PERS Plan 3

Member contribution rate options

Option A 5% all ages

Option B 5% up to age 35 6% ages 35 through 44 7.5% ages 45 and older

Option C 6% up to age 35 7.5% ages 35 through 44 8.5% ages 45 and older

Option D 7% all ages

Option E 10% all ages

Option F 15% all ages

If you don’t choose a contribution rate, your withholding will default to Option A. Once your rate is set, you can change it only when you change Plan 3-covered employers. Changing means working for a different employer, not another division or department within your current workplace. More about contributions.

Voya Financial is the DRS record keeper for DCP, Plan 3 and JRA customer investment accounts. They can assist you with transactional needs and account information.

Call Voya: 888-327-5596 (TTY users dial 711)

Fax: 844-449-2551

Chat live with customer service when you select the chat icon from the Voya login page (you can also chat once you are logged into your investment account).

Mailing address:
Voya Financial
Attn: Washington State DRS
PO Box 389
Hartford, CT 06141

What does the record keeper do?
The DRS record keeper maintains the records for Plan 3, DCP and JRA customer investment accounts and assists customers with transactions related to these accounts.

If you retire before age 65, it’s considered an early retirement. If you have at least 10 years of service credit and are 55 or older, you can choose to retire early, but your benefit will be reduced. There is less of a reduction (in some cases no reduction) if you have 30 or more years of service credit.

If you have 30 or more years of service and you are age 62, you can retire with a full benefit under the 2008 ERF.

How does retiring early affect my monthly benefit?

When you retire early, your monthly benefit amount is reduced to reflect that you will be receiving your pension payments for a longer period of time. The amount of the impact depends on the amount of service credit you have, the date you retire and your age. (See “Early retirement benefit formulas” below.)

If you retire early with 10 – 30 years of service credit, your monthly benefit is reduced by a factor that is based on your average life expectancy. Early retirement factors are subject to change based on State Actuary figures. The reduction is greater than if you retire with at least 30 service credit years.

Early retirement factors

Actuarial early retirement factors, for those with less than 30 years of service, vary by system and plan and are updated at least every six years. See current early retirement factors for Plan 2 members with at least 20 years or Plan 3 members with at least 10 years of service.

• Plan 2: Need at least 20 years of service credit to qualify
• Plan 3: Need at least 10 years of service credit to qualify

Early retirement factors for less than 30 years of service

Early retirement factors for 30 or more years of service

If I retire early, what reductions will apply?

The amount of the reduction to your monthly benefit depends on how much younger than age 65 you are when you retire and the amount of service credit you have. This reduction reflects that you will be receiving your defined benefit for a longer period of time than if you had retired at age 65. Consider how the ERFs are applied in the early-retirement examples shown below.

For more information on early retirement, read Washington Administrative Code 415-02-320.

Returning to work could affect your retirement income. See working after retirement.

Early retirement examples

How much difference can early retirement make? That depends on your circumstances, including your wages and age at retirement. Consider the examples below. The administrative factors used in these examples are for illustrative purposes only.

If you retire before age 65, it’s considered an early retirement. If you have at least 10 years of service credit and are 55 or older, you can choose to retire early, but your benefit will be reduced. There is less of a reduction if you have 30 or more years of service credit.

If you were hired on or after May 1, 2013 and retire early (age 55-64) with 30 years of service credit, your benefit will be reduced by 5% for each year (prorated monthly) before you turn age 65.

How does retiring early affect my monthly benefit?

When you retire early, your monthly benefit amount is reduced to reflect that you will be receiving your pension payments for a longer period of time. The amount of the impact depends on the amount of service credit you have, the date you retire and your age. (See “Early retirement benefit formulas” below.)

If you retire early with 10 – 30 years of service credit, your monthly benefit is reduced by a factor that is based on your average life expectancy. Early retirement factors are subject to change based on State Actuary figures. The reduction is greater than if you retire with at least 30 service credit years.

Early retirement factors

Actuarial early retirement factors, for those with less than 30 years of service, vary by system and plan and are updated at least every six years. See current early retirement factors for Plan 2 members with at least 20 years or Plan 3 members with at least 10 years of service.

• Plan 2: Need at least 20 years of service credit to qualify
• Plan 3: Need at least 10 years of service credit to qualify

Early retirement factors for less than 30 years of service

Early retirement factors for 30 or more years of service

If I retire early, what reductions will apply?

The amount of the reduction to your monthly benefit depends on how much younger than age 65 you are when you retire and the amount of service credit you have. This reduction reflects that you will be receiving your defined benefit for a longer period of time than if you had retired at age 65. Consider how the ERFs are applied in the early-retirement examples shown below.

For more information on early retirement, read Washington Administrative Code 415-02-320.

Returning to work could affect your retirement income. See working after retirement.

Early retirement examples

How much difference can early retirement make? That depends on your circumstances, including your wages and age at retirement. Consider the examples below. The administrative factors used in these examples are for illustrative purposes only.

When you are within 12 months of retiring, you can start the official retirement process with DRS. First, you request an official benefit estimate. Once you receive the estimate, you complete and submit your application to retire. See this steps to retire with a pension video.

1. Request an official benefit estimate from DRS 3 to 12 months prior to your retirement date. Make this request through your online account or by contacting us. In most cases, we will provide your estimate 5 to 8 weeks before your retirement date. If you haven’t received your requested estimate within 5 weeks of your retirement date, contact us.

Estimates are prioritized by retirement date, which allows DRS to use the most recent information available for you and gives you ample time to submit your retirement application. An official benefit estimate is not the same as the benefit estimator tool available to all customers. To assist your retirement planning any time before or after requesting your official benefit, you can use the benefit estimator tool through your online account.

2. Apply for retirement through your online account. After receiving your official benefit estimate, we recommend completing the application at least 3 to 5 weeks before the date you intend to retire. If you can’t make this timeline, contact us as soon as possible so we can help keep your retirement on track. Members of more than one system will need to complete a paper application.

More retirement information.

Estimate your retirement pension income

You can use the benefit estimator tool in your online account to help plan for retirement at any point—while you are still working, and even after you submit an official request to retire. Log into your online account and select the benefit estimator tool to get started.

At any point after you separate from employment, you can begin withdrawing your Plan 3 investment contributions.

To complete your withdrawal online, log into your online account and select your Plan 3 investment account. Under the “More resources” menu, select Request online withdrawal.

Your Plan 3 investment account offers several options for withdrawals. Receive one-time or regular payments in an amount and frequency you choose. Purchase an annuity such as the Plan 3 TAP annuity. Roll your Plan 3 contributions into another eligible employer plan. You can also leave your Plan 3 savings invested for as long as you want even if you separate from Plan 3-covered employment.

You can also contact the DRS record keeper, Voya financial at 888- 327-5596 for assistance with your investment transaction. Or log into your Plan 3 investment account to chat live with a customer service associate. They will help you select the right transaction for your needs.

