New Member Plan Choice

New PERS, SERS with no prior PERS Plan 2 membership, and TRS members have only 90 calendar days to make their irrevocable plan choice. Until the employee makes a choice or defaults, report a begin date with member and employer contributions in Plan 2. Don't report plan choice information until you receive the Member Information Form or the member defaults

Note: Report SERS with prior PERS Plan 2 membership in SERS Plan 2. These members don't have a plan choice, but have a January Transfer Option.

New members means they have:
- Never been reported in the retirement system before. For example: if you are hiring a TRS member, they have no prior TRS membership
- Been reported as a substitute and their current status is potential member
If the member chooses Plan 3, the member can't change their contribution rate option unless they change employers
Employers should provide the Plan Choice Booklet, which includes the Member Information Form and the Beneficiary Form to each New Member Plan Choice employee immediately upon hiring
Employers need to include Plan Choice information in their orientation programs for all newly hired employees
Provide the publication An Introduction to Plan 3 for employees that need more information on Plan 3
Use the Retirement Status Form to document whether the employee has been a member or retired from a Washington State retirement system
After the member makes a plan choice, provide the appropriate Member Handbook. If the member chooses Plan 3, provide An Introduction to Plan 3, if the member has not received a copy in the decision process
Direct members to ICMA Web site to assist them with their plan choice

View Plan 3 Resources for how to order publications and forms, and a listing of other resources
Employers must keep a supply of forms and publications on-hand to provide to members

There are special transmittal reporting requirements. See Special Reporting for Plan 3