A person generally cannot establish or continue membership in PERS if he or she, at the same time, is a participating member contributing to any retirement system operated in whole or in part administered by the state.
Retirement systems operated in whole or in part by the state include:
Note: Contact PERS Retirement Services when you hire a person that indicates membership in another retirement system administered by the state or a political subdivision.
Exception: A person who is otherwise eligible may participate in PERS if he or she is simultaneously participating in:
A person may be eligible to establish PERS membership or continue to participate in PERS despite retaining service credit in another public retirement system. [RCW 41.40.023(4)], [WAC 415-108-726]
Note: This rule may not apply to persons who are retired or are eligible to retire from one of the retirement systems previously listed under "Simultaneous Membership."
Contact PERS Retirement Services if you have questions about consecutive membership.
If an employee earns less than 50 percent of his or her gross income from the practice of his or her profession from a PERS employer, then the person is exempted from PERS membership. The terms "profession" and "professional services" are not defined in statute or rule, but some occupations that qualify as "professions" include:
If you encounter a person working in some occupation other than those listed above, please contact the legal unit at DRS to discuss whether the occupation qualifies as a profession.
Effective July 1997, PERS retirees are exempted from PERS membership. Retirees will only reenter membership if they elect to do so. The option may be exercised prospectively. If a PERS retiree reenters membership, benefits stop until the member retires again.
Note: A service retiree may return to public service, but this may affect the retiree’s pension. Please refer to “Employing Retirees” in Chapter 5 for details about what to do if you hire a retiree.
Note: A disability retiree is not eligible to return to membership unless he or she is receiving comparable compensation as determined by DRS. There is no limitation on eligible employment; the only limitation is dependent upon the compensation earned.