Retirement - Social Security

To separate from service means a member has terminated all employment with their employer (WAC 415-02-115). The separation date is the last day the employee worked or was on leave such as vacation, administrative or any other type of leave.

A member is not eligible to retire until the first of the month following the month of separation. Example: a member takes and is paid for a vacation day on June 1 in order to receive benefits from their employer in June. The member does not work the rest of June. The member is not eligible to retire until July 1 because they were on leave in June.

If the employee has an agreement to return to work at a later date, then they have not separated and therefore, are not eligible to retire. Placing your name on a substitute teacher list is not considered an agreement to return to work, however, no offer of employment can be made until the employee has retired. A member who has not terminated employment has not separated from service and is not eligible to receive a retirement benefit.

If a member begins to receive retirement benefits without a valid separation from service, a benefit overpayment will occur and must be repaid to the department.

DRS encourages all soon-to-be retirees to apply for retirement online. If you have not yet done so, create an online account with the Department of Retirement Systems. You can complete an application online, ideally 30 to 90 days before your retirement date. Sign up for an account and request an official benefit estimate to begin the application process. A more detailed checklist of the DRS process is available at DRS: Retirement Planning Checklist (wa.gov) .