Frequently Asked Questions

*You must be vested to calculate the cost to purchase service credit.

MyDERP.org

Step 1 – Navigate to MyDERP.org.

Step 2 – Click the New User link.

Step 3 – Verify your information (name, date of birth, and Social Security number).

Step 4 – Enter the verification code sent by email or text to complete your registration.

Need help unlocking your account? Call (303) 839-5419.

Since your DERP Pension Benefit provides benefits to your survivors, it’s important to designate beneficiaries who will receive survivor benefits upon your death. You should review and update your beneficiary designations in your MyDERP.org account
when you experience a major life event. Keeping your beneficiary information current ensures your DERP Pension Benefit is paid in accordance with your wishes in the event of your death.

Important facts to keep in mind when designating a beneficiary:

• If you’re married, your spouse must be your primary beneficiary, unless they formally waive this right and consent in writing to the designation of another beneficiary. If you die without designating a beneficiary, your spouse is automatically the beneficiary.
• If you’re not married, but have children under age 21, you must name all your children under age 21 as your primary beneficiaries.
• If you’re not married and don’t have children under age 21, you may name any one individual person to be your primary beneficiary.
• If you pass away while working as a DERP-eligible employee, we’ll pay a monthly DERP Pension Benefit to a qualified beneficiary.
• You may name one contingent beneficiary. Your contingent beneficiary will only receive a benefit from DERP if you were to pass away and your primary beneficiary on file has also passed away.
• You may not list an estate, trust, or charity as either your primary or contingent beneficiary.

To review and/or update your beneficiaries, log in to your MyDERP.org account and click the Beneficiary button.

Once you reach the milestone of earning five years of service credit, you are vested and qualify to receive your guaranteed monthly DERP Pension Benefit upon reaching retirement age. When you’re vested, your benefits will be there when you retire, no matter how much longer you work for the city. 

Earning Service Credit

• You earn service credit each pay period you receive pay and contribute to DERP, even if you only work a portion of the pay period.
• You can earn up to 12 months of service credit per calendar year.
• Because payroll periods don’t align with calendar months, it’s possible to earn five years of service credit before your 5-year anniversary date.

On your first day of employment in an eligible position, you start contributing to your DERP Pension Benefit. Each pay period, you contribute a pretax percentage of your total gross salary to your retirement plan. Currently, that contributions is:

• 8.45% of payroll

Your contributions are pooled with thousands of other member contributions and become part of the DERP trust fund. Together, your contributions plus income from investments fund the retirement benefits for members and their beneficiaries.

Furlough days are mandatory unpaid days designated by the City and County of Denver (city.)

How will furlough days affect my DERP Pension Benefit?
Furlough days don’t impact your service credit – you’ll still earn the same service credit for the pay period. However, your salary for a pay period with a furlough day will be lower, and that could affect the average monthly salary component of your benefit calculation.

If a furlough day falls within your highest 36 or 60 consecutive months of salary (used to calculate your benefit), it could slightly reduce your DERP Pension Benefit. You can avoid this by purchasing your furlough days.

When can DERP calculate the cost of a furlough day?
We can only calculate the cost after the furlough day has occurred. We need the date and the amount of missed salary to determine the total.

How much does it cost to purchase a furlough day?
The cost is based on the total employee + employer contribution rate multiplied by the salary you missed for that day. If you wait to purchase, you’ll pay an additional 3% interest, compounded annually each June 30. This means interest is added to your balance once a year on June 30. The longer you wait, the more interest you’ll owe.

Is there a deadline to purchase furlough days?
You can purchase furlough days anytime while you’re still working for the city. Once you separate from employment, you can no longer purchase them.

Do I have to purchase furlough days?
No, it’s completely optional.

How do I purchase furlough days?
You have three options:

1. Pay with cash.
2. Send a check made payable to DERP.

What do I need to do if I want to purchase furlough days?
Email us at Help@DERP.org. Include a copy of your payslip(s) showing the furlough day and the amount of missed salary. We’ll calculate the cost and go over your payment options with you.

If you have less than five years of service credit and separate from employment with the city or other covered employer, you can request a refund of your employee contributions or roll them over to another qualified retirement account. In either case, you forfeit the service credit earned and any future DERP Pension Benefit eligibility.

1. Employees Separating Directly from the City or Other Covered Employer
   • Refund requests will be processed and paid on the second Friday of the month after we receive your final earnings information from the city. This will take approximately 90 days after your separation date.
2. Former Employees Separated from the City or Other Covered Employer for More Than 90 Days
   • Be sure to submit your refund request by the end of the month so it will be processed and paid on the second Friday of the following month.