The amount of time it takes to receive your investment withdrawal depends on where your contributions are invested. See the next section for more information.

As a Plan 3 member, you can withdraw your contributions and investment earnings from your investment account at any time after you leave your plan-covered employment. However, if you do, you could reduce an important source of your retirement income.

You made your Plan 3 contributions before the income was taxed. There are tax implications to withdrawing your contributions, so you might want to contact the IRS or a tax advisor before making a decision.

The IRS requires that you begin taking payment of your monthly benefit by the time you are 73, unless you are still employed.

Be sure to keep us up to date on any changes to your name, address or beneficiary. It’s important that you keep your beneficiary designation current. A divorce, marriage or other circumstance might invalidate it.

For more information about your options when separating, see this short career transitions video.

Service credit is cumulative

The service credit you earn toward vesting is cumulative. This means if you separate but later return to public service, you can continue to earn service credit toward your vested status even if you didn’t yet qualify when you separated. For Plan 1 and Plan 2 members, withdrawing your contributions when you separate will set your service credit years to 0.

Plan 3 pension increases

If you have at least 20 years of service credit when you leave employment and do not start to receive your pension, it will increase by approximately 3% for each year you delay receiving it up to age 65 (this is called indexing and is exclusively available to Plan 3).

The investment portion (defined contribution) you pay into has investment shares with valuation time periods that vary by the investment program you selected. If you’ve already left service and your employer has electronically uploaded your separation date, the following timelines will apply. It could take an additional 30 days beyond the timeframes given below if your employer hasn’t reported your separation to DRS. Plan 3 members have two investment programs to choose from and you can transfer your contributions from one fund to the other. 

Most WSIB Investment Program TAP Fund withdrawals take 6-8 weeks 

If your funds were invested in the WSIB TAP fund, you should expect to receive them 6-8 weeks after your request. Your request for payment and separation date from your employer must be received by the third to last business day of the month to meet the cutoff for the monthly pricing the following month, with payment being made at the start of the month after that.

Why is the WSIB TAP fund calculated monthly?

The fund contains slower moving assets, such as real estate. These assets increase the total diversity of the fund, but it takes more time to assess the value.

Under certain emergency conditions, you can expedite the timing of this withdrawal. Contact the record keeper to find out more 888-327-5596.

If you’ve already left service and your employer has provided your separation date, the following timeline will apply. It could take an additional 30 days beyond the timeframes given below if your employer hasn’t reported your separation to DRS.

Most Plan 3 investment withdrawals take 1 to 31 business days  For lump-sum payments, investment shares are redeemed daily. If your documents are accepted in good order by 1 pm Pacific Time, your payment is issued the next business day. For scheduled payments, investment shares are redeemed between the first and 27th of every month, and payments are issued on the first or 15th of each month.

You will pay federal income tax for withdrawals from both your Plan 3 pension and investment accounts. The withdrawal request you complete will include tax information specific to your withdrawal type. Here is some general information about withdrawals.

Investment withdrawals (your contributions)
If you choose a direct rollover, except for a Roth IRA, you are not taxed until you later take payment out of the traditional IRA or the eligible employer plan. Taxes will continue to be deferred.

The IRS requires a 20% tax withholding on any lump-sum withdrawal or if your installment payment plan is expected to last less than 10 years. This means that if you decide to withdraw $10,000 all at once, you will be sent a check for $8,000. The remaining $2,000 will be sent to the IRS. If your installment payments will last longer, you might decide what you would like withheld by completing a form IRS W-4P.

If you receive a payment before you reach age 59½, and you do not roll over your defined contribution funds, you might have to pay an additional tax equal to 10% of the taxable portion of the payment when you file your taxes. Visit the IRS website for more information. If you complete your investment account withdrawal online, you’ll also receive a real-time estimate of your tax withholding. For tax advice, you should consult an accountant, qualified financial advisor, or the Internal Revenue Service.

IRS tax exclusion timing
If contributions to your pension plan were previously taxed, the IRS requires a tax exclusion to the payment you take first: your pension or a withdrawal from your investment contributions. This is sometimes called basis recovery. It prevents you from being taxed again on those contributions. If the exclusion occurs on your pension payment, you will see the amount on your 1099-R in box 5a. It will end once you receive an exclusion equal to the taxed contribution amount. The IRS determines the calculation used for this process.

Pension benefit (employer contributions)
Your monthly pension payments will have standard income tax deducted. We do not deduct any individual state tax, no matter where you live.

For more information about withdrawing from your Plan 3 investment account, contact the DRS record keeper.

You are retired from DRS when you separate from employment and begin collecting your pension. If you leave public employment, but you are not yet collecting a pension, we consider you separated, but not retired. These instructions assume you are separating and will be collecting your pension (retiring).

Francis is a Plan 3 member who is 64 years old, with 20 service years and an average monthly salary of $5,000.

Their Plan 3 benefit calculation is: 1% x 20 years x $5,000. This would provide Francis with $1,000 per month.

In addition to a monthly pension, Francis also has an investment account to draw from in retirement.

Francis also has the option to stop working prior to age 65 but choose not to receive a pension benefit until their first eligible unreduced date of age 65. During that time, their pension will grow. Here are two scenarios of how that could look:

Scenario 1: Stop working at age 64
Start collecting a pension at age 65
The pension benefit increases about 3% in one year (.25 x 12 months = 3)
The pension is $1,030/month

Scenario 2: Stop working at age 65
Start collecting a pension at age 65
The pension benefit calculations is: 1% x 21 years of service x $5,000
The pension is $1,050/month

When can I purchase? 

When you are retiring.

Are there limits to the annuity amount I can purchase?

 Yes, the minimum purchase amount is $5,000. There are no maximum limits.

How much does it cost? 

Log in to your account and choose “Purchasing Annuity.” Here you can find the monthly increase to your pension for any purchase amount.

What funds can I use to purchase an annuity? 

Your payment must come from an eligible governmental plan, like your pretax DCP savings. Members cannot use PERS/SERS/TRS Plan 3 contributions to pay for this annuity.

When does my annuity benefit begin? 

Your retirement date or the day after your bill for the annuity is paid in full, whichever comes later.

How often do I receive my annuity benefit? 

Monthly.

Can I designate a survivor? 

Yes. Your survivor must be the same survivor and survivor option you chose for your retirement benefit.

Will I receive a Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA)? 

Yes. You will receive a COLA up to 3% annually. If you’re a Plan 1 member, a COLA is optional at retirement and your choice will also apply to this annuity purchase.

How do I purchase this annuity? 

Request this annuity when you retire online. You can also purchase it when completing a paper retirement application.

Can I cancel the annuity if I change my mind? 

In most cases, no. Annuities are fixed income sources. Once you purchase the annuity, you will not have access to the funds you used to make the purchase.

There are two exceptions:
If you have not completed the annuity purchase, you can still change or cancel the annuity.
Once you make the purchase, you’ll have 15 days to cancel the transaction. You’ll receive a mailed contract that includes your rescission, or cancel by date.

