Only retired members who served as Washington educators or within the Washington education system are affected by this notification. The Department of Retirement Systems has received a public records request from Morgan Foy, including a signed Declaration of Non-Commercial Purpose: Requestor information Foy requested the following information about members who receive monthly payments: Per Washington’s Public Records…
Category Archives: Member
Your retirement countdown: simple steps at 5 and 15 years out
It can be difficult to determine the steps to get ready for retirement. This simple timeline highlights key steps to help you stay on track. Some retirement plans like LEOFF and WSPRS allow for a full retirement benefit at age 53 or 55. PSERS uses age 60. Others, like PERS, TRS, and SERS, use age…
Public records request
This notification only affects retired members. The Department of Retirement Systems has received a public records request from Erin Raasch of American Transparency for the following information about members who received monthly payments in 2025: Per Washington’s Public Records Act, these records are not exempt from disclosure, so DRS must share this information with the…
DCP tax savings go a long way
Taxes are known causes of headache, nausea and anxiety. But when you save with the Deferred Compensation Program (DCP) there are actual tax benefits that can cure your taxation woes. Well, at least a few of them! Here’s how taxes affect your DCP savings: The DCP – Deferred Compensation Program webpage has more tips and…
PERS 1, TRS 1 one-time benefit increase takes effect in July
As a result of legislation approved in 2026, certain retirees in Plan 1 of the Public Employees’ Retirement System and Plan 1 of the Teachers’ Retirement System (PERS 1 and TRS 1) will receive a one-time benefit increase in July 2026. Under the law, eligible PERS 1 and TRS 1 retirees will receive a one-time,…
2026 pension-related legislation
During the 2026 session, DRS tracked bills that affected retirement, including pensions and benefits. Here are bills tracked, including summary descriptions from legislative reports: Bills marked with an asterisk (*) have passed, and bills with two asterisks (**) have been passed into law.
Spring ahead for retirement success
Spring break and Financial Literacy month are here! This is the perfect time to clean your closets and set some fresh retirement goals. If you haven’t set goals for retirement yet, start now by making some simple changes. Get that satisfying feeling a well-organized closet can give you. Here are eight things you can do…
COLA rates established for 2026
A cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) is an annual adjustment applied to your retirement income to reflect changes in the economy (inflation). Most DRS retirement plans offer a COLA, but Plan 1 members in PERS and TRS only have a COLA if they selected it during retirement. View the 2026 COLA percentages by retirement date and plan.…
Retirement checkups offer peace of mind
It’s not uncommon for people to worry about retirement. It might seem intimidating to think about no longer working, let alone how to make ends meet. Can you live comfortably in retirement? If you don’t know the answer, there’s an easy way to check. You can log in to your online account and use the…
Update to DCP catch-up options for high income earners
There’s a new IRS rule that may affect how high income earners can contribute to their Washington Deferred Compensation Program (DCP) account. Who is affected? The way you contribute to DCP may be affected if you meet all of the following requirements: *You can find your total FICA wages in Box 3 on your 2025 Form W-2.…
