Plan

Pittsburgh Policemen's Relief and Pension Fund

State

Pennsylvania

Funded Ratio

53.7%

Assets

N/A

Members

N/A

Health Grade: D — Severely underfunded — facing funding crisis

FY2023 data Grade D Public Plans Database

Pittsburgh Policemen's Relief and Pension Fund

Funded ratio, unfunded liability, member counts, ARC coverage, and 23-year financial history for Pittsburgh Policemen's Relief and Pension Fund — sourced from the Public Plans Database (Boston College CRR) and cross-checked against actuarial valuations.

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By Kiznis Studio Editorial · June 2026 · Pennsylvania · Police & Fire Plan · Data through FY2023

Financial Health Grade

Severely underfunded — facing funding crisis

Funded Ratio

53.7%

actuarial assets / liabilities

Unfunded Liability

N/A

actuarial shortfall

Total Members

N/A

active + retired + vested

1-Year Return

16.7%

net investment return

8.2pp vs 5-yr avg

5-Year Avg Return

8.5%

annualized, net of fees

ARC Payment

43.2%

of actuarially required contribution

How Pittsburgh Policemen's Relief and Pension Fund Funded Ratio Compares

Plan Funded Ratio 53.7%

National avg

A ratio of 53.7% compared against the national public-pension average of 73.5%.

Healthy Threshold

Plans above 80% are generally considered adequately funded by NASRA standards.

Historical Funded Ratio

Year	Funded Ratio	Assets	Unfunded	Members
2024	53.7%	N/A	N/A	N/A
2023	53.9%	N/A	N/A	N/A
2022	56.9%	N/A	N/A	N/A
2021	60.0%	N/A	N/A	N/A
2020	60.3%	$333M	$220M	N/A
2019	61.1%	$293M	$186M	N/A
2018	63.2%	$265M	$154M	2,445
2017	64.4%	$272M	$151M	N/A
2016	64.6%	$256M	$140M	2,439
2015	66.8%	$245M	$122M	N/A
2014	65.8%	$247M	$128M	2,357
2013	62.3%	$241M	$146M	N/A
2012	62.4%	$227M	$137M	2,404
2011	71.3%	$216M	$87M	N/A
2010	75.9%	$216M	$69M	2,429
2009	77.0%	$85M	$25M	N/A
2008	83.5%	$81M	$16M	2,494
2007	89.9%	$119M	$13M	N/A
2006	87.9%	$115M	$16M	2,483
2005	86.7%	$114M	$17M	N/A

What the Data Says About Pittsburgh Policemen's Relief and Pension Fund

Pittsburgh Policemen's Relief and Pension Fund reports a funded ratio of 53.7% as of fiscal year 2023, earning a financial health grade of D in the Public Plans Database. The plan holds N/A in market assets against an unfunded liability of N/A. As a Police & Fire plan operating under Pennsylvania sponsorship, it covers an undisclosed member base. These figures aggregate from Form 5500 filings submitted to the Department of Labor and actuarial valuations reported through NASRA.

A funded ratio below 60% reflects significant underfunding relative to the national average of 72–75%, which typically triggers escalating employer contributions or legislative reform conversations. Employer contributions covered 43.2% of the Annual Required Contribution in the most recent reporting cycle, while the plan posted a 5-year average investment return of 8.5%. The relationship between contribution adequacy and investment performance determines whether the unfunded liability narrows or expands year over year.

For Pennsylvania taxpayers and plan members, the N/A unfunded gap represents the actuarial shortfall that must eventually be closed through a combination of contributions, investment returns, or benefit modifications. Unlike private-sector pensions governed by ERISA and backstopped by the PBGC, public plans like Pittsburgh Policemen's Relief and Pension Fund rely on the full faith and credit of Pennsylvania — meaning funding shortfalls flow through to state and local budgets rather than a federal insurance program. This information summarizes official Public Plans Database disclosures and is provided for research and educational purposes only. It is not financial, legal, or retirement-planning advice; active and retired members with specific benefit questions should consult their plan administrator directly.

Plan Details

Plan Type: Police & Fire
State: Pennsylvania
ARC Payment: 43.2%

Source: Public Plans Database (PPD)
Boston College CRR / NASRA

Other Pennsylvania Plans

Pittsburgh Fire 94.3%
Pennsylvania Public School Employees Retirement System 88.8%
Philadelphia Municipal Retirement System 79.7%
Pennsylvania Municipal Retirement System 73.5%
Pittsburgh Municipal 68.7%

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Related Resources

Pension Guides

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Pittsburgh Policemen's Relief and Pension Fund fully funded?

Pittsburgh Policemen's Relief and Pension Fund has a funded ratio of 53.7% as of FY2023, earning a health grade of D. A funded ratio of 100% means the plan has enough assets to cover all projected liabilities. Ratios above 80% are generally considered adequately funded; ratios below 60% indicate significant underfunding and risk to future benefits.

What happens if Pittsburgh Policemen's Relief and Pension Fund runs out of money?

Public pension plans like Pittsburgh Policemen's Relief and Pension Fund are backed by the sponsoring government entity — in this case Pennsylvania. If a plan's assets are insufficient, the state or local government is typically required to make up the difference through increased contributions, benefit adjustments, or tax measures. Unlike private pensions, public pensions are not insured by the PBGC, but they do carry the full faith and credit of the sponsoring government.

What does a funded ratio of 53.7% mean?

A funded ratio of 53.7% means that Pittsburgh Policemen's Relief and Pension Fund currently has assets equal to 53.7% of its projected benefit obligations. The unfunded liability — the gap between assets and liabilities — stands at N/A. This level of underfunding typically requires corrective action such as increased contributions or benefit restructuring.

How does Pittsburgh Policemen's Relief and Pension Fund compare to other public pensions?

Pittsburgh Policemen's Relief and Pension Fund is a Police & Fire plan in Pennsylvania. Nationally, the average funded ratio for public pension plans tracked by the Public Plans Database is approximately 72–75%. Pittsburgh Policemen's Relief and Pension Fund's funded ratio of 53.7% places it below the national average, indicating elevated fiscal pressure.

How many members does Pittsburgh Policemen's Relief and Pension Fund have?

Pittsburgh Policemen's Relief and Pension Fund covers an undisclosed number of members. The ratio of active members to retirees is a key indicator of plan sustainability — when the number of retirees grows relative to active contributors, funding pressure increases.

What is the ARC payment percentage for Pittsburgh Policemen's Relief and Pension Fund?

Pittsburgh Policemen's Relief and Pension Fund pays 43.2% of its Annual Required Contribution (ARC). Consistently underpaying the ARC accelerates the growth of unfunded liabilities and places future benefits at greater risk. Employer contribution patterns are tracked annually in the Public Plans Database.

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Data sourced from official Public Plans Database and actuarial valuations from federal and state pension systems. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by Kiznis Studio Editorial

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the Public Plans Database (PPD). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.

Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

All federal data sources used on this page

U.S. Census Bureau ACS — demographic + housing + income data. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — wage + employment by occupation. bls.gov/oes
BEA Regional Economic Accounts — GDP + personal income by state/metro. bea.gov/data/regional
U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns — establishment + employment by industry. census.gov/cbp
IRS Statistics of Income (SOI) — tax-return aggregate data. irs.gov/statistics
data.gov — U.S. federal open-data portal — discovery layer for additional federal sources. data.gov