Will my annuity purchase be refunded if I die? 

If you (and your survivor if you selected a survivor option) die before the amount of your annuity purchase has been paid back to you, the difference will be refunded to your beneficiary.

What if I return to work? 

Your annuity continues.

When can I purchase? 

When you are retiring.

Are there limits to the amount of service credit I can purchase? 

Minimum: One month; Maximum: 60 months.

How much does it cost? 

Log in to your account and choose “Purchasing Service.” Here you can find the estimated cost and income increase per month you purchase.

What funds can I use to purchase service credit? 

You can use any funds except for Plan 3 contributions. Funds rolled over from your DCP account must be pretax.

When does my annuity benefit begin? 

After you have made payment in full.

How often do I receive the benefit? 

Monthly.

Can I designate a survivor? 

Yes. Your survivor will be the same option you chose for your retirement benefit.

Will I receive a Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA)? 

Yes. You will receive a COLA up to 3% annually. If you’re a TRS Plan 1 or PERS Plan 1 member, a COLA is an optional choice at retirement.

Can I cancel the annuity if I change my mind? 

No. Annuities are fixed income sources. Once you purchase the annuity, you will not have access to the funds you used to make the purchase. If you have not completed the annuity purchase, you can still change or cancel the annuity.

How do I purchase service credit? 

Request this annuity when you retire online. You can also purchase it when completing a paper retirement application.

Will my annuity purchase be refunded when I die? 

Yes. If you (and your survivor if you selected a survivor option) die before the amount of your purchase has been paid back to you, the difference will be refunded to your beneficiary. For TRS Plan 1, this refund does not apply if you selected the Maximum Option.

What if I return to work? 

The return to work rules for service credit are the same as your retirement benefit. If you return to work for a DRS-covered employer, your annuity will stop if you return to retirement system membership or if you exceed allowable hours as a retiree (867 per year). If you do not return to a DRS-covered employer, your annuity will continue.

When will my benefit increase be effective? 

The increase in your benefit will be effective the day after the department receives your full payment.

When can I purchase? 

When DRS receives your separation date, or any time after.

Are there limits to the annuity amount I can purchase? 

Minimum: $25,000; Maximum: Your total Plan 3 investment account balance.

How much does it cost? 

Use the TAP Annuity Estimator calculator or contact the Plan 3 record keeper.

What funds can I use to purchase the annuity? 

Contributions from your Plan 3 investment account. To purchase the annuity using funds from both your WSIB and Self-Directed investment programs, you’ll need to transfer the funds to either the WSIB program or the Self-Directed Investment Program first.

How often do I receive my annuity benefit? 

Monthly.

Can I designate a survivor? 

Yes.

Can I cancel the annuity if I change my mind? 

In most cases, no. Annuities are fixed income sources. Once you purchase the annuity, you will not have access to the funds you used to make the purchase.

There are two exceptions:

• If you have not completed the annuity purchase, you can still change or cancel the annuity.
• Once you make the purchase, you’ll have 15 days to cancel the transaction. You’ll receive a mailed letter that includes your rescission, or cancel by date.

How do I purchase an annuity? 

Complete the purchase online or call the Plan 3 record keeper at 888-327-5596 for assistance.

Will I receive a Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA)? 

Yes. Your TAP annuity will receive an automatic COLA of 3% annually. This COLA is applied on the anniversary of the annuity.

Will my annuity purchase be refunded when I die? 

If you (and your survivor if you selected a survivor option) die before the amount of your annuity purchase has been paid back to you, the difference will be refunded to your beneficiary.

What if I return to work? 

Your annuity continues.

Can I buy more than one TAP Annuity? 

No. You can buy only one TAP Annuity.

What else should I know?

You don’t need to be separated to move money into the TAP investment program, only to purchase the TAP Annuity.

You can purchase the TAP Annuity and start receiving monthly payments at any age.

You can purchase the TAP Annuity anytime you qualify to receive a distribution—between employment opportunities, at retirement or any time after retirement.

You can only purchase the TAP Annuity one time per retirement system membership (one each for PERS, SERS or TRS accounts).

The 3% Cost-of-Living increase (COLA) will be added to your payment each year on the anniversary of your annuity purchase.

How can I find out more? 

Contact the Plan 3 record keeper for assistance.

How can I get assistance with my account once I purchase the TAP annuity?

To update your withholding, beneficiary information, direct deposit or for other inquiries, TAP annuitants can contact the DRS record keeper, Voya Financial for assistance.

How long does it take? 

About two months. Your first payment could take anywhere from 45 to 90 days. The most common timeline is about two months. The timeline includes DRS receiving your request and a separation date from your employer. Your employer usually sends your separation date with your final contributions to DRS after you receive your final paycheck—that could take up to 45 days depending on your employer’s reporting process.

Why does it take this long?

The price for the WSIB TAP fund is calculated each month, after the end of the month. When you request to purchase a TAP Annuity, it can take two or more months to know the value and have the final reporting from your employer.

Why is my separation date important?

If the DRS record keeper has not received completed paperwork from the customer or the employer has not sent the separation date by the third to last business day of the month, it could add an additional month to the purchase timeline. DRS cannot distribute the funds until the employer has notified DRS of the separation of the customer, which will not take place until sometime after the customer has received their last paycheck from the employer. For TRS and SERS members who separate or retire in the summer, this means that annuity payments will not start before September and likely won’t begin until November.

What is the fastest way to purchase the TAP Annuity?

There are a few actions you can take to ensure your annuity purchase goes smoothly.

Transfer your funds into the WSIB TAP investment program prior to making your TAP Annuity purchase. Transfer your funds online or contact the record keeper to start the transfer so you don’t have to wait until you stop working.

Complete your TAP Annuity purchase request online through your Plan 3 account. Ensure that the DRS record keeper has all necessary information before the third to last business day of the month.

Check in with your payroll office to know when they will be sending your separation date to DRS. If DRS receives this information after the third to last business day of the month, it will delay the purchase cycle another month.

Why is the WSIB TAP fund calculated monthly?

The fund contains slower moving assets, such as real estate. These assets increase the total diversity of the fund, but it takes more time to assess the value.

Select the funds below to view their fact sheets. Funds for each table are listed in order of risk (lowest to highest). View the latest performance for all funds through your online account. The management fees associated with each fund are included here. These costs are in addition to the administrative fees detailed in the table lower in this section.

Retirement Strategy Funds (Fees as of July 2025)

Build and monitor funds (Fees as of July 2025)

WSIB Investment Program

Funds are classified into two investment programs: Self-Directed and WSIB. Only the WSIB TAP fund is part of the WSIB investment program. The classifications are important for Plan 3 members when it comes to withdrawing your funds. Self-Directed fund values are calculated daily, whereas the WSIB TAP fund is calculated monthly. Plan 3 customers can transfer balances between the two investment programs. See when do you get paid for more information about timelines.

