+ with 25 years of service) and continued working past this, their ERFC benefit decreased while their VRS benefit increased. As a result, many Legacy members were leaving FCPS to finish their careers in other Virginia school districts until they were eligible to retire with VRS. DROP addresses this gap by allowing members to stay with FCPS without experiencing the ERFC decrease that is part of the Legacy plan formula.

In contrast, the 2001 Tier 1 and Tier 2 plans use a formula that is independent from VRS. Members’ ERFC benefits continue to grow the longer they work. Thus, there’s no need for DROP for those plans.

Can I choose how much I want to contribute to ERFC?

No. Your contribution to the ERFC pension is set by the Fairfax County School Board. 

Currently, three percent of your monthly salary goes to your ERFC pension. Your ERFC contributions are tax deferred. This means that, as an active FCPS employee, your yearly retirement contribution lowers your taxable income.

Your ERFC pension is funded by three sources: your contributions, FCPS contributions (currently 6.61%), and investment income. 

Let's Put Those Rumors to Rest

Does unused sick leave count toward service years for Tier 1 and Tier 2?

Yes. Effective July 1, 2024, unused sick leave for Tier 1 and Tier 2 members is converted to retirement credit by the HR payroll office at the time you retire. This is added to your service total and included in your retirement calculation. The conversion is as follows:

Number of hours ÷ Contract days ÷ Work hours per day = Amount of service

Please Note: Once your annual leave maximum is paid out, the leftover annual leave is moved to sick leave and then converted into additional service credit. If you retire from ERFC and transfer sick leave to another county, your ERFC pension will be negatively impacted. As such, you'll be contacted the month following your retirement to recoup the overpayment amount, and your future pension will be recalculated based on the new reported hours of unused sick leave.

Are all FCPS employees ERFC members?

No. The type of job you have with FCPS determines if you’re a member. In general, if you're a full-time teacher, educational personnel, instructional assistant, administrative support staff, or technical staff, you're automatically enrolled in ERFC.

Do I have to wait until I’m 5 years from retirement to meet with someone at ERFC?

No. You can schedule an in-person or virtual Question Session at any stage of your career, whether retirement is close at hand or many years away. Simply call us at 703-426-3900, M-F, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., to set up an appointment.

If you've already submitted your retirement from FCPS HR-2 form in Staff Connect, you can call to schedule a meeting with your assigned retirement specialist for help filling out the online retirement application.

Can market ups and downs impact my ERFC pension?

Rest assured, your pension payment isn’t dependent on stock market fluctuations and asset returns. ERFC is a defined benefit plan that provides a fixed, pre-established benefit for employees at retirement.

Investment professionals prudently manage member and employer (FCPS) contributions through long-term strategies and highly diversified portfolios that minimize risk and provide stability, even during periods of market volatility.

With over 50 years’ experience providing reliable retirement benefits, ERFC remains committed to your financial security—now and into the future.

Do all Virginia school systems provide a second pension?

No. We're fortunate that Fairfax County Public Schools is one of the few school systems in Virginia to provide a second pension. 

Is participation in ERFC optional?

No. Participation in ERFC is mandatory, so opting out isn't possible.