Garden State Times

Legislation sponsored by Senator Vince Polistina that expands the eligibility of surviving children to receive pension benefits from deceased members of the State Police Retirement System and the Police and Fireman's Retirement System was approved by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.

"We have an obligation to support the families of first responders who put their lives on the line every day to keep our communities safe," said Polistina (R-02).

"By expanding the definition of child under the PFRS and SPRS and removing certain barriers, more children under the age of 24 will qualify as beneficiaries to access pension benefits. This legislation is a small but important way to honor the service of first responders in New Jersey," Polistina (R-02) emphasized.

The current criteria for being considered a child under the PFRS and SPRS include being under the age of 18, 18 or older and attending a secondary school, under the age of 24 and enrolled in college as a full-time student, or disabled. However, to be classified as a child under the age of 24, the individual must be the survivor of a PFRS or SPRS member who died in active duty.

Senator Polistina's bill, S-2689, aims to remove the active-duty requirement, allowing any full-time college student under the age of 24 to be considered a child and eligible to receive payments from their family member's final compensation regardless of where the pension holder died.

"Surviving children already have to grieve the loss of a loved one. Their ability to receive benefits shouldn't hinge on whether their loved one died in the line of duty," Polistina added. "Allowing more children to benefit from their family member's pension can provide a sense of financial security during a very difficult time."