FAQs

Membership Application packages are made available below. Please select the application package that most applies to you (   General Law Enforcement -OR-    Department of Corrections Officers ). Each package includes an information sheet, the application, and the Certification by Employing Agency Form.

Mail these forms (completed, signed, and notarized with your $50.00 Application Fee that includes your first month's dues payment. You may make this payment by submitting an   Automatic Withdrawal Authorization form (see below) -OR- a check or money order for $50.00 made payable to the POAB Fund. Send these documents to 1208 Greenbelt Drive, Griffin, GA 30224.

Check out Join the Fund for a more in depth look into the process.

  Application - General Law Enforcement

  Application - Department of Corrections Officers

 

Please use the general    POAB Application .

Membership is limited to P.O.S.T. certified Law Enforcement Officers who are employed by the State of Georgia or any of its political subdivisions: whether by election or appointment, who devote their full time (minimum of 37 hours per week) to such employment.

See Eligible Positions for more details.

Members should ALWAYS inform the Fund of Employment Changes. Please print out the Certification by Employing Agency form. If you left one agency and began employment with another, our office requires two forms (one from each agency). Please have them separately completed by your previous and current agency. 

Please select the form that best applies to the position for which you were(are) employed:

•   Certification by Employing Agency Form - General
•   Certification by Employing Agency Form - Correction Officer

Forms should be notarized and returned to the following address to keep your service credit current. You may submit this form by using the following methods:

• Email: [email protected]
• Fax: 770-412-1236
• Mail: 1208 Greenbelt Drive, Griffin, GA 30224

Our Membership Portal allows our Active, Vested, and Retired Members to view their account information online!   First-time users will need to register with a personal email address.

 

Members are eligible to purchase up to 5 years of service after accruing 5 years of creditable service. To learn more, head over to our Purchase Prior Service Page.

Purchased prior service DOES NOT count toward vesting. It adds to your creditable service once you are vested. 

A POAB member may receive benefits after they are considered VESTED and ELIGIBLE for retirement. Learn more on our Vesting Requirements page.

The POAB Fund always wants our Members to be aware of their options--especially those who did not meet the Vesting Requirements. 

If you have returned to a qualified position with another law enforcement agency, please notify this office immediately so we can change your status back to "active".

If you have not returned to a qualified position with another law enforcement agency, you have several options to choose from:

• Request a Leave of Absence with the Fund for up to 12 months.  
• You may freeze your account.  You will not accrue any service record and will not have to pay monthly dues.  Upon return to a qualified position with another law enforcement agency, you must notify this office so we can change your status to active member.  
• Request a Refund of the dues that have been paid into your account.

A provision for Leave of Absence is made for members who are not yet vested with the minimum 10 years (joined before June 30, 2010) or 15 years (joined after July 1, 2010) of Fund participation required to draw the Pension. The fund must be notified within 90 days of leaving Law Enforcement and again within 30 days of returning to Law Enforcement. Learn more on the Leave of Absence Page.

Active members of the Fund called into military service from their employment as a peace officer may be granted military service for FREE (max 5 years). The Fund requires documentation of your service. Head over to the Military Service page to learn more.

Active and Vested members may update their contact information by logging into our Member Portal -OR- they may Contact the Fund Office. 

It is very important to keep your POAB Account up to date.

Dues payments are $25.00 per month and are due on the 10th of each month. Be sure you are aware of the Dues Requirements. Failure to promptly pay these dues could lead to loss of creditable service.

Remember, we do not send out billing statements. Dues payments are required by the 10th of each month. The member is responsible for paying their dues on time.

If you receive a notice from the Fund office, you are BEHIND in paying your dues.

We offer several Dues Payment Options for members' convenience:

1) Automatic Withdrawals from your Bank Account

(2) Payroll Deduction

(3) Payment by Personal Check or Money Order

Remember, we do not send out billing statements. Dues payments are required by the 10th of each month. The member is responsible for paying their dues on time.

If you receive a notice from the Fund office, you are BEHIND in paying your dues.