If you have more than five years of service credit and separate employment from the city or qualified employer, you are vested, and your contributions can’t be refunded. Instead, your contributions remain a part of the trust fund and you’ll be eligible to receive a lifetime monthly DERP Pension Benefit upon reaching retirement age.

If you’re not vested (don’t have five or more years of service credit) and have separated from employment with the city or other covered employer, you may request a refund of your employee contributions or roll them over to another qualified retirement account. Contributions made by your employer can’t be refunded.

To request a refund of your contributions, log in to your MyDERP.org account and click the Refund of Contributions button. This process can take up to 90 days after separation from the city or qualified employer.

If you’ve been separated from the city for more than 90 days and submit your request by the end of the month, your refund will be paid on the second Friday of the following month.

If you’re not vested (don’t have five or more years of service credit) and have separated from employment with the city or other covered employer, you may request a refund of your employee contributions or roll them over to another qualified retirement account. Contributions made by your employer can’t be refunded.

You must choose either a payout or a rollover for your refund. We can’t split it between the two or among multiple rollover accounts.

Processing contribution refunds takes up to 90 days after you separate from the city or covered employer.

If you’ve been separated from the city for more than 90 days and submit your request by the end of the month, your refund will be paid on the second Friday of the following month.

1. Employees Separating Directly from the City or Other Covered Employer
   • Your refund will be paid on the second Friday of the month after we receive your final earnings information from the city. This can take up to 90 days after your separation date.
2. Former Employees Separated from the City or Other Covered Employer for More Than 90 Days
   • If you submit your request by the end of the month, your contribution refund will be paid on the second Friday of the following month.

No. Because we’re a Defined Benefit pension plan, IRS regulations do not allow us to offer loans to employees or retirees. However, the city’s separate 457(b) retirement savings program may allow loans to participants under certain hardship circumstances. Visit the Summit Savings website to learn more about the Deferred Compensation plan.

• You become a member on your first day of employment.
• You contribute a pretax percentage of each paycheck to your retirement future.
• You earn service credit each pay period you earn pay and contribute to DERP.
• You become vested after you earn five years of service and qualify to receive a lifetime monthly DERP Pension Benefit payment when you retire.

Advantages of the DERP Pension Benefit are:

• It’s Guaranteed – You’re eligible to receive a lifetime monthly DERP Pension Benefit once you’re vested (have five years of service credit).
• It’s Yours for Life – You can’t outlive your DERP Pension Benefit. No matter how long you live, you’ll receive a monthly DERP Pension Benefit payment.
• It’s Professionally Managed – As a member, your plan is maintenance free. You don’t have to make investment decisions.
• It Can be Passed On – If you choose, your DERP Pension Benefit can continue to be paid to your beneficiary upon your passing.

Each pay period, you contribute a pretax percentage of your paycheck toward your retirement future. Your contributions are combined with thousands of other member contributions into a trust fund that is invested to earn additional income using a strategy that focuses on long-term results.

The amount you contribute is set annually by the mayor and Department of Finance during the budgeting season.

Yes, DERP contributions are mandatory. On your first day of employment in an eligible position, you start contributing a percentage of your total gross salary to DERP.

No, you can’t decrease or stop your DERP contributions. Your contributions are required by the Revised Municipal Code of the City and County of Denver.

No, you can’t contribute more to DERP, but you can contribute to your retirement in different ways such as purchasing service credit and supplementing your retirement savings through the city’s Summit Savings Deferred Compensation Plan.

Your lifetime monthly DERP Pension Benefit is determined by your hire date and built on a formula based on your age, length of service, and salary, not the contributions you make. The longer you work with the city, the higher your monthly benefit will be.

If you were hired prior to September 1, 2004, your DERP Pension Benefit calculation is 2% of your average monthly salary (based upon your highest 36 consecutive months of salary) times your service credit.

If you were hired between September 1, 2004, but prior to July 1, 2011, your DERP Pension Benefit calculation is 1.5% of your average monthly salary (based upon your highest 36 consecutive months’ salary) times your service credit.

If you were hired on or after July 1, 2011, your DERP Pension Benefit calculation is 1.5% of your average monthly salary (based upon your highest 60 consecutive months’ salary) times your service credit.

