NOTICE: UPDATED Letter from DRS

Hello Joyce,

First let me apologize on behalf of DRS and myself for the issue where we inadvertently withheld taxes that should not have been withheld from the lump sum benefit paid to LEOFF 1 disability retirees.

DRS estimates that approximately 2300 members were affected by this error and had taxes withheld that should not have been withheld.

DRS will correct this error and I can assure you and our members that we will pay each member what they are entitled to, tax free, by January 31, 2023. No member will have any adverse tax implications as a result of our error and therefor will not need or be sent a 1099.

Our plan is to email members we have email addresses for. Members of this group for whom we do not have an email address will be contacted by telephone in the very near future.

Once again I apologize for this unfortunate error and assure you we will do everything to make sure members are paid everything they are entitled to.

LEOFF I Coalition
407 West Bay Dr NW
Olympia, WA 98502

Please print, fill out, and send this
membership form to the address above

OR

Please print, fill out, and send this form
with your membership dues to the address above

Make checks payable to: LEOFF I Coalition

For questions or comments, please call (360) 570-1035

If you have any questions at all, please call Joyce Willms, LEOFF 1 Coalition Executive Director: (360) 570-1035 or (360) 790-9129

2023 Updates on Signing In to Testify in Committee

For those interested in testifying on a bill in committee, here are ways to testify for a committee hearing remotely. I sent comments in support of Operating and Capital Budget items this way. With funding/budget bills all introduced this week, the policy bills are next.

How to register to testify?

Use the Legislature’s Committee Sign-In program! You can use a web-enabled device to go to www.app.leg.wa.gov/csi or use one of the sign-in kiosks located on the Capitol Campus.

Updates for 2023:

• More Testimony Options - You now can testify either in person or remotely. All testifiers are automatically registered for Zoom and will receive a link in case their plans change.

• Longer Registration Period – Registration is no longer limited to the day of the hearing. You may now register as soon as a bill is scheduled for public hearing until 1 hour before the meeting is scheduled to begin (you will not be able to register after this deadline has passed).

• Easier to Register – Registration locations are no longer limited to the Capitol Campus. You may now register to testify from any location, even from home.

• Easier to Submit Written Testimony – You may submit written testimony online from the time a bill is scheduled until up to 24 hours after the start of the hearing (committees are paperless and hand-outs are no longer accepted).

LEOFF Benefit Enhancements - Lump Sum Options, Increased Pension, Which One To Choose?

DRS announced benefit enhancements for all LEOFF members. Current retirees will receive a one-time lump sum. Currently employed LEOFF members have a choice and new hires will automatically receive the new enhanced pension calculation.

Wa. St. Department of Retirement System
Beneficiary Designation

This form allows members, retirees, survivors,legal-order payees and those separated from service to name or update their benefit recipients.

2023 pension payment schedule

Posted on December 29, 2022

Mark your calendar – the new schedule is here! DRS issues pension payments on the last business day of each month. Please note: the date you receive your payment will depend on your financial institution.

2023 pension payment schedule

Jan 31 Feb 28 Mar 31 Apr 28 May 31 Jun 30
Jul 31 Aug 31 Sep 29 Oct 31 Nov 30 Dec 29

If you’ve changed banks recently, you can change your direct deposit settings in your online account.

How to update your direct deposit:

Log in to your online account

In the left-hand column select My Account. This will bring up a table of your account information.

Next to Direct Deposit select View/Edit.

For security, enter the bank account number you have on file.

Enter the new routing number. Select Validate Number.

Enter the new account number and information. Select Accept.

Click here download the Beneficiary Designation Form

Have a Safe and Happy Holiday Season!

From the LEOFF1Coalition Board

Line-of-duty Disability Will Not Pay Tax

LEOFF Plan 1: Lump-sum benefit
LEOFF Plan 1 members will be eligible for a one-time lump-sum benefit equal to $100 per service credit month earned by the member. and will be payable by or before Jan. 31, 2023.