Active members of the Fund may Request a Refund of Dues at any time. Before retirement, a member may withdraw their membership and request to receive a 95% refund of all dues paid into the Fund. Any interest or penalties paid are not refundable. Overpayment of dues will be refunded at 100%. 

Members who overpay their dues, but do not wish to cease membership in the Fund may Request an Overpayment Refund.

Retirees who have contributed more than the required dues amount will receive a 100% Overpayment Refund. The payment of this refund will be issued approximately 30 days after the first pension payment is received by the member.

Please visit the Request a Refund of Dues page for more information and the required forms.

It is the member's responsibility to see that dues are paid; regardless of the dues payment method. Account delinquency does not exclude members on Payroll Deduction or Automatic Withdrawal.

We highly suggest you contact your Payroll Department.

If you like, we are happy to speak with you about the status of your account.

Contact the Fund

 

Submit a new   Automatic Withdrawal Authorization form . 

There are three ways to be eligible to draw your pension:

• Members who are vested with POAB, at least 55 years old, and out of law enforcement.
• Members who joined prior to July 1, 2009 (and have not rejoined at any point after), have 30 years of creditable service with the POAB Fund, and are at least 55 years old are allowed to draw a pension and continue working in law enforcement full time.
• Members who have 30 years of creditable service with POAB and have left law enforcement may draw a pension prior to turning 55.

The Pension Benefit is calculated by multiplying your creditable service (full months and years) by the current base rate.

Learn more about the Pension Benefit.

Disability Retirement Benefits is available only to members that joined prior to July 1, 1993. Eligible members must apply within 12 months of becoming totally and permanently disabled

If you have reached the Vesting Requirements and are Eligible for Retirement benefits, you should request a Retirement Package. You can do so by Contacting the Fund -OR- Submitting an Online Pension Request Form.

If you have not yet reached Eligibility or the Vesting Requirements, please submit the Certification by Employing Agency form that best applies to your employment type:

  Certification by Employing Agency Form - General

  Certification by Employing Agency Form - DOC

 

It is the member’s responsibility to inform the Fund office of any changes.

To update your tax withholdings, submit a   Tax Withholding Declaration Form.

To update your direct deposit information, submit a    Direct Deposit Form . Because we care about your security, our office will call to confirm all direct deposit change requests.

To update your contact information, submit a   Contact Information Form.

 

1099-Rs are mailed by our Bank Custodian, State Street Bank, in January to the address that we have on file for you.

Contact Us to request an additional copy. (The last five years are available should you require them).

The laws governing this Fund allow a Retiree Returning to Law Enforcement to work 1040 or fewer hours in a calendar year and still draw retirement benefits. This law is in place for retirees who have not reached 30 years of service with the fund.

For these members, there are restrictions on the number of hours they may work and draw their pension. So that you may better understand your options, please review, complete, and return the    Retiree Employment Packet . 

For members who chose to provide a spousal benefit at retirement, the laws governing the Fund state that with the occurrence of Death or Divorce of Spouse, your option choice may revert to the amount provided under a Single-life annuity option (Option 1). Members will have 6 months from the date of occurrence (death or divorce) to submit the required paperwork to the POAB Fund office. 

Benefits are paid on the last banking day of the month in which they are due. Please note that holidays and weekends can impact the specific timeframe in which payments are deposited. Timing might also differ among various banking institutions.

We highly recommend speaking with a tax professional to determine the best solution. Withholdings can be changed after retirement by submitting the   Income Tax Withholding Declaration Form

New users must register their online POAB Account to gain access to the POAB Member Portal. 

YouTube: Portal Registration Tutorial

Logging into the Member Portal is easy. Enter your registered information and be sure to select the red Send Pin and Submit Pin buttons to gain access.

YouTube: Portal Login Tutorial

You can update your email, password, phone number, and forgot password question and answer from the Account screen on the POAB Member Portal. Click Account in the blue banner and follow the prompts.

YouTube: Portal Account Changes

Active and Vested members of the Fund can run projected retirement estimates by using the Retirement Estimator Tool on the POAB Member Portal. 

Check out our Portal Retirement Estimator Tool Video for a more detailed tutorial.