Tier 1 and 2 Members (Hired Before July 1, 2011).
The earliest you can retire is age 55. Your lifetime monthly DERP Pension Benefit will be reduced by 3% for each year you are under age 65 when you begin to receive your benefit (30% reduction at age 55), unless you have qualified for the Rule of 75 (service credit + age = 75).

Tier 3 Members (Hired on or After July 1, 2011). The earliest you can retire is age 60. Your lifetime monthly DERP Pension Benefit will be reduced by 6% for each year you are under age 65 when you begin to receive your benefit (30% reduction at age 60), unless you have qualified for the Rule of 85 (service credit + age = 85).

Rule of 75 – If you were hired before July 1, 2011, the Rule of 75 enables you to retire as early as age 55, without a benefit reduction, provided your age + service credit at separation equals or exceeds 75.

Rule of 85 – If you were hired on or after July 1, 2011, the Rule of 85 enables you to retire as early as age 60, without a benefit reduction, provided your age + service credit at separation equals or exceeds 85.

If you were hired on or after January 1, 2010, payment for unused PTO is not treated as salary when calculating your DERP Pension Benefit and doesn’t affect your average monthly salary.

Payout of Accrued Leave (If Hired Before January 1, 2010) 
Payment for unused sick and vacation leave and PTO is treated as salary when calculating your DERP Pension Benefit. If your highest 36 consecutive months of salary are your final 36 months, the payment increases the average monthly salary used to calculate your DERP Pension Benefit, resulting in a higher benefit.

Your DERP Pension Benefit is considered marital property. In the event of a divorce, Colorado law may require us to divide your retirement benefit when a Domestic Relations Order (DRO) has been filed with the Court. Your DERP Pension Benefit will be divided based on your employment status.

• Vested – If you’re vested when the DRO is entered, the division is based on either an agreed upon percentage or an exact amount of the retirement benefit you earned while both married and employed.
• Retired – If you’re retired when the DRO is entered, the calculation for the division of your DERP Pension Benefit is based on what you’re currently receiving.
• Terminated and Not Vested – If you separate from employment prior to becoming vested and receive a refund of your employee contributions, a DRO may require that a portion of your refunded contributions be paid directly to your former spouse.

To learn more, watch our Domestic Relations Orders video and/or read our Domestic Relations Orders Guide.

For more information about how divorce and a DRO may impact you in regards to your DERP Pension Benefit, and the specific instructions to create a valid DRO that we’ll recognize, email Help@DERP.org.

When you apply for your DERP Pension Benefit, you’ll choose one of four options: maximum or one of three joint and survivor options.

When you select a joint and survivor option for a beneficiary, you’re ensuring that upon your death, your beneficiary will continue to receive a monthly DERP Pension Benefit for the remainder of their lifetime. Depending on the decision you make, your monthly DERP Pension Benefit can pay 100% of what you received, or a lower percentage of 75% or 50%. You choose which option will meet your needs and those of your loved ones.

Important: Once retirement begins, you can’t change your benefit payment option or your joint and survivor beneficiary. This is a permanent decision.

• Maximum – This option provides you with the highest monthly DERP Pension Benefit payment for your lifetime. You’re the only one to receive lifetime monthly benefits. No lifetime benefit is paid to a beneficiary and your monthly benefit payments stop when you pass away. If you’re married, you can’t choose this option unless your spouse formally consents by completing and signing the Spousal Consent at Retirement form.
• Joint and Survivor – This option provides a reduced monthly DERP Pension Benefit to you and your beneficiary for life. Joint and Survivor options can be 100%, 75%, or 50% of the amount you’ll receive prior to death and is calculated based on the assumed life expectancies of both you and your beneficiary.
  • Because the Joint and Survivor benefit option covers two lifetimes, your monthly DERP Pension Benefit is reduced.
  • If you’re married, your spouse must be your beneficiary unless they formally consent to you naming another beneficiary by completing and signing the Spousal Consent at Retirement form. 
  • If your beneficiary passes away before you, your monthly DERP Pension Benefit will be increased to the maximum benefit as if no joint and survivor option had been elected.

Email Help@DERP.org to get an estimate of your DERP Pension Benefit with Joint and Survivor options. You’ll need to include your expected retirement date and your beneficiary’s date of birth. If you were hired prior to January 1, 2010 and are anticipating a sick and vacation leave or PTO payout, include this information, too.

A Disability Retirement benefit is available for all active members. This benefit provides important protection for you and your loved ones if you become totally and permanently disabled, whether on the job or off. Disability retirement benefits provide a lifetime monthly benefit if you meet eligibility requirements and must stop working before you reach normal retirement age.

