|
Classified (Civil Service) staff are eligible for and required to participate in
PERS from the first day of employment. You will be a member of Plan 1, 2 or 3,
depending on the date you originally established PERS members, and on the election
you make. If you first established PERS membership:
- before 10/1/77, you will be a member of PERS 1;
- between 10/1/77 and 3/1/02, you will be a member of PERS 2, unless you
elect to transfer to PERS 3;
- on or after March 1, 2002, you have 90 days from your hire date to choose
between PERS Plan 2 and Plan 3. You will be enrolled in PERS 2 until you make a
choice and will be defaulted into PERS 3 at the end of 90 days if you do not choose.
Choosing between PERS 2 and PERS 3 is an important decision. Once you
choose or are defaulted, you can never change the election. The Department
of Retirement Systems provides you with tools to make important decision at
the DRS PERS 2 or
3 web site.
Part-time, temporary hourly employees may also be
eligible to participate in PERS, if their position normally requires at
least 70 hours of work a month for at least 5 months in a year. The Human
Resources Office regularly monitors such positions for PERS eligibility. If
you believe your position is eligible, please contact the
Benefits Office.
Eligibility exception If you move from a PERS eligible position
(Classified Staff) to a CWURP eligible (Faculty or Exempt) position or vice
versa, contact the Benefits Office to
determine your retirement plan choices.
Below are the current rates (effective 7/1/2003). The employer rates
and the PERS 1 and 2 employee rates may change as determined by the
state. Employer contributions are not credited to your account and cannot
be withdrawn. Under PERS 1 and 2, the amount you and CWU contribute
is not a factor in computing your retirement benefit. The PERS 3 employee
contribution rates are elected by the employee at the time of hire or
transfer to PERS 3 and do affect retirement income.
- Employer 1.4% of gross salary
- Employees PERS 1 6.0% of gross salary, PERS 2 1.18% of gross salary,
PERS 3 between 5% and 15% of gross salary
Minimum retirement age varies between the three plans. Please see the
Handbook for your plan. It
is recommended that you contact the Benefits
Office approximately six months before your desired retirement date.
Monthly retirement income and income options available vary between the
plans. Please see the Benefits Estimators for your plan.
Returning to work after retirement requires a minimum of one full calendar
month break in service after retirement. There are no exceptions. Review
the rules for PERS 1 or for PERS 2 and 3 for more information about post-retirement re-employment
rules.
For additional retirement income, beyond what your PERS plan offers, CWU
employees may contribute pre-tax money to a supplemental retirement account
(not matched by CWU). See Supplemental Retirement
Accounts.
|
