(1) What is the option for purchasing additional service credit? The following statutes provide an option for eligible members to purchase additional service credit that provides a guaranteed, lifetime increase to their monthly retirement benefit:

(a) RCW 41.26.199 for LEOFF Plan 1 members;

(b) RCW 41.26.432 for LEOFF Plan 2 members;

(c) RCW 41.40.034 for PERS Plan 1, 2, and 3 members;

(d) RCW 41.37.265 for PSERS Plan 2 members;

(e) RCW 41.35.183 for SERS Plan 2 and 3 members;

(f) RCW 41.32.066 for TRS Plan 1, 2, and 3 members; and

(g) RCW 43.43.233 for WSPRS Plan 1 and 2 members.

(2) Am I eligible to purchase additional service credit?

(a) You may purchase additional service credit if you are eligible to retire from one or more of the following plans and you elect a monthly benefit rather than a lump sum payment:

(i) LEOFF Plan 1 or 2 under RCW 41.26.090 or 41.26.430;

(ii) PERS Plan 1, 2, or 3 under RCW 41.40.180, 41.40.630, or 41.40.820;

(iii) PSERS Plan 2 under RCW 41.37.210;

(iv) SERS Plan 2 or 3 under RCW 41.35.420 or 41.35.680;

(v) TRS Plan 1, 2, or 3 under RCW 41.32.480, 41.32.765, or 41.32.875; or

(vi) WSPRS Plan 1 or 2 under RCW 43.43.250.

(b) If you retire as a result of a disability, you may purchase additional service credit if you meet the requirements in (a) of this section.

(3) How much additional service credit may I purchase? If you are eligible, you may purchase from one to sixty months of additional service credit in whole month increments.

(4) May I use the additional purchased service credit to qualify for normal retirement or an early retirement? No. You may not use the purchased service credit to qualify for normal retirement or to qualify for an early retirement.

(5) When must I apply to purchase additional service credit? You must submit your request to purchase additional service credit to the department at the same time you submit your application for retirement.

(6) How much will my monthly retirement benefit increase if I purchase additional service credit? The increase in your monthly retirement benefit will be calculated using the benefit formula for your system and plan, with a reduction for early retirement, if applicable.

Example 1 (PERS Plan 2): John is a member of PERS Plan 2. He applies for retirement, effective the first month after his 62nd birthday and chooses to purchase an additional sixty months (five years) of service credit. His average final compensation (AFC) is $4000 per month. For illustration purposes in this example only, we will use .7240000 as the corresponding early retirement factor (ERF) for retiring three years early (actuarial factors change periodically). As a result, John's monthly benefit will increase by $289.60 per month, calculated as follows:

Example 2 (TRS Plan 3): Jane is a member of TRS Plan 3. She applies for retirement, effective the first month after her 62nd birthday and chooses to purchase an additional sixty months (five years) of service credit. Her AFC is $4000 per month. For illustration purposes in this example only, we will use .7240000 as the corresponding ERF for retiring three years early (actuarial factors change periodically). As a result, Jane's monthly retirement benefit will increase by $144.80 per month, calculated as follows:

Example 3 (LEOFF Plan 2): Jim is a member of LEOFF Plan 2. He applies for retirement, effective the first month after his 53rd birthday and chooses to purchase an additional sixty months (five years) of service credit. His final average salary (FAS) is $4000 per month. No ERF is needed for this calculation as Jim has already reached normal retirement age for LEOFF Plan 2. Jim's monthly retirement benefit will increase by $400 per month, calculated as follows:

(7) How is the cost of the additional purchased service credit calculated? The cost to purchase additional service credit is calculated by dividing the amount of the increase in subsection (6) of this section by the age-based annuity factor in effect at the time of retirement. (See WAC 415-02-340 for more information.)

Example. In subsection (6) of this section, Example 1, it was determined that John's retirement benefit would increase by $289.60 per month. For illustration purposes in this example only, we will use .0065016 as the annuity factor for John's retirement date (actuarial factors change periodically). As a result, John's cost to purchase the five years of additional service credit would be $44,542.88, calculated as follows:

(8) How and when do I pay for the additional service credit? The department will generate a bill to you for the cost of the additional service credit.