• On-the-Job
  If you become permanently disabled because of an accident or other medical reason in connection with your employment, you may be eligible for an on-the-job disability retirement benefit. This benefit is based on the higher of 20 years of service credit or earned service plus 10 years. In either case, the service credit can’t exceed the service you would have earned by working to age 65. There are no minimum years of service requirements for this benefit. To qualify for an on-the-job disability, you must:
1. Submit proof of a work-related injury or disease.
2. Separate from employment within 24 months of the work-related injury or disease.
3. Apply in writing for a disability retirement within 90 days of your employment separation.
4. Qualify for a disability benefit as determined by Social Security standards.
• Off- the-Job
  A disability caused by sickness or other medical reason, not connected to the job, is classified as an off-the-job disability. The off-the-job disability benefit is 75% of the benefit calculated for an on-the-job disability. To qualify for an off-the-job disability retirement, you must:
1. Have at least five years of service credit.
2. Separate from employment due to medical reasons.
3. Separate from employment within 24 months of the injury or disease.
4. Apply in writing for a disability retirement within 90 days of your separation from employment.
5. Qualify for a disability benefit as determined by Social Security standards.
• Temporary Early Retirement Temporary early retirement (pending approval of a disability application) is available if you’re an active, vested member who’s at least age 55 (or at least age 60 for members hired on or after July 1, 2011). This benefit is designed to provide income during the process of fulfilling the disability application requirements. Temporary early retirement is limited to three years.

If you qualify for disability retirement, your DERP Pension Benefit becomes effective the first day of the month following your separation from employment with the city or covered employer because of the disability.

To learn more about Disability Retirement, review our Disability Retirement Guide and/or watch our Disability Retirement video.

To initiate the process for a disability retirement, complete, sign, and submit the required forms to Help@DERP.org.

If you’re an active member and die while employed with the city or other covered employer, there are death benefits available for your beneficiary.

In most instances, the death benefit is a lifetime monthly DERP Pension Benefit for the designated beneficiary. If you are married, your spouse will receive the lifetime DERP Pension Benefit, unless your spouse formally consents to and waives this right and consents to another designated beneficiary. If you’re not married, any children under age 21 will receive a benefit until they reach age 21. If you’re not married and have no children under age 21, the designated beneficiary will receive the benefit. 

• On-the-Job
  If a death is classified as on-the-job, your beneficiary will receive a lifetime monthly DERP Pension Benefit with service credit calculated as the higher of 15 years of service or earned service plus five years. In either case, the additional service credit may not exceed the service which you would have earned by working to age 65. Benefits are calculated in accordance with the standard retirement calculation using the adjusted service credit. There are no minimum service requirements for this benefit.
• Off- the-Job
  If a death is classified as off-the-job, your beneficiary will receive a lifetime monthly DERP Pension Benefit that is 75% of the on-the-job death benefit. There are no minimum service requirements for this benefit.
• Benefits to Children Under 21
  If you die without a surviving spouse but with children under age 21, any benefit which would have been paid to your spouse will be paid to your child(ren)’s guardian. Monthly benefit payments will continue until your children reach age 21.
• Death Benefit After Retirement
  Your DERP Pension Benefit may be payable to your spouse or beneficiary after your death if you have elected a Joint and Survivor benefit option at retirement. Upon your death, we’ll pay a lifetime monthly DERP Pension Benefit to your designated beneficiary. If your beneficiary passes away before you, your DERP Pension Benefit will increase to the maximum benefit amount as if no Joint and Survivor benefit had been selected.

It’s important to review and update your beneficiaries regularly to ensure that any benefits payable upon your death are paid as you desire. Log in to your MyDERP.org account and click the Beneficiary button.

When you retire from active service, a single lump-sum death benefit payment is available to be paid upon your passing to your beneficiary, or to your estate if your beneficiary is no longer living. The following is a breakdown of the benefit amount based on retirement type:

• Normal, Rule of 75, Rule of 85, Disability Retirement (After Age 65) and Temporary Early Retirement – The lump-sum death benefit is $5,000.
• Disability Retirement Before Age 65 – The lump-sum death benefit is 150% of your annualized average monthly salary, limited to $50,000. This benefit reduces to $5,000 when you reach age 65.
• Early Retirement for Tier 1 and 2 Members (Hired Before July 1, 2011) – The lump-sum death benefit is $2,500 at age 55. This benefit is reduced by $250 for each year under the age 65.
• Early Retirement for Tier 3 Members (Hired on or After July 1, 2011) – The lump-sum death benefit is $2,500 at age 60. This benefit is reduced by $500 for each year under the age of 65.

