How much service did you earn in your prior system? | Were you eligible to retire in the prior system before you became a member of your subsequent system? | Will retroactive retirement from your prior system cancel your membership in subsequent system? |
15 years or more | No | No (See Example 13) |
15 years or more | Yes | Yes, unless you retire from both the prior and subsequent system under RCW 41.54.030(2). (See Example 14) |
Less than 15 years | No | No (See Example 15) |
Less than 15 years | Yes | No (See Example 15) |
Example 14: | A nonmember participant in LEOFF Plan 2 who has accrued sixteen years of service in LEOFF Plan 2 became a member of PERS Plan 2 at age fifty-four. Because she became a member participant of PERS Plan 2 at age fifty-four, prior to attaining retirement eligibility under LEOFF Plan 2 (i.e., age fifty-five), she may later retire retroactively from LEOFF Plan 2, subject to LEOFF Plan 2 criteria, while continuing membership in PERS Plan 2. |
Example 15: | A nonmember participant in LEOFF Plan 2 with sixteen years of accrued service became a member of PERS Plan 2 at age fifty-five. If he attempts to retire from LEOFF Plan 2 while continuing membership in PERS Plan 2, the department will cancel his PERS Plan 2 membership and refund his PERS contributions. However, if he retires from both systems, he is entitled to retain the benefits of his PERS Plan 2 membership. |
Example 16: | Assume either of the retirees in Examples 13 and 14 above had accrued less than fifteen years of service in LEOFF Plan 2. In this case, RCW 41.04.270 would not apply to prevent the retirees from establishing PERS Plan 2 membership. Either person could retire retroactively from the LEOFF Plan 2 without canceling membership and participation in PERS Plan 2. |