Determining PSERS eligibility
Employee:
SSN:
Use the questions below to determine if an individual is employed in a PSERS-covered position. See RCW 41.37.010 (4) and (5) for more information.
- Is this employee a statewide elected or appointed official?
- Is your agency one of the following employers?
- a city;
- county;
- Washington State Department of Corrections;
- Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission;
- Washington State Gambling Commission;
- Washington State Patrol; or
- Washington State Liquor Control Board
- Is this position permanent and full time?
- Is the employee expected to work full time?
- Is the employee's primary responsibility to ensure the custody and security of incarcerated or probationary individuals?
- Is the employee in a position that requires completion of a certified criminal justice training course as part of the job and do they have the authority to arrest, conduct criminal investigations, enforce the criminal laws of the state of Washington and carry a firearm?
- Is the employee commissioned as a limited authority Washington peace officer as defined in RCW 10.93.020?
- Is the employee's primary responsibility to supervise other PSERS members?
If you answered yes to question 1, this employee may be eligible for PSERS membership. Contact DRS.
If you answered no, go to question 2.
If you answered yes, go to question 3.
If you answered no, stop. Your agency is not an eligible PSERS employer, and as a result, your employees are not eligible for PSERS membership.
A permanent position is generally a position that does not have a scheduled end date. A full-time position is one that requires a minimum 160 hours each calendar month.
If you answered yes, go to question 4.
If you answered no, stop. This employee is not eligible for PSERS.
A full-time employee means an employee who is regularly scheduled to provide at least 160 hours of compensated service for an employer each calendar month.
If you answered yes, go to question 5.
If you answered no, stop. This employee is not eligible for PSERS.
The employee's primary responsibility must be to ensure the custody and security of incarcerated or probationary individuals.
Generally, positions that qualify should be similar to law enforcement positions. The titles listed in 41.37.010 (5) (b) are examples that often have this responsibility.
If you answered yes to question 5, this employee qualifies for PSERS membership. If you answered no, go to question 6.
The employee must be required to complete a certified criminal justice training course, must be authorized to arrest, must be authorized to conduct criminal investigations, must be authorized to enforce the criminal laws of the state of Washington and must be authorized to carry a firearm as part of the job. They don't need to perform these functions or carry a gun at all times.
If you answered yes to question 6, this employee qualifies for PSERS membership. If you answered no, go to question 7.
A limited authority Washington peace officer is empowered by their employer to detect or apprehend violators of the law in some or all of the limited subject areas for which that employer is responsible.
If you answered yes to question 7, this employee qualifies for PSERS.
If you answered no, go to question 8.
Only those employees whose primary responsibility is to directly supervise PSERS members are eligible.
If you answered yes, this employee qualifies for PSERS. If you answered no, this employee is not eligible for PSERS membership.