Important! Retirement law allows your lump-sum death benefit to be paid to you in regular monthly installments. These regular payments may be made in 50 or 100 equal monthly installments while you’re still alive. This amount will be paid in addition to the regular monthly DERP Pension Benefit. Any remaining balance in the death benefit account will be paid to your beneficiary upon your death. Once you have withdrawn the complete death benefit, the payments will stop and there won’t be a lump-sum death benefit for your beneficiary.

The normal retirement age under Social Security for members hired before July 1, 2011, was extended beyond age 65 for individuals born in 1938 or later. If you are in this group, DERP will increase your monthly retirement benefits to help “make-up” for delayed Social Security benefits.

The Social Security Make-Up benefit is payable beginning at age 62, or your retirement date, whichever is later. This benefit won’t be paid before your DERP Pension Benefit has begun. The benefit calculation is based on a percentage of your estimated primary Social Security benefit times service credit during which the contributions were made to Social Security (up to a maximum of 35 years) divided by 35.

The Social Security Make-Up Benefit has been discontinued for members hired on or after July 1, 2011.

You can’t add extra money to your DERP Pension Benefit other than by purchasing service credit. However, you can contribute more to your future retirement through the voluntary retirement savings (457b) program offered by the city. Visit the city’s Summit Savings  website to learn more about the Deferred Compensation plan.

We don’t have detailed information regarding benefits through Social Security. As you plan for retirement, the following links can be used a resource.

• Social Security Benefits Estimator
  The Social Security Benefits Estimator helps you to better understand your Social Security protection as you plan for your financial future. The benefit calculator can answer all your questions about payments and options.
• Social Security Statement
  If you have questions about your Social Security Statement, this site has frequently asked questions that can guide you in the right direction for an answer.
• Apply for Social Security Online
  The Social Security Administration has a wealth of information for current employees and retirees alike, including retirement planning calculators, Medicare information, and how to apply for benefits.
• Social Security Publications
  The Social Security Administration produces a number of up-to-date, online publications that include information about retirement benefits, disability benefits, survivor’s benefits, and more.

When applying for benefits, Social Security recommends that you apply four months before you want to receive your first payment. If you’d like to meet with a Social Security representative, you should plan to schedule the meeting several months in advance.

There are three options available to apply:

1. Online at ssa.gov
2. By phone at 1-800-772-1213
3. At a Social Security office

Internal Revenue Code (IRC) §415(b) sets limits on the retirement benefits we can pay from our qualified trust. Most members are not affected because their DERP Pension Benefit won’t exceed the §415(b) limits; however, a small number of highly paid members may exceed the limits.

Although §415(b) imposes these limits, IRC §415(m) allows us to use a replacement benefit arrangement (RBA) to provide relief for a retiree who exceeds the 415(b) limit. If we determine that your DERP Pension Benefit will exceed the §415(b) limits, we’ll contact you to discuss what it may mean for you.

You may change you tax withholding at any time.

To set up or change your tax withholding elections, log in to your MyDERP.org  account and click the Tax Withholding button.

Yes. We’ll mail, or make available through your MyDERP.org account, your Form 1099-R – Distributions From Pensions, Annuities, Retirement or Profit-Sharing Plans, IRAs, Insurance Contracts, etc., by January 31 to report your distribution of retirement benefits.

Log in to your MyDERP.org account, click the View Tax Forms link to view and print a prior Form 1099-R. To request older Form 1099-Rs email Help@DERP.org.

This can happen for two reasons:

1. You turned 59 1/2. Tax rules require us to report your payments differently before and after that age, so you’ll get two forms. 
2. You had two payee accounts.

If you’ve moved, plan to move, have a new phone number, or new email address, you’ll want to update your contact information so you continue to receive important news and updates about your account.

Log in to your MyDERP.org account and click the Address and/or Account Info links to update your address and contact information.

Log in to your MyDERP.org account and click the Direct Deposit button to update your direct deposit information.

During retirement there may be times when you need to show proof of your monthly DERP Pension Benefit amount. We will provide you an income verification letter upon request.

To request an income verification letter, email Help@DERP.org. We will process and mail or email an official letter within three business days of receipt.