Investment performance

Compare the most recent performance for your Plan 3 investments through your online account. You can also access a quarterly overview of fund performance in the table links that follow.

Administrative fees (as of July 2025)

Make investment changes through your online account. Change your fund selections anytime during or after your employment. You can also contact the record keeper for assistance. To change the investment program for future contributions, complete this form and give it to your employer. 

Trading restrictions:

To safeguard customers against the effects of excessive trading, DRS has established trading restrictions that regulate how frequently you can change investments.

If you are transferring more than $1,000 out of a fund, you are required to wait 30 calendar days before transferring money back into that same fund. The 30-day window is based on the last time you made a transfer out of the fund. The restriction will not affect your regular contribution or the ability to leave state service and withdraw your money. Transfers of $1,000 or less are not impacted by the trading restrictions.
DRS periodically reviews trade data to identify excessive trading. If existing restrictions are not sufficiently addressing excessive trade practices, DRS might take additional action. DRS reserves the right to establish or revise restrictions to comply with federal or state regulations, or as circumstances indicate.

In addition to the trading restrictions described above, DRS will also comply with restrictions put in place by our fund managers.

Note: Excessive trading (also referred to as “market timing”) involves transferring significant amounts of money and/or making frequent trades between investment options. This practice requires more cash on hand to honor the frequent trades and transfers. Because the excess cash is used to cover potential transfers instead of being invested, long-term returns can be lowered for other participants. Excessive trading can also increase fund management costs.

Can DRS tell me what to invest in?

No. While DRS and the Plan 3 record keeper can provide information about investments, we cannot offer investment advice. Find out more about each fund by reviewing the fact sheet linked to the fund name in the investments and fees section. These fact sheets are prepared by the fund managers and contain information about performance, asset mixes and the goals of the fund. If you aren’t sure which investment approach might be right for you, talk with your financial advisor.

How do I choose a one-step Retirement Strategy Fund?

Take your birth year and add the age you expect to retire. That gives you a target year. Then you pick the fund with the date closest to that year.
Example: If you were born in 1993 and want to retire at 65 → 1993 + 65 = 2058 → pick the 2060 fund.

Are there fees with Plan 3 investments?

Yes, but they’re pretty low. Even though investment fees are often small (fractions of a percent), they do add up over time. It’s good to know the cost differences when you compare investment options as well. Plan 3 has two types of fees:

1. Administrative Fees

These cover fund costs like recordkeeping, communications, customer service, and oversight by the Washington State Investment Board (WSIB).

• The total WSIB and recordkeeping admin cost for Plan 3 is 0.0907% per year.
• It’s built into the share price, so you won’t see it listed on your statement.
• This fee is reviewed annually and may change each July.

2. Management Fees

These are what you pay the professionals who manage the funds. Review the management fees within the fund fact sheets linked in the investments and fees section.

You can switch your investment choices at any time, and it’s smart to check the management fee before making changes.

The amount varies depending on the fund you choose.

Like admin fees, these are included in the share price and not shown on your statement.

How do I move money between the WSIB TAP and the Self-Directed funds?

You can move existing investment account funds to or from Self-Directed or WSIB. To move all or a portion of these funds, contact the DRS record keeper. The TAP Fund is valued only once a month and the transfer of funds can take up to 45-90 days to complete.

To change your future payroll contributions to or from Self-Directed or WSIB, complete this form and give it to your employer.

What is fund risk, performance and diversification?
Here’s the quick rundown:

Risk: All investments carry some risk. Generally, younger folks can handle more risk (more growth potential), while people nearing retirement often choose safer options. How much risk you take is really up to you.

Performance: Past returns aren’t a promise for future ones, but they can show how the fund tends to behave.

Diversification means spreading your money around, like not putting all your eggs in one basket. That way, if one investment drops, others might balance it out.

• If you go with a Retirement Strategy Fund (the “One-Step” option), it’s already diversified and will adjust automatically as you get closer to retirement.
• If you want more control (the “Build and Monitor” route), you can mix and match between different funds.

Can I invest in funds that aren’t listed here?

No. DRS does not offer a brokerage account option, and you must select from the lineup available. Each fund typically includes a mix of investments, such as stocks from various companies. You can review the fact sheets in the available investments section to see a summary of what’s included in each option.

All investment options for DRS plans are selected by the Washington State Investment Board (WSIB). If there are funds you would like to see, you can submit public comment to WSIB.

Where can I get more information about investing?

Investment fee comparison
Compare how investment fees can impact your account using this calculator.

Investment basics webinar
This DRS recorded webinar explores the investment options available to DCP and Plan 3 customers.

Financial Literacy and Education Commission
MyMoney.gov promotes financial literacy and education. Find out how to plan for life events with financial impacts, such as birth or adoption of a child, home ownership or retirement.

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
The SEC provides investment regulation and education.

Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI)
DFI provides regulatory oversight for our state’s financial service providers.

Washington State Investment Board (WSIB)
WSIB closely monitors the performance of all DCP investment options.

What is a required minimum distribution (RMD)?

If you are a Plan 3 customer who is separated or retired, you must withdraw a minimum amount from your retirement investment accounts every year starting when you reach age 73. This minimum distribution of funds is required by federal income tax regulations. DRS calculates and pays out the minimum amount to you each year. This is to help you avoid the 25% tax penalty the IRS can impose if the minimum is not withdrawn.

The payments are automatically distributed to you, so no actions are needed for you to meet the requirements. But you can also choose to make adjustments to the distribution, such as the frequency of payments. Here is the form you need:

If you have investment funds in both the Self-Directed and the WSIB programs, your minimum payment will be withdrawn from your WSIB investment program account first. By completing the Plan 3 RMD form yourself, you can choose to have the money withdrawn differently.

Note: The SECURE Act has raised the RMD age from 70 ½ to 73 for most retirees. Age 73 applies to any member who has separated from service and was born on or after January 1, 1951. If you were born before July 1, 1949, then you must commence your retirement benefit at the later of age 70 ½ or when you separate from service. If you were born after June 30, 1949 but before January 1, 1951, then you must commence your retirement benefit at the later of age 72 or when you separate from service.

How is the minimum payment calculated?

You can calculate your required minimum distribution by taking the previous year’s Dec. 31 investment account balance and dividing it by the IRS distribution period based on your age. If you are a member of Plan 3 and DCP, you have two investment accounts that are subject to minimum distribution requirements and you calculate these separately.

To calculate your own RMD withdrawal, use the table linked below. Find your age in the table. The distribution period is the number you divide your total investment account balance by to get the required minimum amount.

IRS distribution period for your age

See the IRS distribution period for your age.

This table applies to you if your status is:

• Unmarried
• Married with spouse who is not more than 10 years younger
• Married with spouse who is not the sole beneficiary of your account

When is it due?

DRS must issue your minimum payment by Dec. 31 to meet IRS requirements. You’ll usually receive your payment earlier in December. DRS will send you 1-2 reminder letters in the year you turn age 73 so you’ll know the RMD is coming. In the years after age 73, these payments will be automatic. You can change the frequency and amount of payment anytime by completing a Plan 3 withdrawal. Your withdrawal amount must at least meet the required annual minimum.

