Retiring

These applications are only available to customers who qualify for retirement. When you are within one year of retiring, you must request an official benefit estimate from DRS before online retirement or a paper application becomes available to you. Preview the questions you’ll answer using this Example DRS Retirement Application.

Separation Date – the last day you’re paid for employment. Typically, it’s your last day in public service.

Retirement Date – the first day of the month AFTER your separation date and you’ve applied to retire.

Review the retirement requirements on your plan page:

Public Employees’ Retirement System

PERS 1 | PERS 2 | PERS 3

Teachers’ Retirement System

TRS 1 | TRS 2 | TRS 3

School Employees’ Retirement System

SERS 2 | SERS 3

Law Enforcement Officers’ and Fire Fighters’ Retirement System

LEOFF 1 | LEOFF 2

Washington State Patrol Retirement System

WSPRS 1 | WSPRS 2

Public Service Employees’ Retirement System

PSERS 2

We understand sometimes the unexpected happens and you might not be able to follow the recommended timeline to retire once you’re eligible. In this case, we can work with you to process your retirement as quicky as possible. Please contact us as soon as you can to get started. During the process, any pension payments that are missed will be paid to you retroactively.

Here are four decisions you will make when you apply to retire for your DRS pension:

1. When are you going to retire?
2. Are you going to provide a survivorship option?
3. Do you want to purchase an annuity?
4. How do you want to have your benefit taxed?

Visit your plan page for more about survivorship options.

Public Employees’ Retirement System

PERS 1 | PERS 2 | PERS 3

Teachers’ Retirement System

TRS 1 | TRS 2 | TRS 3

School Employees’ Retirement System

SERS 2 | SERS 3

Law Enforcement Officers’ and Fire Fighters’ Retirement System

LEOFF 1 | LEOFF 2

Washington State Patrol Retirement System

WSPRS 1 | WSPRS 2

Public Service Employees’ Retirement System

PSERS 2

If you are going to provide a survivorship, we’ll need a copy of a document that shows your survivor’s date of birth, like a driver’s license or passport. The soon-to-be retiree will also need to provide their bank account information. Preview an Example DRS Retirement Application.

Here are some organizations customers commonly contact when retiring.

Department of Retirement Systems
Website: www.drs.wa.gov
Phone: 360-664-7000 or 800-547-6657 (TTY dial 711)
Visit the DRS contact page for more options to reach us.

Deferred Compensation Program (DCP)
Website: www.drs.wa.gov/dcp
Phone: 888-327-5596

Plan 3 Record Keeper
Website: www.drs.wa.gov/rk
Phone: 888-327-5596

Social Security Administration (SSA)
Website: www.ssa.gov
Phone: 800-772-1213

Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
Website: www.irs.gov
Phone: 800-829-1040

Health Care Authority (PEBB or SEBB)
Website: www.hca.wa.gov
Phone: 800-200-1004 PEBB Phone: 360-725-0440 or 800-200-1004

Medicare/Medicaid
Website: www.medicare.gov
Phone: 888-633-4227

Voluntary Employees’ Beneficiary Association (VEBA)
Website: www.veba.org
Phone: 888-828-4953

Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA)
Website: www.insurance.wa.gov/shiba/
Phone: 800-562-6900

Are DRS pension payments taxed?

Yes. Your pension is subject to federal income tax. DRS withholds any required IRS federal income taxes for your distribution type. Any after-tax contributions will be paid according to IRS guidelines.

How do I change my IRS deductions?

Log into your online account or print a new W4-P form.

What tax form will I receive in retirement?

After you retire, the form you receive is a 1099-R. You can download this from your online account. You will also receive a copy in the mail.

More about taxes:

Have more questions about how your pension or DCP withdrawals are taxed? You’re not alone. IRS forms and taxes covers the most common tax questions about retirement payments, IRS forms like the 1099-R, and federal withholding.

Do I qualify for public safety officer tax savings?

If you are retiring as a public safety officer from a designated Washington state retirement system, you might be able to exclude up to $3,000 of your qualified health, accident and long-term care insurance premiums from your gross taxable income each year. See more about potential tax savings.

Maybe you’re retiring in another state. Perhaps another country. Either way, explore more information about retiring outside Washington state.

A power of attorney (POA) is a legal document that allows you to name someone called an agent to make decisions on your behalf during your lifetime. A POA is not legally valid after your death. Read more about power of attorney.

DRS does not provide healthcare and cannot directly assist with your healthcare questions. However, we have a list of popular healthcare resources that can help point you in the right direction.