When evaluating a COLA, the DERP Retirement Board takes into account the following factors:

• The DERP Retirement Board’s primary responsibility is to safeguard the overall soundness of the retirement plan.
  The retirement board’s top priority is to ensure funds are in place to pay every dollar of benefits promised to every current and future retiree. When contemplating a COLA, the retirement board assesses our unfunded pension liability, health insurance liability, and investment performance, among other things.

• The DERP Retirement Board assesses the impact a COLA could have on all members.
  The retirement board considers the contribution rates for current employees compared to the contributions paid by retirees while employed. City employees did not contribute to their own retirement benefits until 2003, and employee contributions have steadily increased since that time. This means that for most current retirees, their monthly DERP Pension Benefit payment was funded, for the most part, by the city. Currently, every benefited employee contributes a percentage of each paycheck to DERP. Granting retirees a COLA could increase the burden on active employees, who already contribute at a historically high rate.

• Your DERP Pension Benefit is meant to be one part of your retirement.
  While employed at the city you’re part of a retirement plan that guarantees you a monthly payment upon your retirement. You also pay into Social Security while employed, which means you receive a Social Security Benefit in addition to your DERP Pension Benefit. The Social Security Administration reviews Social Security benefits annually and adjusts for inflation based on a defined formula. The Revised Municipal Code of the City and County of Denver, which governs DERP, does not have a mandatory inflation adjustment or COLA formula.

Your DERP Pension Benefit and other retirement income may be affected differently based on your employer and other important factors. Consider the following information before becoming re-employed.

Working for the City and County of Denver or Any Other Covered Employer
If you decide to work for the city or any other covered employer during your retirement, re-employment may affect your DERP Pension Benefit. In order for your DERP Pension Benefit not to be interrupted:

• You must be separated from employment and not receive any monies from the city or any other covered employer, including any payment for accrued vacation and sick leave, for a minimum of 30 days, after retirement.
• You cannot work more than 1,000 hours in any calendar year after the initial date of re-employment.

If you don’t wait at least the minimum amount of time before resuming employment or work more than 1,000 hours in a calendar year, your DERP Pension Benefit will be suspended and you will be considered re-employed with the city or any other covered employer in a DERP-eligible position.

You will be required to pay the applicable employee contributions, and in return will receive additional service credit until you separate again from employment. At that time, your initial retirement benefit will resume. You will have to reapply for an additional retirement benefit to be calculated based upon the new service and earnings accrued during your re-employment period. This new benefit will be paid in addition to the previously calculated benefit.

Working for a Non-Covered or Non-City and County of Denver Employer
If you decide to work for a non-covered or non-City and County of Denver employer, there are no limits on the amount of time you may work and your DERP Pension Benefit won’t be affected.

Disability Recipient
If you’re receiving a Disability Retirement benefit from us and return to work, you may not be able maintain your Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. If you lose your SSDI benefits, you will no longer qualify to receive a Disability Pension Benefit through DERP.

Social Security Benefits and Income Taxes
Returning to work may also affect your Social Security Benefits and income taxes. Contact the Social Security Administration and your tax professional to understand how you may be impacted.

You can enroll or make changes to your health insurance at retirement, during Open Enrollment, or when you experience a qualifying life event.

Retirement
When you retire, you can elect to enroll in health insurance within 30 days of receiving your first lifetime monthly DERP Pension Benefit. In most cases, your health insurance is effective when your DERP Pension Benefit becomes effective.

Open Enrollment
Our annual Open Enrollment period is mid-October through mid-November. Open Enrollment is your opportunity to reflect on your needs and fine-tune your benefits package to match. Take this opportunity to think about what you’ve experienced in the past year or anticipate experiencing the coming year and determine what plan(s) best meet your needs. Any changes you make during Open Enrollment will be effective January 1 of the following year.

Qualifying Life Events
A qualifying life event is a change in your situation that makes you eligible to update your health insurance outside of our annual Open Enrollment period. A qualifying life event includes:

• Becoming eligible for Medicare
• Change in marital status
• Involuntary loss of previous health insurance
• Change in residence and becoming ineligible for your current health insurance

Changes to your health insurance must be made within 30 days of a qualifying event.

Email Help@DERP.org as soon as possible so we can work with you to get the proper paperwork and supporting documentation related to your qualifying life event.

The Insurance Premium Reduction (IPR) Benefit is a benefit in which we contribute toward your monthly health insurance premiums. The amount we contribute is  based on your years of service and Medicare status. To be eligible for the IPR Benefit, you must be enrolled in one of our group health insurance plans. In addition, the IPR Benefit is only available to members and spouses receiving a joint and survivor benefit.