Those members who retire with a line-of-duty disability or the beneficiary will receive a one-time lump-sum benefit equal to $100 per service credit month or $20,000, whichever is greater. If you are not currently paying taxes on your monthly retirement payment, you will not pay taxes on the one-time lump sum you will receive in January,2023.

Suppose a LEOFF Plan 1 member dies after this law is the effective date before the distribution of the lump-sum benefit takes place. In that case, the distribution will be made to their designated beneficiaries.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact
Joyce Willms Executive Director LEOFF1 Coalition
Office 360 570 1035, cell 360 790 9129.
__________________________________

Scammers are calling LEOFF 1 Members and Benfuarary

Do Not Give Personal Information.

Scammers want your money, and they are calling LEOFF 1 Members and beneficiaries and impersonating the Dept. of Retirement, LEOFF 1 Organization, Law Enforcement Agency, or a Fire Dept. and trying to grab your pension and the one lump-sum benefit you will be receiving in January

To Report Sams, Please call your local Law Enforcement Agency and notify the Dept. of Retirement at 800 -547-6657 and the LEOFF1 Coalition Office Joyce Willms Executive Director at office 360-570-1035, Cell 360-790-9120.

LEOFF Plan 1 lump-sum calculate your payment.
The LEOFF 1 minimum payment of $20,000.00 for duty related disability retirees or their beneficiaries, or a payment of $100.00 for each month of service credit, whichever is greater. 
Service retirees or their beneficiaries are entitled to a payment of $100.00 for each month of service credit.
The service credit is 1 for
every month you worked
For example 1year = 12 service credits x $100.00 = $1200.00 per year
$1200.00 X the number of years you worked ______= ____________

If you have not paid your LEOFF1 Coalition membership
Please click on the form below

Click here to download the form

Here is a summary for LEOFF 1 lump-sum eligibility

• Retirees retired on or before 6/9/2022.

• Survivors receiving benefits on or before 6/9/2022.

• Designated beneficiary where death occurred on or before 6/9/2022.

If death occurs before 6/9/2022 and there is no survivor or designated beneficiary no payment is owed

If death occurs after 6/9/2022 payment will be made based on designation, if there is no designation payment will go to the estate.

Once payment is received no one is owed additional lump-sum enhancement payments.

Line-of-duty Disability Will Not Pay Tax

LEOFF Plan 1: Lump-sum benefit
LEOFF Plan 1 members will be eligible for a one-time lump-sum benefit equal to $100 per service credit month earned by the member. and will be payable by or before Jan. 31, 2023.

Those members who retire with a line-of-duty disability or the beneficiary will receive a one-time lump-sum benefit equal to $100 per service credit month or $20,000, whichever is greater. If you are not currently paying taxes on your monthly retirement payment, you will not pay taxes on the one-time lump sum you will receive in January,2023.

Suppose a LEOFF Plan 1 member dies after this law is the effective date before the distribution of the lump-sum benefit takes place. In that case, the distribution will be made to their designated beneficiaries.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact
Joyce Willms Executive Director LEOFF1 Coalition
Office 360 570 1035, cell 360 790 9129.
__________________________________

Scammers are calling LEOFF 1 Members and Benfuarary

Do Not Give Personal Information.

Scammers want your money, and they are calling LEOFF 1 Members and beneficiaries and impersonating the Dept. of Retirement, LEOFF 1 Organization, Law Enforcement Agency, or a Fire Dept. and trying to grab your pension and the one lump-sum benefit you will be receiving in January

To Report Sams, Please call your local Law Enforcement Agency and notify the Dept. of Retirement at 800 -547-6657 and the LEOFF1 Coalition Office Joyce Willms Executive Director at office 360-570-1035, Cell 360-790-9120.

