If a member who elected to transfer pursuant to RCW 41.26.545 dies or retires for disability prior to five years from their election date, the member’s benefit is calculated as follows:

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Terms Used In Washington Code 41.26.546

  • Accumulated contributions: means the employee's contributions made by a member, including any amount paid under RCW 41. See Washington Code 41.26.030
  • children: means an unmarried person who is under the age of eighteen or mentally or physically disabled as determined by the department, except a person who is disabled and in the full time care of a state institution, who is:
Washington Code 41.26.030
  • Member: means any firefighter, law enforcement officer, or other person as would apply under subsection (17) or (19) of this section whose membership is transferred to the Washington law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system on or after March 1, 1970, and every law enforcement officer and firefighter who is employed in that capacity on or after such date. See Washington Code 41.26.030
  • Obligation: An order placed, contract awarded, service received, or similar transaction during a given period that will require payments during the same or a future period.
  • Retirement system: means the "Washington law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system" provided herein. See Washington Code 41.26.030
  • Surviving spouse: means the surviving widow or widower of a member. See Washington Code 41.26.030
  • (1) All of the applicable service credit, accumulated contributions, and interest is transferred to or established in the law enforcement officers’ and firefighters’ retirement system plan 2 and used in the calculation of a benefit.
    (2) If a member’s obligation under RCW 41.26.545 has not been paid in full at the time of death or disability retirement, the member, or in the case of death the surviving spouse or eligible minor children, have the following options:
    (a) Pay the bill in full;
    (b) If a continuing monthly benefit is chosen, have the benefit actuarially reduced to reflect the amount of the unpaid obligation under RCW 41.26.545; or
    (c) Continue to make payment against the obligation under RCW 41.26.545, provided that payment in full is made no later than five years from the member’s original election date.