How do the requirements apply to a surviving spouse or beneficiary?

If the original account holder dies, the required minimum distribution is still required for beneficiaries of the account. Here’s how these requirements work:

A spousal beneficiary will be required to continue receiving RMD payments if the account owner had already met the required age. If the account owner had not reached the required age prior to death, the spousal beneficiary will be required to start their RMD payments in the year in which the account owner would have turned age 73.

For non-spousal beneficiaries, the RMD is calculated based on the beneficiary’s life expectancy in the calendar year immediately following the account owner’s date of death. DRS will process an RMD payment if the account owner had turned age 73 or older. If the account also has rollover requests, the RMD will be processed before these.

What if I’m still employed?

If you are still employed by the same DRS-covered employer, the minimum distribution requirement does not apply to you. If you separate from your Plan 3 covered employment and you are age 73 or older, the RMD will apply.

More information

To find out more, contact the DRS record keeper at 888-327-5596 or visit the RMD section of the IRS website.

This information about required minimum distributions is a summary. For a complete description of RMD rules and information, see Required Minimum Distributions on the IRS website. If a conflict exists between the information on this page and what is contained in current law, the law governs. Please talk with your financial advisor if you have questions about taxes on your investment funds. DRS team members aren’t able to give tax advice.

Death of a retired member

Please contact DRS as soon as possible. If the retiree chose a survivor benefit, we must update the account for payments to continue. If the retiree did not select a survivor option, we need to stop monthly benefits to avoid an overpayment.

When you contact us, please be ready to provide the deceased retiree’s:

• Full name
• Social Security number
• Date of death

We’ll also ask who is handling the affairs for the estate.

Report a death to DRS

Online: Report the death online.

Phone: 360-664-7081, Option 1

Email: drs.moddnd@drs.wa.gov – Please provide only the last 4 digits of the deceased’s SSN

Mailed form: Print and mail this death reporting form to DRS.

Death of an active or not yet retired member

If the deceased worked in a public service position in Washington, payment may be due to survivor(s). When you contact us, please be ready to provide the deceased member’s full name, Social Security number and date of death. Also tell us if the death may be work-related.

Death of a beneficiary or survivor

If you are an active member, you can update your beneficiary designation at any time by logging into your online account.

If your named survivor dies after you retire, you can have your pension benefit changed to the single-life option with no survivor reduction. You will need to report the death to DRS. This provision applies to all DRS plans except for LEOFF and WSPRS Plan 1, which have different survivorship options.

Death & Disability Benefits

This recorded webinar offers information about disability and death benefits.

If you become totally incapacitated and leave your job as a result, you might be eligible for a disability retirement benefit. The disability retirement was originally created for customers who wouldn’t otherwise be eligible to start receiving a retirement benefit. Even if you have not yet reached the minimum age for retirement, or you are not yet vested in your plan, you can still apply for a disability retirement.

Do you already qualify for retirement?

If you are vested in your plan and qualify to retire, there is no financial benefit to taking disability vs retirement, even for early retirement. The income you receive for either retirement uses the same calculations. Early or full retirement is also a much faster process than disability retirement.

How to apply for a disability retirement

Call DRS and request an official estimate for a disability retirement. It takes about 3-4 weeks for DRS to calculate your benefit. Then we will mail you a packet with the estimate and a three-part form. You, your employer and your doctor will need to complete all three forms in the packet.

Once DRS receives the completed application and all supporting documentation, it usually takes about four to six weeks to determine your eligibility for a disability retirement.

The full application process averages 4-5 months from the time you request the estimate, but the timing can vary. Providing all requested documentation along with a complete application can help reduce the wait time.

If the disability retirement is approved, your retirement date would be the first of the month after your separation date. DRS would issue your monthly benefit payments on the last business day of the following month and every month after.

Returning

If you leave your position, withdraw your contributions and later return to PERS work, you can restore your Plan 3 contributions at any time unless you waived your pension benefit.

A dual member, or someone who belongs to more than one retirement system, might be able to restore service credit earned in a retirement system other than PERS. Each time you become a dual member, you’ll have 24 months to restore service credit earned in a previous retirement system. It might still be possible to purchase service credit after the deadline has passed. However, the cost in that case is considerably higher.

To explore financial projections and comparisons of your estimated retirement benefits, try using the Plan Choice Calculator.

Retired? See working after retirement.

Missing or withdrawn service credit

Service credit is the time used to calculate your pension retirement income. Sometimes customers notice their service credit doesn’t match their seniority date—these times do not always match. Often, the difference is because of missing or withdrawn service credit. You may be eligible to purchase some or all of the missing credit. Here is what you need to know about the process.

How do I check my service credit?

View your complete service credit history through your online account. It is a good practice to check your service credit every few years to be sure it matches your expectations.

Contact DRS for a cost estimate

You will need to contact DRS to request a cost for restoring your credit. We are not able to provide an estimate when you call. Similar to a retirement benefit estimate, this cost must be calculated by DRS and may require information from your employer.

You’ll need this information

The following preparation can expedite your request:

Provide the dates for the missing service. Find your service credit history in your online account.

Let us know if there is a gap in your service credit or if you withdrew from your account.

• If there is a gap in your service credit, do you know why? Were there any special circumstances around your employment at the time? Some common events for missing credit include: authorized leave of absence, childbirth, substitute teaching, temporary duty disability, or injury.
• If you withdrew from your account, when did you pull out the contributions?

How do I pay?

Make direct payment with either a personal or cashier’s check. Or in many cases it’s also possible to transfer funds from another eligible retirement account to purchase service credit. However, DRS cannot accept funds in excess of the cost to make your purchase. Check with your account administrator to see if you can transfer those dollars to a 401(a) account type.

There is a deadline

You must request and purchase the missing service within the timeframe allowed for your plan. The amount of time varies by plan. Ask DRS about your options for purchase. If the deadline has passed, you may still have the option to purchase additional service credit as an annuity option when you retire. This purchase will not restore missing time, but it would be used in your retirement payment calculation.

How will your retirement income be affected if you return to work? It depends on where you work and how many hours. 

You fully separate from employment

You must separate from employment. This means you must wait at least 30 consecutive days after your effective retirement date before returning to work and not have any pre-arranged agreement to return to work before retiring. If you return to work for a DRS-covered employer in any capacity before 30 days have passed, your benefit will be reduced.

If you return to work for a DRS-covered employer before your effective retirement date, your retirement application will be cancelled and you will continue to make member contributions.

How many hours are you working?

If you’re going to work less than 867 hours in a calendar year, your benefit won’t be affected. If you return to work for an employer covered by one of the state retirement systems in a DRS eligible position, your benefit could be affected if you work more than 867 hours per year. Your employer can tell you whether your position is eligible. 

