The following rules apply to state elected officials who choose to be covered by LEOFF Plan 2 while in elected office. Additional rules governing all LEOFF Plan 2 members are summarized in the LEOFF Plan 2 Member Handbook.
You are eligible to participate in LEOFF Plan 2 while in office if:
You are not required to belong to a retirement system while in office. You have the option of joining PERS Plan 2 or 3 rather than continuing your LEOFF 2 membership. See PERS Plan 2 and PERS Plan 3 Rules for State Elected Officials.
If you are a former LEOFF Plan 2 member at the time of your election you are not eligible to resume LEOFF Plan 2 membership. However, you may be eligible to become a PERS Plan 2 or 3 member. See PERS Plan 2 and PERS Plan 3 Rules for State Elected Officials.
If you choose to be covered by LEOFF Plan 2, you must notify the Department of Retirement Systems that you are taking a leave of absence for the express purpose of serving in elected office.
To remain a LEOFF Plan 2 member during subsequent terms of office, you must apply for membership at the beginning of each new term.
Your membership decision is final: Once you have established retirement system membership, you must remain a member until you separate from all eligible public employment.
The amount of your retirement benefit is determined in part by the amount of service credit you accumulate. As a state elected official, you:
Service in any state elective position is considered full-time service. For each full year of elected service, you are eligible for one year of service credit.
You are not eligible to purchase credit for previous elected service. However, you can become a PERS member and recover previous credit.
As a Plan 2 member, you will receive a service retirement benefit based on the following formula:
Months of service credit ÷ 12 x 2% x Final Average Salary = Yearly benefit
Final Average Salary (FAS) is the monthly average of your 60 consecutive highest-paid service credit months. Not included are payments for any type of severance pay, such as lump-sum payments for deferred sick leave, vacation or annual leave.
Plan 2 contribution rates are variable and may be changed as necessary to reflect the cost of the plan.
For any year in which you serve in the legislature, you have the option of choosing the greater of:
If you select the option that produces the higher basic salary, you must pay the employee and employer contributions based on that higher compensation.
If you are a retired LEOFF Plan 2 member, you can receive your retirement benefit while serving as an elected official unless you choose PERS membership. If you choose PERS membership, your retirement benefit will be suspended at the beginning of your term and reinstated upon termination of your employment as an elected official. You will receive payment, including any cost-of-living increases that would apply, for the period of the suspension. At the time your benefit is reinstated, you will be notified of your options for the retroactive payment.
Please contact the Department of Retirement Systems (DRS) for more information.
Contact DRS and provide the following information:
You may also request an estimate of the cost of purchasing credit for previous service.
Write DRS at:
Department of Retirement Systems
PO Box 48380
Olympia, WA 98504-8380
To discuss the application of these rules to your specific case, call DRS and ask to speak to the Legislative Liaison: toll free 1-800-547-6657 or locally (360) 664-7000, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except legal holidays.
THIS IS A SUMMARY
This Web page is not a complete description of the law. If there are conflicts between the information contained herein and retirement law, the applicable law will govern.
This information is available in alternate formats. For information contact DRS.
