Washington Administrative Code Title 415 - Retirement Systems, Department of
Washington Administrative Code Title 415 — Department of Retirement Systems
1. Purpose and Scope
WAC Title 415 contains the rules and regulations that implement the laws governing public retirement systems administered by the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems (DRS). These rules provide guidance for the administration of retirement benefits, eligibility, contributions, disability retirement, survivor benefits, and other retirement-related matters.
The DRS administers multiple retirement plans for public employees in Washington, including:
Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS)
Teachers’ Retirement System (TRS)
School Employees’ Retirement System (SERS)
Law Enforcement Officers’ and Fire Fighters’ Retirement System (LEOFF)
Judicial Retirement System
Others as defined by state law
2. Structure of Title 415
Title 415 is organized into chapters that each address specific topics or plans related to the retirement systems. Each chapter typically corresponds to a statute or group of statutes the Department must implement.
Examples of topics addressed include:
Membership and enrollment rules
Contributions by employees and employers
Benefit calculations and payment procedures
Disability retirement rules
Survivor benefits and death benefits
Refunds of contributions
Appeals processes and hearings
Employer reporting and responsibilities
Retirement system administration details
3. Key Chapters and Their Focus
Here’s an overview of some key areas typically covered under WAC Title 415:
a) Membership and Enrollment
Rules defining who is eligible to join a particular retirement system.
Procedures for enrolling employees.
Definitions of employment types (full-time, part-time, temporary) relevant to retirement eligibility.
b) Contributions
Specifies contribution rates for employees and employers.
Details on how contributions are collected, recorded, and credited.
Rules on how contributions affect service credit.
c) Service Credit
How service time is calculated.
Rules for purchasing additional service credit (e.g., military service or prior public employment).
Impact of leaves of absence or breaks in service on retirement credit.
d) Retirement Benefits
Eligibility criteria for retirement.
Formulas for calculating monthly retirement benefits based on service and salary.
Options for retirement benefit payments (e.g., lump sum vs. monthly payments, survivor options).
e) Disability Retirement
Eligibility and application procedures for disability retirement.
Medical and administrative requirements for approval.
Benefit levels and continuing eligibility reviews.
f) Survivor Benefits
Benefits payable to spouses, children, or other beneficiaries after a member’s death.
Rules governing beneficiary designation and benefit options.
g) Refunds
Conditions under which members can withdraw their contributions if they leave public employment before retirement eligibility.
Procedures for applying for refunds.
Impact of refunds on future service credit.
h) Appeals and Hearings
Procedures for appealing decisions made by DRS.
Administrative hearing processes and timelines.
Rules for presenting evidence and representation during appeals.
i) Employer Reporting and Responsibilities
Reporting requirements for employers participating in the retirement systems.
Rules governing the submission of payroll and employee data.
Employer responsibilities related to employee enrollment and contributions.
4. Administration and Compliance
The WAC Title 415 sets out the responsibilities of the Department of Retirement Systems to administer the retirement plans fairly, consistently, and according to law. It also defines the responsibilities of employers who participate in the plans and must comply with reporting and contribution requirements.
It ensures transparency and accountability in the handling of retirement funds and provides mechanisms to protect the rights of members and beneficiaries.
5. Relationship to Statutory Law
The administrative rules in Title 415 are developed under the authority of the Revised Code of Washington (RCW), primarily chapters related to public retirement systems (such as RCW 41.40, 41.32, 41.26, etc.).
The RCW contains the core legal framework, and WAC Title 415 provides the detailed implementation rules to guide the day-to-day operations and interpretation of those laws.
6. Examples of Specific Rules
Contribution rates: The exact percentage that employees and employers must contribute to each retirement plan.
Service credit purchases: How members may buy back time for military service or nonqualified employment.
Benefit calculation methods: How final average salary and years of service are used to compute monthly retirement benefits.
Disability eligibility: Medical standards and review periods for members applying for disability retirement.
Death benefits: Procedures for notifying DRS and the payment of lump sum or ongoing benefits to survivors.
7. Appeals Process
If a member disagrees with a DRS decision (for example, eligibility or benefit amount), WAC Title 415 outlines how the member can request an internal review or formal hearing, what the timelines are, and how the hearing process is conducted.
Summary
In essence, WAC Title 415 is the comprehensive set of administrative rules that governs the operation and administration of Washington State’s public employee retirement systems, providing clarity on eligibility, benefits, contributions, appeals, and more. It ensures that both members and employers understand their rights and responsibilities under state law.
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