Washington Code 41.32.550 – Options and allowances on report that disability will be permanent

(1) Should the director determine from the report of the medical director that a member employed under an annual contract with an employer has become permanently disabled for the performance of his or her duties or at any time while a member is receiving temporary disability benefits that a member’s disability will be permanent, a member shall have the option of then receiving (a) all of the accumulated contributions in a lump sum payment and canceling his or her membership, or (b) of accepting a retirement allowance based on service or age, if eligible under RCW 41.32.480, or (c) if the member had five or more years of Washington membership service credit established with the retirement system, a retirement allowance because of disability.

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Terms Used In Washington Code 41.32.550

Actuarial equivalent: means a benefit of equal value when computed upon the basis of such mortality tables and regulations as shall be adopted by the director and regular interest. See Washington Code 41.32.010
Annuity: A periodic (usually annual) payment of a fixed sum of money for either the life of the recipient or for a fixed number of years. A series of payments under a contract from an insurance company, a trust company, or an individual. Annuity payments are made at regular intervals over a period of more than one full year.
Annuity: means the moneys payable per year during life by reason of accumulated contributions of a member. See Washington Code 41.32.010
Department: means the department of retirement systems created in chapter 41. See Washington Code 41.32.010
Director: means the director of the department. See Washington Code 41.32.010
Employer: means the state of Washington, the school district, or any agency of the state of Washington by which the member is paid. See Washington Code 41.32.010
Member: means any teacher included in the membership of the retirement system who has not been removed from membership under RCW 41. See Washington Code 41.32.010
Membership service: means service rendered subsequent to the first day of eligibility of a person to membership in the retirement system: PROVIDED, That where a member is employed by two or more employers the individual shall receive no more than one service credit month during any calendar month in which multiple service is rendered. See Washington Code 41.32.010
Pension: means the moneys payable per year during life from the pension reserve. See Washington Code 41.32.010
Public school: means any institution or activity operated by the state of Washington or any instrumentality or political subdivision thereof employing teachers, except the University of Washington and Washington State University. See Washington Code 41.32.010
Retirement system: means the Washington state teachers' retirement system. See Washington Code 41.32.010

(2) Any member applying for a retirement allowance who is eligible for benefits on the basis of service or age shall receive a retirement allowance based on the provision of law governing retirement for service or age. If the member qualifies to receive a retirement allowance because of disability he or she shall be paid the maximum annuity which shall be the actuarial equivalent of the accumulated contributions at his or her age of retirement and a pension equal to the service pension to which he or she would be entitled under RCW 41.32.497. If the member dies before he or she has received in annuity payments the present value of the accumulated contributions at the time of retirement, the unpaid balance shall be paid to the estate or to the persons, trust, or organization nominated by written designation executed and filed with the department.

(3) A member retired for disability may be required at any time to submit to reexamination. If medical findings reveal that the individual is no longer disabled for the performance of public school service, the retirement allowance granted because of disability may be terminated by action of the director or upon written request of the member. In case of termination, the individual shall be restored to full membership in the retirement system.