Monday, July 14, 2025

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AVALON – Pensions for lifeguards has been a controversial topic in shore communities for several years. By law, cities along the New Jersey Atlantic shoreline must offer lifeguard pensions. The regulation does not apply to other forms of government, like the many boroughs that dot the coast islands in Cape May County.

The aim of the statute was to encourage lifeguards to return each summer season, but few of those individuals, even if they remained loyal to the position for a period, ever reached the 20 years of service required to receive any of the pension they paid into. The requirement is 20 years of service and reaching 45 years of age.