Federal first responders have special retirement benefits — but if a duty-related illness or injury forces them into a less demanding government job, they lose those benefits.

On Wednesday, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management filed a proposed rule change in line with the First Responder Fair RETIRE Act that Congress passed in 2022.

The proposal covers federal law enforcement officers, firefighters, customs and border protection officers, air traffic controllers, nuclear materials couriers and members of the Capitol Police or Supreme Court Police.

They pay an additional 0.5% of basic pay in pension contributions, according to the personnel office.

Not only that, they also become eligible for early retirement at 50 after 20 years of service, and their monthly pension is based on a larger share of their salary.

“Before the enactment of the Act, eligible employees had no options but to forfeit their enhanced retirement contributions and forgo their enhanced retirement benefits, or alternatively to apply for a disability retirement,” the personnel office said in a Federal Register notice.

“Neither of these options allowed for eligible employees to simultaneously enjoy a meaningful and continuous Federal career in their similar field and enjoy the enhanced benefits that they originally received.”

The agency said, historically, such employees may have sought to hide a job-related illness or injury.

If finalized, the rule change would mean they would continue to earn the enhanced retirement credit associated with the previous job in the new position. It will apply to workers whose qualifying injury or illness occurred on or after Dec. 9, 2024.

The federal agency is accepting public comments through Sept. 21.

Myfederalretirement.com suggests that employees who believe they may be affected review the proposal carefully and consider submitting comments.

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