LEOFF Plan 1 lump-sum calculate your payment.
The LEOFF 1 minimum payment of $20,000.00 for duty related disability retirees or their beneficiaries, or a payment of $100.00 for each month of service credit, whichever is greater. 
Service retirees or their beneficiaries are entitled to a payment of $100.00 for each month of service credit.
The service credit is 1 for
every month you worked
For example 1year = 12 service credits x $100.00 = $1200.00 per year
$1200.00 X the number of years you worked ______= ____________

If you have not paid your LEOFF1 Coalition membership
Please click on the form below

Click here to download the form

Everett police officer shot, killed in line of duty

Everett police Officer Dan Rocha, 41, died Friday after a man shot at him several times and later drove over him while fleeing, said Courtney O’Keefe, spokesperson with the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office.

Click here to read the full article on the Seattle Times' website.

Your LEOFF 1 Surplus Check is Coming
The GOVERNOR SIGNED SSB 5791 on March 24, 2022

SSB 5791: Providing a lump sum benefit to LEOFF 1 retirees a lump sum benefit of $100 per service credit month for LEOFF 1 members and their beneficiaries.

Members and beneficiaries of members who retire with a line-of-duty disability will receive the greater of a one-time lump sum benefit equal to $100 per service credit month, or $20,000.00, whichever is greater. DRS will contact affected members later this summer regarding distribution options. You will receive your LEOFF 1 surplus check by January 31, 2023.

Andy Wilson, LEOFF 1 Coalition Vice President, and Past President of the Washington State Retired Deputy Sheriff’s and Police Office’s Association made every effort to change the amount from $100.00 per service credit month to at least $300.00, since the LEOFF 1 surplus is 148 percent funded; sorry to say, we did not have the support from other LEOFF 1 organizations. After the payments are made to all the LEOFF 1 members and Beneficiaries, their LEOFF 1 retirement fund is estimated to be about 143 percent funded.

According to the IRS, a closed pension is fully funded at 125 percent, and there is still an extra 18 percent available to give each LEOFF 1 member and beneficiaries, the $300.00 per month.

Just a reminder, the LEOFF 1 Retirement does not pay for your medical benefits; your medical benefits are paid by the agency from which you retired.

There was no one organization, or there was no “Loan Ranger” to take credit for SSB 5791 passing. LEOFF 1 Members, Spouses, Beneficiaries, LEOFF 1 Coalition, Board Members, Dennis Hooper President, Andy Wilson Vice President/Lobbyist, John Zimmaro Secretary, Helen Suprenant Treasurer, Diane Rule Erickson, Jerald Birt, Joyce Willms, Executive Director, and Lobbyist, Washington State Retired Deputy Sheriffs, and Police Officers Association, Joe Dawson, President: Don McCabe, Vice President East Side, Ronnie Johnston, Vice President West Side and Washington State Association of Retired Police Officers Ken Crowder Director, and other organization working together as a team to pass SSB 5791.

Special thanks go out to Senators Mark Schoesler and Shelly Short, who sponsored the Surplus Bill SSB 5791 concerning LEOFF 1. In addition, we all appreciate the work that Senator John Lovick, Steve Conway, Christine Rolfes, and other legislators did and work behind the scenes to ensure SSB 5791 would pass. As a result, legislators both in the Senate and House Voted unanimously to Pass SSB 5791.

You, the LEOFF 1 members, and beneficiaries LEOFF 1 Coalition, Washington State Retired Deputy Sheriffs and Police Officers Association, Washington State Association of Retired Police Officers, and other organizations working together. Thank you for supporting SB 5791.

With your support, the LEOFF 1 members will receive their retirement surplus check to help many LEOFF1 members with economic hardship. This money will go a long way in supporting the Retired LEOFF 1 members and beneficiaries to stay in their homes.