(a) Payment may be made with an eligible rollover, a direct rollover or a trustee-to-trustee transfer, if allowed by the transferring plan. Payment may also be made with after-tax dollars, such as money from a personal savings account. However, IRS regulations limit the amount of after-tax dollars you may use to purchase additional service credit.

(b) Payment must be made in full within ninety days after the bill issue date.

(9) When will my benefit increase be effective? The increase in your benefit will be effective the day after the department receives your full payment.

Example 1: If your full payment is received on August 31st, your benefit increase will be effective for the entire month of September and every month thereafter.

Example 2: If your full payment is received August 13th, your August benefit payment will be prorated to provide an increase for the days from August 14th through August 31st. Your September benefit and future monthly payments will reflect the entire monthly increase from purchasing the additional service credit.

(10) If I choose a benefit option with a survivor feature, will my survivor's monthly benefit reflect the additional purchased service credit? Yes. Depending upon the rules for your retirement system and plan and the benefit option you choose at retirement, your survivor's monthly benefit will be a percentage of the gross monthly retirement benefit you were receiving at the time of your death. Since the additional service you purchased is included in the calculation of your monthly benefit, the survivor option you designate for your monthly benefit will also be applied to the benefit from the purchased service credit. You cannot choose a different survivor. If you choose a benefit option with a survivor feature and your survivor dies before you, your monthly retirement benefit will increase to the amount it would have been had you not selected a survivor option.

(11) Will I receive a cost of living adjustment (COLA) on the portion of my benefit that is based on the additional purchased service credit?

(a) For all systems and plans, except as noted in (b) of this subsection, your COLA will be based on your gross monthly retirement benefit, including the increase due to the purchased service credit.

(b) If you retire from PERS Plan 1 or TRS Plan 1 and you do not elect the optional auto COLA, you will not receive a COLA on the additional purchased service credit amount.

(12) If I purchase additional service credit and then return to work, how will my retirement benefit be affected? Your entire retirement benefit, including the amount attributable to purchased service credit, is subject to the return to work provisions of your system and plan. The following rules describe the impact on your benefit if you return to work as a retiree of the referenced systems and plans:

(13) If I retire and purchase less than sixty months of additional service credit, may I purchase more at a later time? No. You may not purchase additional months of service credit from the same plan unless you return to membership and retire again from the same system and plan. You must meet the eligibility requirements provided in subsection (2) of this section at the time you retire again. You may not purchase more than a total of sixty months of service credit regardless of how many times you retire again from the same system and plan.

(14) May I purchase service credit from more than one retirement plan?

(a) If you are a dual member under chapter 415-113 WAC, Portability of public employment benefits, and you combine service credit to retire as a dual member, you may purchase up to sixty months of additional service credit from each of your dual member plans.

(b) If you retire from more than one plan, but are not a dual member under chapter 415-113 WAC, you may purchase up to sixty months of additional service credit from each plan in which you meet the eligibility requirements in subsection (2) of this section.

(15) How are the funds I paid to purchase the additional service credit treated upon my death (and the death of my survivor, if applicable)?

(a) Plans 1 and 2. The amount paid to purchase the additional service credit is credited to your individual account as part of your accumulated contributions. Distribution of accumulated contributions after your death (and the death of your survivor, if any) is governed by the statutes and rules applicable to your plan. See:

(i) WAC 415-108-326 for PERS Plan 1 and 2;

(ii) WAC 415-112-504(9) for TRS Plan 1;

(iii) WAC 415-112-505(7) for TRS Plan 2;

(iv) WAC 415-110-610(7) for SERS Plan 2;

(v) WAC 415-106-600(7) for PSERS Plan 2;

(vi) WAC 415-103-215 for WSPRS Plan 1;

(vii) WAC 415-103-225(7) for WSPRS Plan 2;

(viii) WAC 415-104-202 for LEOFF Plan 1; or

(ix) WAC 415-104-215(7) for LEOFF Plan 2.

(b) Plan 3. If you and your survivor (if you selected a survivor option) die before the amount of your purchased service credit has been paid back to you in your monthly retirement benefit, the difference will be refunded to your designated beneficiary.