MPERA is committed to the health and well-being of both our staff and our members. Due to COVID-19, MPERA will be open with minimal staff on premise and many staff working remotely. 

We encourage you to call if you have a retirement question or request, please call our Member Call Center at 1-877-275-7372 or in Helena, 444-3154. Or, send us an email at mpera@mt.gov. We will get back to you as soon as possible. Employers can still reach our Employer Call Center at 1-844-304-5452 for assistance in reporting payroll contributions or general questions.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Employer Reporting Requirements Under FFCRA

Volunteer Firefighters’ Compensation Act Training Requirement Grace Period Due To COVID-19

Due to mandatory state social distancing protocols which must be adhered to during the COVID-19 Pandemic, MPERA will be allowing members of volunteer fire departments qualified under the Volunteer Firefighters’ Compensation Act (VFCA) a grace period of six (6) months that will begin on July 1, 2020 and run through December 31st, 2020 in order to complete their required 30 hours of training in firefighting duties and to receive service credit for the previous fiscal year of 2020.
Fire Chiefs of a VFCA department with members who complete their 30 hours of training during this six (6) month grace period are required to amend any previous VFCA annual certificate filed with MPERA for fiscal year 2020 by January 1st, 2021 with a letter of explanation along with the names and appropriate information of members who have completed their training during this grace period in order for these members to receive service credit for fiscal year 2020.
For all members who are retiring from volunteer firefighting service and who will be filing a VFCA retirement application at the end of the current fiscal year, MPERA will allow for such a member to complete their training during this grace period and will grant a retroactive retirement benefit back to July 1, 2020 for that member when they would have otherwise received their last year of VFCA service credit.
IMPORTANT: This grace period is temporary and the ability of a VFCA member to receive a retirement benefit that is retroactive to July 1, 2020 will only apply during this temporary grace period until it terminates on December 31st, 2020.