Working for a non-DRS covered employer

Unless you’ve been approved for a disability retirement, you can return to work for an employer not covered by a Washington state retirement system without affecting your monthly benefit.

Exceptions

Exceptions for nursing positions and school districts

New state laws allow some retirees to return to work up to 1,040 hours without affecting pension benefits. See the new exceptions.

See a live or recorded working after retirement webinar.

If you are a member of more than one Washington state retirement system, you are a dual member. You can combine service credit earned in all dual member systems to become eligible for retirement. However, your retirement benefit will be calculated using only the service credit earned in each system.

Example

If you retire at age 65 with three years of service credit from TRS Plan 3 and four from the Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS) Plan 3, you are a dual member. Without dual membership, your service wouldn’t be eligible for a monthly benefit from either system. With dual membership, your service credit is combined, giving you enough to retire. Your benefit from each system is calculated with service from that system alone. This is how your benefit is calculated:

1% x 3 (TRS service credit years) x Average Final Compensation (AFC) = TRS benefit

1% x 4 (PERS service credit years) x AFC = PERS benefit

TRS benefit + PERS benefit = total monthly benefit

See the multiple plans page for more information about dual membership.

See a live or recorded membership in multiple plans webinar.

Do you have U.S. military service? If you leave or reduce your DRS retirement plan-covered employment to serve in the military, you could be eligible for restoration of missing retirement service credit. The amount of service credit you have directly affects your retirement income calculation.

There is a deadline

You must complete payment for the military service credit within five years of returning to DRS-covered employment, or before you retire, whichever comes first. After this time has passed, and if the service does not qualify for no-cost service, you will no longer be eligible to replace the service credit using the military credit program. However, you can still purchase the service credit for a much higher cost as an optional bill past the statutory deadline date up to the time you retire (RCW 41.50.165). The longer you wait, the more it costs.

How much will it cost?

You can apply to recover up to five years of interruptive military service credit (sometimes up to 10 years depending on your circumstance). If your military service was during a period of war or an armed conflict during which you earned a campaign badge or medal, you might be able to recover up to five years of service credit at no cost to you.

For other interruptive military service, you can apply to receive an optional bill for the retirement contributions you would have paid on your normal salary during that time. However, you must pay your optional bill within five years after you return to work, and you must be working for the same employer you left to serve in the military. If you don’t pay the bill within five years, you might still be able to purchase the service credit, but at a much higher cost.

How do I apply?

Contact DRS about a month and a half after you return to work to ask about recovering military service credit. You will then submit information, such as a copy of your DD214 service record, to help us determine your eligibility. DRS will review your account as well as the information you provide and notify you of our findings, including an optional bill if applicable. This usually takes 2-3 weeks.

Other ways to increase your retirement

Depending on the type of funds you have available, DRS has a couple of annuity purchase options to increase your monthly pension amount.

Your retirement account can be affected by changes in your marital status. If you marry or divorce before you retire, you need to update your beneficiary, even if your beneficiary remains the same.

Marriage

If you are married when you retire, you choose from a few benefit options that can include retirement income coverage for your spouse if you die before them.

If you marry after retirement, you could be eligible to change your benefit option to add your spouse. You need to be married at least a year and request DRS add your spouse during your second year of marriage.

If you become widowed after retiring, you can have your benefit option changed to the single-life option with no survivor reduction. You will need to report the death to DRS.

See more about changing your survivor after retirement.

Contact DRS for more information.

Divorce or separation

For questions about a property division, or to start the process, contact DRS.

For further research on property orders, see WAC 415-02-500.

Federal taxes on your benefit

Most, if not all, of your benefit will be subject to federal income tax. The only exception will be any portion that was taxed before it was contributed. When you retire, we will let you know if any portion of your contributions has already been taxed.

Since most public employers deduct contributions before taxes, it’s likely your entire retirement benefit will be taxable.

At retirement, you must complete and submit an IRS W-4P form to let us know how much of your benefit should be withheld for taxes. If you don’t, DRS is required to withhold federal taxes as if you are single with no adjustments. To adjust your IRS tax withholding amount after retirement, log in to your online account or mail a new W-4P form to DRS.

For each tax year you receive a retirement benefit, we will provide you with a 1099-R form to use in preparing your tax return (see 1099-R). These forms are usually mailed at the end of January for the previous year. The information is also available through your online account.

It is your responsibility to declare the proper amount of taxable income on your income tax return.

If you opt to deduct health care from your monthly pension payments in retirement:
The IRS considers health insurance premiums paid via your monthly pension as part of your taxable income. This is because your pension contributions were not taxed (see IRS page 8). Visit the retired member page for more information about deductions in retirement.

Federal benefit limits for high income members

If you are a highly paid member or retiree, you may encounter a federal limit on your retirement benefit. There are two federal regulations that could limit benefits for highly paid members and retirees. The salary limit (which restricts the salary used to determine your benefit) and the benefit limit (which limits the annual benefit amount you can receive). In other words, federal law limits the amount of compensation you can pay retirement system contributions on, and that can be used in your benefit calculations. The IRS can adjust the amount each year.

2025 salary limit

The 2025 limit is $350,000. This means any salary you earn over this amount in 2025 will not be part of your retirement contributions or your pension calculation. See the following section for more information on how this limit applies to you.

Internal Revenue Salary Limit for Active Members

If you began public service before 1/1/96

• You don’t have a salary limit
• You pay contributions on all salary earned
• DRS does not adjust your Average Final Compensation for limit testing purposes
• Your pension calculation is not affected by salary limits
• IRC section 415(b) requires that your annual benefit must not exceed the limit. If you don’t exceed the benefit limit at the time you retire, it is still possible that your benefit may be affected at a later date.

If you began public service on or after 1/1/96

• The current year salary limit applies (see above)
• The salary limit is the same for all members and is adjusted annually by the IRS
• If you reach the salary limit in a calendar year, you stop paying contributions
• DRS notifies your employer when you approach the salary limit
• Your Annual Final Compensation is capped for limit testing purposes if it includes the years you exceeded the salary limit
• Your pension calculation is affected by salary limits

How do survivors or beneficiaries impact the limit?

Does my benefit amount change for my survivor beneficiary after I die?

No. If you chose to provide for a survivor beneficiary, and you die before your survivor does, your benefit transitions to your survivor at the rate you chose (100%, 50% or 67%). After the transition, your survivor’s benefit will also be tested.

What happens if my survivor beneficiary dies before I do?

If your survivor beneficiary dies before you do, your benefit increases as if you hadn’t chosen a survivor option. If your survivor beneficiary was your spouse or domestic partner, we will continue to use your original benefit amount in your annual testing. If your survivor beneficiary was not your spouse or domestic partner, we will use your new, higher limit amount in your annual testing.

More information about federal limits

The IRS characterizes the retirement systems as 401(a) defined benefit plans. To retain status as qualified plans, the systems must comply with federal regulations. For more information about salary limit regulations, see Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 401(a)(17). For more about benefit limit regulations, see IRC 415(b).

