Washington Code 41.32.802 – Reduction of retirement allowance upon reemployment or if covered by a plan under RCW 28B.10.400 — Reestablishment of membership

(1)(a) If a retiree enters employment with an employer sooner than one calendar month after his or her accrual date, the retiree’s monthly retirement allowance will be reduced by five and one-half percent for every seven hours worked during that month. This reduction will be applied each month until the retiree remains absent from employment with an employer for one full calendar month.

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Terms Used In Washington Code 41.32.802

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
Beneficiary: A person who is entitled to receive the benefits or proceeds of a will, trust, insurance policy, retirement plan, annuity, or other contract. ^{Source: OCC}
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
Pension: means the moneys payable per year during life from the pension reserve. See Washington Code 41.32.010
Retiree: means any person who has begun accruing a retirement allowance or other benefit provided by this chapter resulting from service rendered to an employer while a member. See Washington Code 41.32.010
Teacher: means any person qualified to teach who is engaged by a public school in an instructional, administrative, or supervisory capacity. See Washington Code 41.32.010

(b) The benefit reduction provided in (a) of this subsection will accrue for a maximum of one hundred forty hours per month. Any benefit reduction over one hundred percent will be applied to the benefit the retiree is eligible to receive in subsequent months.

(2)(a) A retiree who has satisfied the break in employment requirement of subsection (1) of this section, may work up to eight hundred sixty-seven hours per calendar year in an eligible position, as defined in RCW 41.32.010, 41.35.010, 41.37.010, or 41.40.010, or as a firefighter or law enforcement officer, as defined in RCW 41.26.030, or in a position covered by annuity and retirement income plans offered by institutions of higher education pursuant to RCW 28B.10.400, without suspension of his or her benefit.

(b) A retiree who has retired under the alternate early retirement provisions of RCW 41.32.765(3)(b) may be employed with an employer for up to 867 hours per calendar year without suspension of his or her benefit, provided that: (i) The retired teacher reenters employment more than one calendar month after his or her accrual date and after June 9, 2016; and (ii) the retired teacher is employed in a nonadministrative capacity.

(c)(i) Between March 23, 2022, and July 1, 2025, a retiree who reenters employment more than one month after his or her accrual date, and who enters service in a school district in a nonadministrative position shall continue to receive pension payments while engaged in such service, until the retiree has rendered service for more than 1,040 hours in a calendar year.

(ii) Between March 23, 2022, and July 1, 2025, a retiree that retired before January 1, 2022, and who enters service in a second-class school district, as defined in RCW 28A.300.065, as either a district superintendent or an in-school administrator shall continue to receive pension payments while engaged in such service, until the retiree has rendered service for more than 1,040 hours in a calendar year.

(iii) The legislature reserves the right to amend or repeal this subsection (2)(c) in the future and no member or beneficiary has a contractual right to be employed for more than 867 hours in a calendar year without a reduction of his or her pension.

(3) If the retiree opts to reestablish membership under RCW 41.32.044, he or she terminates his or her retirement status and immediately becomes a member. Retirement benefits shall not accrue during the period of membership and the individual shall make contributions and receive membership credit. Such a member shall have the right to again retire if eligible.

[ 2022 c 110 § 2; 2011 1st sp.s. c 47 § 12; 2004 c 242 § 61; 2001 2nd sp.s. c 10 § 8; 1997 c 254 § 8.]

NOTES:

Effective date—2022 c 110: See note following RCW 41.32.570.

Intent—Effective dates—2011 1st sp.s. c 47: See notes following RCW 28B.10.400.

Effective date—2004 c 242: See RCW 41.37.901.

Effective dates—2001 2nd sp.s. c 10: See note following RCW 41.40.037.

Intent—Construction—Application—1997 c 254: See notes following RCW 41.26.490.

PDFRCW 41.32.802

Reduction of retirement allowance upon reemployment or if covered by a plan under RCW 28B.10.400—Reestablishment of membership. (Effective January 1, 2024.)

(b)(i) Between March 23, 2022, and July 1, 2025, a retiree who reenters employment more than one month after his or her accrual date, and who enters service in a school district in a nonadministrative position shall continue to receive pension payments while engaged in such service, until the retiree has rendered service for more than 1,040 hours in a calendar year.

(iii) The legislature reserves the right to amend or repeal this subsection (2)(b) in the future and no member or beneficiary has a contractual right to be employed for more than 867 hours in a calendar year without a reduction of his or her pension.

[ 2023 c 410 § 3; 2022 c 110 § 2; 2011 1st sp.s. c 47 § 12; 2004 c 242 § 61; 2001 2nd sp.s. c 10 § 8; 1997 c 254 § 8.]