PDFWAC 415-108-726

Can I earn service credit in PERS and another retirement plan at the same time?

(1)(a) Yes. You may earn service credit in PERS and any of the following First Class City Retirement Systems (FCCRS) at the same time if:
(i) You work for a PERS employer and an employer covered by a retirement system of the city of Seattle, Spokane or Tacoma (FCCRS); and
(ii) You cannot report service for the FCCRS in PERS;
(b) The combined service credit under PERS and the retirement system listed in (a) of this subsection may not exceed one month of service for a calendar month of employment.
(c) To qualify for PERS service credit, it is up to the employee to initiate the process by applying under subsection (2) of this section.
Example:
A member works part time for the City of Seattle and part time for the University of Washington (UW). She may receive partial service credit in PERS for the UW service since she cannot report the time she works for Seattle under PERS.
Note:
The combined service credit under PERS and the City of Seattle Retirement System may not exceed one month of service for a calendar month of employment. To receive PERS service credit she must apply to the department.
(2) How do I apply?
(a) To apply for membership and service credit under subsection (1) of this section you must send the department an application. The application is a statement that you want membership and/or service credit in PERS. Include:
(i) Your name;
(ii) Your SSN;
(iii) All period(s) of service that you want to receive service credit for;
(iv) All PERS and non-PERS employer(s) that you worked for during the periods of service referenced in (a)(iii) of this subsection.
(b) After the department receives your application, it will contact your employer(s) to verify how much service credit you have earned. When the department receives the necessary information, it will determine how much service credit you will receive. At that time the department will send you a bill for member contributions and interest that must be paid in order to establish the service credit.
(3) When should I submit my payment?
You should pay contributions and interest required under subsection (2)(b) of this section within twenty-four consecutive months from the last day of the calendar year for which you claim service credit. After that date, you must pay the actuarial cost of purchasing the service credit under RCW 41.40.104 and 41.50.165.
(4) What if I worked before this WAC became effective?
If you worked for a PERS employer and for one of the retirement systems listed in subsection (1) of this section, before this WAC became effective, you have until December 31, 2000, to apply in order to purchase service credit by paying member contributions plus interest. After December 31, 2000, you must pay the actuarial cost of purchasing the service credit under RCW 41.40.104 and 41.50.165.
(5) You may participate in PERS if you are concurrently employed, as described in WAC 415-113-200, in a SERS position.
(6) Defined terms used. Definitions for the following terms used in this section may be found in the sections listed.
(a) "Membership" - RCW 41.40.023.
(b) "Retirement plan" - WAC 415-108-010.
(c) "Service" - RCW 41.40.010.
(d) "Normally" - WAC 415-108-010.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 41.50.050(5) and chapter 41.40 RCW. WSR 02-18-046, § 415-108-726, filed 8/28/02, effective 9/30/02. Statutory Authority: Chapters 41.32, 41.34, 41.35, 41.50 RCW. WSR 01-01-059, § 415-108-726, filed 12/12/00, effective 1/12/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 41.50.050. WSR 99-22-043, § 415-108-726, filed 10/29/99, effective 11/29/99; WSR 95-16-053, § 415-108-726, filed 7/25/95, effective 8/25/95.]