RCW 41.26.240
Increases or decreases in retirement allowances to be determined by the department in accordance with consumer price index.
For purposes of this section:
(1) “Index” shall mean, for any calendar year, that year’s average Consumer Price Index—Seattle, Washington area for urban wage earners and clerical workers, all items (1957-1959=100), compiled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, United States Department of Labor;
(2) “Retirement allowance” shall mean the retirement allowance provided for in RCW 41.26.100 and 41.26.130, and the monthly allowance provided for in RCW 41.26.160.
Effective April 1 of 1971, and of each succeeding year, every retirement allowance which has been in effect for more than one year shall be adjusted to that dollar amount which exceeds its original dollar amount by the percentage difference which the department finds to exist between the index for the previous calendar year and the index for the calendar year prior to the effective retirement date of the person to whom, or on behalf of whom, such retirement allowance is being paid.
For the purposes of this section, basic allowance shall mean that portion of a total retirement allowance, and any cost of living adjustment thereon, attributable to a member (individually) and shall not include the increased amounts attributable to the existence of a child or children. In those cases where a child ceases to be qualified as an eligible child, so as to lessen the total allowance, the allowance shall, at that time, be reduced to the basic allowance plus the amount attributable for the appropriate number of eligible children. In those cases where a child qualifies as an eligible child subsequent to the retirement of a member so as to increase the total allowance payable, such increased allowance shall at the time of the next and appropriate subsequent cost of living adjustments, be considered the original dollar amount of the allowance.

The annual index for 2021 as 291.704 and for 2020 it was 278.476:
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Databases, Tables & Calculators by Subject
annual index for 2021 as 291.704 and for 2020 it was 278.476

297.704/278.476 = 1.0475, which is how the 4.75 percent has been determined.

Pierce County deputy dies after being shot by suspect during SWAT operation in Spanaway

Deputy Dominique Calata was shot during a SWAT operation on March 15. He died March 16.

Click here to read the full article on King5 News' website.

COLAs for LEOFF Plan 1 (effective April 1, 2022)

Click here to read the updated COLA information.

SSB 5791 PASSED the House

Congratulations LEOFF 1 Members, Spouses, Beneficiaries, and all the LEOFF 1 organizations. SSB 5791 PASSED in the House and Senate and now moves to the Governor’s Desk.

Governor's actions:

• The Governor reviews the bill.
• The Governor may decide to sign it
• Veto part of it
• Veto all of it

SSB 5791 LEOFF 1 Surplus
House Floor Activity Scheduled - 1:30pm

No Amendments as of 1:30pm March 3, 2022

Note: SSB 5701 is number 73 on the schedule, but the bill can be heard at any time.

Click here for the House Calendar for 3/3/2022

Watch the debate on TVW:

Update on LEOFF 1 Surplus, SSB 5791

Governor's actions: The Governor reviews the bill.
The Governor may decide to sign it, veto part of it, or veto all of it. If the Governor vetoes part or all of it, the Legislature may vote to override the veto (this rarely happens).

If the governor does not act on a bill after the allotted number of days, it is as if it was signed. From the Governor's desk, bills go to the Secretary of State who assigns a session law chapter number.

SSB 5791 House Appropriations Committee

Public Hearing on TVW:

• Don McCabe, Vice Present of the Washington State Retired Deputy Sheriffs and Police Officers Association, and a active member of the LEOFF 1 Coalition
• Joyce Willms, Executive Director of the LEOFF 1 Coalition, the only statewide organization exclusively representing Retired LEOFF 1 Members and Beneficiaries.

The LEOFF 1 Surplus belongs to LEOFF 1 Members and Beneficiaries.

House Appropriations Committee - Watch Live

Click here to watch the House Appropriations Committee Meeting live today (Feb. 22) at 3:30PM.

Medicare Coverage Outside the United States is Limited! Click here to find out more

LEOFF Plan 1 disability benefits.

Pension and Investments

Join the Leoff 1 Coalition

Protect Your Retirement Plan and Medical Benefits

The Coalition is the only state wide organization that exclusively represents retired LEOFF1 Members and Beneficiaries.

MEMBERSHIP FORMS

Click here for the PAYROLL DEDUCTION MEMBERSHIP form - PDF VERSION

Click here for the MEMBERSHIP & CONTRIBUTION form - PDF VERSION

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