For more information see these IRS resources:

IRS Plan Benefit Limits

The beneficiary information you give DRS tells us the person(s) you want to receive your remaining benefit, if any, after your death. Submit or update your beneficiary information at any time before retirement using your online account. Or you can submit a paper beneficiary form.

If you don’t submit this information, any benefits due will be paid to your surviving spouse or minor child. If you don’t have a surviving spouse or minor child, we will pay your estate.

Be sure to review your beneficiary designation periodically and update it in your online retirement account if you need to make a change. If you marry, divorce or have another significant change in your life, be sure to update your beneficiary designation because these life events might invalidate your previous choices.

State-registered domestic partners have the same survivor and death benefits as married spouses. Contact the Secretary of State’s Office if you have questions about domestic partnerships.

Visit the beneficiary page for more information.

Option 1: Single Life

This option pays the highest monthly amount of the four choices, but it is for your lifetime only. No one will receive an ongoing benefit after you die. If you die before the benefit you have received equals your contributions plus interest (as of the date of your retirement), the difference will be paid in a lump sum to your designated beneficiary.

Option 2: Joint and 100% survivor

Your monthly benefit under this option is less than the Single Life Option. But after your death, your survivor will receive the same benefit you were receiving for their lifetime.

Option 3: Joint and 50% survivor

This option applies a smaller reduction to your monthly benefit than Option 2. After your death, your survivor will receive half the benefit you were receiving for their lifetime.

Option 4: Joint and 66.67% survivor

This option applies a smaller reduction to your benefit than Option 2 and a larger reduction than Option 3. After your death, your survivor will receive 66.67% (or roughly two-thirds) of the benefit you were receiving for their lifetime.

Survivor options

Get real time examples of how your survivor option could affect your retirement benefit. Log into your online account and select the Benefit Estimator tool.

Spousal agreement at retirement

If you have a spouse, legally separated spouse or registered domestic partner, your spouse must give consent as part of your retirement application if you: Choose Single Life Option 1 or name someone other than your spouse as your survivor. If spousal consent is required and you are unable to provide it, your application could be delayed. You will need to notify DRS, and an Option 3 benefit will be paid to you with your spouse designated to receive the survivor benefit. You will be able to print out a spousal consent form after you complete your retirement application online or it will be included with your retirement application.

See a live or recorded benefit options webinar.

What is a rollover?  A rollover is moving funds from one eligible retirement plan to another.  Rollovers can include a rollover out (moving funds out of an account) and a rollover in (moving money into an account).

You can roll out your pension account contributions, DCP and Plan 3 investment balances at any time once you separate from service. Pension plan contributions made by your employer are not eligible for rollovers. These dollars remain in the pension trust fund and are only available to you as part of a monthly pension retirement income.

While DRS doesn’t charge fees for rollover services, your other financial institutions could. Make sure you’re aware of any fees or differences in expenses, options and services before you move your funds. We recommend initiating your withdrawal/rollover promptly because your institution’s withdrawal timelines can take weeks or months. If DRS doesn’t receive your funds by the bill due date, your rollover will not be accepted.

Converting a cash withdrawal to a rollover

If you make a cash withdrawal, you’ll have 60 days from the date you receive payment to deposit the funds into a traditional IRA or another eligible plan that accepts rollovers. Your rollover in amount must match the rollover out amount before taxes or the difference is subject to income tax. You may choose to pay the difference out of pocket when you roll it over. This difference could be recovered when you file your annual tax return with the IRS. Consult your tax advisor or visit this IRS page to find out more.

Rolling funds out

Plan 3 is an IRC 401(a) plan with 2 parts: pension and investment. You can only roll out your investment balance. Once you separate from service, you can request a rollover through your online investment account. The DRS record keeper, Voya Financial will process the rollover. You will be mailed the check made out to your selected rollover recipient, and you will need to provide them this check. For assistance, contact Voya at 888-327-5596.

Contributions made by your employer remain in the pension fund. You can only access these funds as a monthly benefit if you qualify for a pension retirement.

Rolling funds in

Generally speaking, you cannot roll funds into your retirement benefit account. However, there are some unique circumstances which would allow you to do so. For example, you can roll funds in to purchase service credit or an annuity. Using rollover funds to make these purchases would be reported as a rollover for tax purposes. If you have service credit available to recover or purchase, contact DRS to find out more about your options.

Washington’s Deferred Compensation Program (DCP) does accept rollovers-in. More about rolling funds into DCP.

Ask your employer if you will be eligible for health insurance coverage through a program like the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) once you retire. You can also call the Health Care Authority at 800-200-1004 or visit hca.wa.gov.

If you qualify for continuing coverage after retirement, you must meet strict timelines to apply or request a deferral. If you are not entitled to PEBB coverage, you might be eligible for health insurance your employer provides. For more information, consult your employer.

If you opt to deduct health care from your monthly pension payments in retirement:
The IRS considers health insurance premiums paid via your monthly pension as part of your taxable income. This is because your pension contributions were not taxed (see IRS page 8). Visit the retired member page for more information about deductions in retirement.

Visit the health care page for more resources.

In general, you are automatically a member of PERS if you are hired into an eligible position. A PERS-eligible position is normally compensated for at least 70 hours of work per month for at least five months of each year and the employer is one of the following:

• State government (for example, agency, department, board or commission)
• Local government, including a city, town or county
• Public utility district
• Public institution of higher learning
• Housing authority
• Diking, fire, health, irrigation, park, library, port, reclamation, sewer or water district
• Airport

Enrollment in your specific PERS plan (Plan 2 or Plan 3) depends on additional conditions, including your hire date and the plan you chose at the time you first went to work for a DRS-covered employer.

Some employees might satisfy the basic membership criteria but be ineligible for other reasons. If one of the following applies to you, please contact us to determine whether you’re eligible for PERS:

• You are a member of, or have retired from, another public retirement system in Washington state
• You work for a college or university and belong to that entity’s retirement plan
• You signed a student waiver while employed by a college or university
• You work for the city of Seattle, Spokane or Tacoma, or you are an elected or appointed official of one of these cities
• You provide professional services on a fee, retainer or contract basis and the income you receive from those services is less than 50% of your gross income for work performed in that profession
• You are enrolled in a state-approved apprenticeship program, employed to earn hours for completing the program, and making contributions to a union-sponsored or Taft-Hartley retirement plan

If you are an elected or appointed official, your plan membership might be optional.

If you have ever been a member in another of Washington’s public service plans, it is important that you contact us to confirm your eligibility and discuss your retirement options.

Elected officials and governor-appointed officials are eligible for Washington state retirement benefits, but membership is not required. You’re eligible to join if you’re a former member of one of the systems below, even if you’ve withdrawn funds from your retirement account. You can also join if you have never been a member of a retirement plan administered by Washington state.

• Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS) Plan 1, 2 or 3
• Teachers’ Retirement System (TRS) Plan 1, 2 or 3
• School Employees’ Retirement System (SERS) Plan 2 or 3
• Law Enforcement Officers’ and Fire Fighters’ (LEOFF) Plan 2

If you were already a member of PERS Plan 1, 2 or 3, you will rejoin that plan. If you are already retired at the time you become an elected or governor-appointed official, you may choose to rejoin membership or stay retired. Your decision may affect your monthly benefit.

You are not required to belong to any retirement system because you serve in an elected or governor-appointed position. However, if you would like to become a member while in office, you must apply to the Department of Retirement Systems (DRS).

Your membership choice is final. Once you establish membership, you must remain a member until you separate from all eligible public employment. If you serve an additional term of office with the same employer without a break in service, you will remain a retirement system member until you end employment.

I know I want to join. How do I enroll?

To enroll or opt out of membership, complete this web form:

Or fill out and mail this application form. Provide a copy to your employer. You can enroll at any time during your elected or appointed service. Your contributions will continue until you separate from employment.

If you enter membership after your current term of office has begun, it will be retroactive to the first day of your current term of office. You will be required to pay employee contributions plus interest back to the first day of your term.

How do elected and governor-appointed officials earn service credit?

The amount of service credit you earn helps determine the size of your retirement benefit. For each month that you earn at least 90 times the state minimum wage, you will receive service credit as follows:

• 90 or more hours = one service credit month
• At least 70, but fewer than 90 hours = .5 service credit month
• Less than 70 hours = .25 service credit months

You can earn no more than one service credit month in any calendar month, even if you are employed with another DRS-covered employer. If you don’t meet the 90 times state minimum wage requirement for that month, you will not earn any service credit. A minimum of 60 service credit months is required to become vested and eligible for a monthly retirement benefit.

Washington state minimum wage is adjusted each year. As of Jan. 1, 2024, minimum wage is $16.28 per hour; 90 times the Washington state minimum wage is $1,465.20 per month.

Each year, the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) will make a cost-of-living adjustment (see the top of the page) to the minimum wage. The adjustment is based on the federal Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). The new minimum wage will be announced on Sept. 30, and take effect Jan. 1.

Your contributions and retirement benefit

• See contribution amounts.
• See retirement benefit calculation.

How service is calculated for state elected officials

• State elected officials earn one full credit for each month worked, regardless of hours worked.

Can you purchase credit for past terms?

You can purchase service credit for past elected terms, but you cannot purchase past service for governor-appointed terms.

What if you retired from a DRS plan before you were elected or appointed?

You can choose to remain retired or you can return to active membership.

• Remaining retired: You will be subject to the standard retiree return to work rules for your plan.
• Returning to membership: This will stop your ongoing benefit, but resume your contributions and service credit accumulation for a larger benefit when you reapply for retirement.

I am already a participating PERS member. What happens to my service credit?

If you are working in two eligible PERS positions, you will only be awarded one service credit in any calendar month while working in the two eligible positions. However, your pension could increase from your additional earnings as an elected official if both PERS positions are concurrently reported in your Average Final Compensation (AFC) period.

Can I receive credit for past service?

When you have established membership for your current term, you may have the option of purchasing service credit for any previous term or terms of office during which you were not a member. However, if you are a governor-appointed official, you aren’t eligible to purchase service credit for previous terms of governor-appointed service.

To receive service credit for any previous terms, you must pay the required employee and employer contributions and interest, as determined by DRS. Your employer may elect to pay the required employer contributions and interest for you. If you served multiple terms in office with different employers, or non-consecutive terms in office, you may purchase credit for each term independently. All past consecutive service with a single employer must be purchased.

Can I retire and retain my elected position?

You may retire during your term of office and continue serving in your elected position, if:

• In that position, you earn less than $34K (as of 2023) adjusted annually for inflation, and
• You abandon claims for credit for future periods of elected service

For additional assistance, contact the DRS Elected Official Team at 800-547-6657, extension 47966.

City managers or chief administrators are eligible for Washington state retirement benefits, but membership is not required. You need to join membership within 30 days of your appointment to the position.  If you join 30 days after your appointment, you will need to pay the actuarial cost for the service from the hire date to the date you apply for membership.

You’re eligible to join if you’re a former member of one of the systems below, even if you’ve withdrawn funds from your retirement account. You can also join if you have never been a member of a retirement plan administered by Washington state.

• Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS) Plan 2 or 3

If you were already a member of PERS Plan 2 or 3, you will rejoin that plan. If you are already retired when you become a city manager or chief administrator, you may choose to rejoin membership or stay retired. Your decision may affect your monthly benefit.

You are not required to belong to any retirement system because you are in a city manager or chief administrator position. However, if you would like to become a member while in office, you must apply to the Department of Retirement Systems (DRS).

Your membership choice is final. Once you establish membership, you must remain a member until you separate from all eligible public employment.

I know I want to join. How do I Enroll?
To enroll (or opt out of membership), complete this online application for city managers or chief administrators, provide a copy to your employer and mail the original to DRS for processing.  Your contributions will continue until you separate from employment.

You need to join membership within 30 days of your appointment to the position. If you join 30 days after your appointment, you will need to pay the actuarial cost for the service from the hire date to the date you apply for membership.

How do city managers and chief administrators earn service credit?
The amount of service credit you earn helps determine the size of your retirement benefit. You will receive service credit as follows:

• 90 or more hours = one service credit month
• At least 70, but fewer than 90 hours = .5 service credit month
• Less than 70 hours = .25 service credit months

You can earn no more than one service credit month in any calendar month, even if you are employed with another DRS-covered employer. A minimum of 60 service credit months is required to become vested and eligible for a monthly retirement benefit.

Your contributions and retirement benefit

• See contribution amounts.
• See retirement benefit calculation.

What if you retired from a DRS plan before you became a city manager or chief administrator?

You can choose to remain retired or you can return to active membership.

• Remaining retired: You will be subject to the standard retiree return to work rules for your plan.
• Returning to membership: This will stop your ongoing benefit but resume your contributions and service credit accumulation for a larger benefit when you reapply for retirement.

I am already a participating PERS member. What happens to my service credit?
If you are working in two eligible PERS positions, you will only be awarded one service credit in any calendar month while working in the two eligible positions. However, your pension could increase from your additional earnings in your appointed position if both PERS positions are concurrently reported in your Average Final Compensation (AFC) period. For additional assistance, contact the Official’s Team at DRS: 800-547-6657, extension 47966.

If you’re an employee of the Washington State School for the Blind, the Center for Childhood Deafness and Hearing Loss, or an institution of higher learning:

• If you begin working in September in an eligible position and earn compensation during at least nine months of the school year, you can receive 12 service credit months for the school year if you are compensated for at least 810 hours of employment. Six service credit months can be awarded if you start in September and are compensated for at least 630 hours but fewer than 810 hours during the school year.
• If you earn compensation in fewer than nine months of the school year, you will receive service credit based on the number of hours you are compensated for each month.