DRS Email 19-015, ERA Reporting
- Notice No.: 19-015
- Date: Sept. 16, 2019
- Applies to: HRMS Employers
- Subject: DRS Email 19-015, ERA Reporting
- State agencies transitioned to the new DRS Employer Reporting Application (ERA) during the week of Sept. 9, 2019. While your reporting in HRMS has not changed, the work previously completed in DRS’ eServices will now be done in ERA.
We have identified a few reporting reminders that can help you report the data correctly up front, which will save you time and resources in fixing errors later on.
New Plan 3 Members
When entering a brand new member who has chosen Plan 3 within the first reporting cycle you must enter 3C in the Plan Choice Code field.
Plan 3 Choice and Retro Reporting
Reporting retroactively can cause many issues. For example, if a member was reported in Plan 2 without a plan choice and you default them retroactively in Plan 3, HRMS tries to back out all of the Plan 2 earnings and re-report all earnings in Plan 3. This will result in all data for this employee to reject.
To avoid this error, report the Plan Choice (or Default) date and compensation as of the current period in Plan 3. Do not back out the Plan 2 period even in the case of a retroactive Plan 3 choice or default.
Please note that this issue only applies to retroactive Plan Choice or Defaults. It does not apply to system transfers (for example, PERS to PSERS). System transfers should always be done as of the date an employee began working in their new system, even when that date is retroactive.
Select Correct Savings Plan
Be sure you have selected the appropriate and valid savings plan. The savings plan is selected through a drop down list and remember that the plans at the top of the drop down list are for School Employees (SERS). These are not the Plan 3 savings plans for state agencies. Incorrect savings plans are inadvertently being selected in error and causing all data for the employee to reject.
Also new with ERA: each agency’s payroll unit is now responsible for reviewing and fixing their rejected DCP records as well as reviewing any default and warning messages.
DRS is currently experiencing high call volumes and longer response times. To help answer some of your questions, see ERA training information.
If you have questions regarding DCP reporting, please contact DRS DCP Accounting at 360-664-7200, option 3, or 800-547-6657, option 6, option 3, or email drs.dcpacctg@drs.wa.gov.
If you have additional questions regarding ERA, please contact DRS Employer Support Services at 360-664-7200, option 2, or 800-547-6657, option 6, option 2, or email drs.employersupport@drs.wa.gov.
