Category Archives: Employer

Date:   7/26/2024Applies to: All EmployersSubject: DRS Notice 24-017, Contribution Rate Changes for PERS, PSERS, SERS, TRS, and WSPRS Pension contribution rates The contribution rates presented in the chart below become effective Sept. 1, 2024. The 2024 legislative session made contribution rate changes based on passage of the following bills: Employers who have additional questions regarding…

Date: July 16, 2024To: All EmployersSubject: DRS Notice 24-016, Completing Requests for Employer Information (RFEI) It is very important that Requests for Employer Information are responded to in a timely manner. RFEIs are sent to employers when additional information is needed to verify the data reported in the member’s account. Many RFEIs are generated when…

Notice: 24-015Date: 06/26/2024To: All EmployersSubject: DRS Notice 24-015, Reporting Accurate Separation Dates and Using a Retirement Checklist Understanding and reporting accurate separation dates for your retiring employees is crucial. To separate from service means a member has terminated all employment with their employer (WAC 415-02-115). The separation date is the last day the employee worked…

Date: June 10, 2024Notice 24-014Applies to: School Districts, Charter Schools, Tribal Schools, Educational Service DistrictsSubject: DRS Notice 24-014, Separation Dates for DRS and SEBB As an employer, it’s important to know how the separation date reported to DRS affects your employees’ health insurance options in retirement. The timing of their resignation, and how and when…

DRS Notice 24-013Date: June 07, 2024To: DCP Autoenroll EmployersSubject: DRS Notice 24-013, Process for members who opt out of DCP auto enrollment. Reminder – do not refund DCP contributions to an employee who desires to opt out of DCP after being auto enrolled. If an employee chooses to opt out of participation in DCP and…

DRS Notice 24-012Date: May 31, 2024Applies to: LEOFF Employers Who Employ Law Enforcement OfficersSubject: DRS Notice 24-012, LEOFF Membership Expanded to Include Less Than Full-Time Law Enforcement Officers as of July 1, 2024 Beginning July 1, 2024, less than full-time, fully commissioned, fully compensated law enforcement officers are included in Law Enforcement Officers’ and Fire…

Date:   May 21, 2024Applies to: All EmployersSubject: DRS Notice 24-011, Contribution Rate Changes for PERS and PSERS Pension contribution rates The contribution rates presented in the charts below are effective July 1, 2024. Contribution rate changes for PERS and PSERS based on ESSB 5294 – Concerning actuarial funding of state retirement systems are listed below. On or before…

DRS Notice 24-010Applies to: All PERS EmployersSubject: DRS Notice 24-010, PSERS Reporting is Ready for Qualified Public Safety Telecommunicators The employer reporting system in ERA is ready to support adding PERS-qualified public safety telecommunicators into Public Safety Employees’ Retirement System (PSERS). Your PERS Plan 2 or 3 employees who are existing public safety telecommunicators and…

DRS Notice 24-009Date: May 16, 2024Applies to: All DCP EmployersSubject: DRS Notice 24-009, DCP Deferral System Changes Are Complete DRS has updated the system that handles the timing of Deferred Compensation Program deferrals. Deferrals for new voluntary enrollments and deferral changes for established participants will take place as soon as administratively possible instead of the…

The Legislature passed a bill in 2023 that amends RCW 42.56.250 of the Public Records Act to create a new public records exemption regarding information about certain employees: Although this protection does not apply to requests from news media entities, it is still an important step in safeguarding information about these employees. DRS frequently receives very broad public records…