Employer Update

Recent legislation will bring changes to disability coverage for certain emergency dispatchers of political subdivisions working at Virginia public safety answering points (PSAPs), effective July 1, 2026 (Acts of Assembly, Chapter 190).

Currently, dispatchers in VRS Plan 1 and Plan 2 are covered under VRS disability retirement. Hybrid Retirement Plan dispatchers are covered under the Virginia Local Disability Program (VLDP) or an employer’s comparable plan.

What’s Changing?

Effective next July 1, emergency dispatchers will become participants of the Virginia Local Disability Program (VLDP) or an employer’s comparable plan—regardless of their VRS retirement plan designation.

Who’s Affected?

Dispatchers in VRS Plan 1 and Plan 2 can elect to continue their coverage under VRS disability retirement during an opt-out period February 1 through March 31, 2026. Those who don’t opt out will automatically be enrolled in VLDP, effective July 1, 2026.

VRS Plan 1 and Plan 2 members hired as dispatchers on or after July 1, 2025, but before the legislation’s effective date will not have the opportunity to opt out. They will be covered by VLDP or an employer’s comparable plan effective July 1, 2026.

Who’s Not Affected?

VRS Plan 1 and Plan 2 dispatchers who retire on disability on or before July 1, 2026, will remain in VRS disability retirement.

Dispatchers already in the VRS Hybrid Retirement Plan will see no change to their disability coverage.

Next Steps

VRS will contact localities that employ emergency dispatchers to provide more information about the upcoming opt-out period and changes in how they will report dispatchers in myVRS Navigator. Email communications from VRS will come from DispatcherVLDP@varetire.org.

The dispatchers affected by this legislation also will receive more information in the coming months to help them make an informed decision about their disability coverage.

Questions?

If you have questions, please email DispatcherVLDP@varetire.org.