To join Sno-King School Retirees and our state organization Washington State School Retirees Association follow the directions at the bottom of the page. If you have any questions please contact our Membership Chair Jim Siscel at 425-778-7202 or asjs68@earthlink.net.
These two organizations represent classified and certified educational employees in the PERS, SERS, and TRS retirement systems.
The Sno-King School Retirees (SKSR) unit represents 1400 members in Edmonds, Northshore, and Shoreline school districts. SKSR and the Washington State School Retirees' Association (WSSRA), our state organization, want you to become a member of our associations. WSSRA is the largest group in the state lobbying on behalf of retired and active educational employees. There are over 17,000 members in 29 local units around Washington.
The question is why should you become a member? The answer is that we are the organization in Olympia lobbying for improvements to and projection of YOUR pension benefits. If retirees and school employees don't care about improving and protecting their retirement benefits it will not happen. For current employees if you have 10 or more years of education service you are vested in the retirement system and at some point can draw retirement pay even if you leave teaching before your official retirement age.
In order to meet the state budget shortfall the Legislature has attempted and been successful in cutting into your benefits. If we don't ask for improvements, reinstatement of benefits and protection of your benefits, your pension and mine will slowly fade away.
WSSRA's Legislative Goals:
Protect Retiree Healthcare Benefits.
The Legislature lowered the Medicare Healthcare Benefit from $183 to $150 in 2011. In 2018 and 2019 we successfully lobbied for increases back to $183 per month. Protecting the Medical Benefit at $183 per month will help keep retiree medical premiums affordable.
Make the Actuarially Recommended Pension Payment.
During many recessions, the Legislature has reduced their share of the pension payment. This destabilizes the pension funds and incurs a 7.5% annual interest penalty for the state.
Manage Covid-19 Risk in Schools by Reducing Early Retirement Penalties.
Reducing early retirement penalties for older school employees will help protect our vulnerable older teachers and classified employees from health risks.
Work to provide Plan 1 retirees with a cost-of-living adjustment.
Plan 1 is the only retirement plan without a cost-of-living adjustment.
Provide an Open Enrollment Window for PEBB Retiree Plans.
The Health Care Authority is starting new Medicare retiree plans across the state. Many retirees opted out of PEBB retiree insurance due to cost and a lack of options; this would be an appropriate time to offer a one-time open enrollment period to rejoin PEBB.
Locally, your dues do additional work awarding $9,000 in educator grants to those currently working with children. We award four $2000 initial scholarship renewable at $2000 for up to an additional three years to high school seniors in the three districts who will be majoring in the field of education.
Please join so that you will have a voice for your retirement benefits. Every member that joins adds to the total membership of the organization. A large membership is important because:
Membership = Dues = Power = Influence on the Legislature = Change
The cost to be a member is $7 a month of which $2 is returned to our unit. This amount is paid in a monthly pay-roll deduction for those currently in the field of education, or a monthly deduction from your DRS retirement check for those who are retired.
These two organizations represent classified and certified educational employees in the PERS, SERS, and TRS retirement systems.
The Sno-King School Retirees (SKSR) unit represents 1400 members in Edmonds, Northshore, and Shoreline school districts. SKSR and the Washington State School Retirees' Association (WSSRA), our state organization, want you to become a member of our associations. WSSRA is the largest group in the state lobbying on behalf of retired and active educational employees. There are over 17,000 members in 29 local units around Washington.
The question is why should you become a member? The answer is that we are the organization in Olympia lobbying for improvements to and projection of YOUR pension benefits. If retirees and school employees don't care about improving and protecting their retirement benefits it will not happen. For current employees if you have 10 or more years of education service you are vested in the retirement system and at some point can draw retirement pay even if you leave teaching before your official retirement age.
In order to meet the state budget shortfall the Legislature has attempted and been successful in cutting into your benefits. If we don't ask for improvements, reinstatement of benefits and protection of your benefits, your pension and mine will slowly fade away.
WSSRA's Legislative Goals:
Protect Retiree Healthcare Benefits.
The Legislature lowered the Medicare Healthcare Benefit from $183 to $150 in 2011. In 2018 and 2019 we successfully lobbied for increases back to $183 per month. Protecting the Medical Benefit at $183 per month will help keep retiree medical premiums affordable.
Make the Actuarially Recommended Pension Payment.
During many recessions, the Legislature has reduced their share of the pension payment. This destabilizes the pension funds and incurs a 7.5% annual interest penalty for the state.
Manage Covid-19 Risk in Schools by Reducing Early Retirement Penalties.
Reducing early retirement penalties for older school employees will help protect our vulnerable older teachers and classified employees from health risks.
Work to provide Plan 1 retirees with a cost-of-living adjustment.
Plan 1 is the only retirement plan without a cost-of-living adjustment.
Provide an Open Enrollment Window for PEBB Retiree Plans.
The Health Care Authority is starting new Medicare retiree plans across the state. Many retirees opted out of PEBB retiree insurance due to cost and a lack of options; this would be an appropriate time to offer a one-time open enrollment period to rejoin PEBB.
Locally, your dues do additional work awarding $9,000 in educator grants to those currently working with children. We award four $2000 initial scholarship renewable at $2000 for up to an additional three years to high school seniors in the three districts who will be majoring in the field of education.
Please join so that you will have a voice for your retirement benefits. Every member that joins adds to the total membership of the organization. A large membership is important because:
Membership = Dues = Power = Influence on the Legislature = Change
The cost to be a member is $7 a month of which $2 is returned to our unit. This amount is paid in a monthly pay-roll deduction for those currently in the field of education, or a monthly deduction from your DRS retirement check for those who are retired.
Payment Options:
1. Print the file below and fill out both applications. One will be sent to your district payroll office and one to WSSRA. Mail the sheet to SKSR, c/o James Siscel, 19322 73rd Place W, Lynnwood Washington 98036. We will process the form and $7 will be deducted from: a. your monthly paycheck for those currently employed with a school district; OR b. from your monthly Department of Retirement Systems retirement check. (These are the preferred methods.) Please include your SSN, required by school district payroll and DRS and your home email.
2. Print the file, fill out one application and mail it with a check for $84 payable to WSSRA to SKSR, c/o James Siscel, 19322 73rd Place W, Lynnwood Washington 98036. Jim will forward the form and check to WSSRA.
3. Go to the following link, fill out the form and pay with your credit card or debit card. You will be re-billed annually. https://wssra.org/index.php/membership/join
1. Print the file below and fill out both applications. One will be sent to your district payroll office and one to WSSRA. Mail the sheet to SKSR, c/o James Siscel, 19322 73rd Place W, Lynnwood Washington 98036. We will process the form and $7 will be deducted from: a. your monthly paycheck for those currently employed with a school district; OR b. from your monthly Department of Retirement Systems retirement check. (These are the preferred methods.) Please include your SSN, required by school district payroll and DRS and your home email.
2. Print the file, fill out one application and mail it with a check for $84 payable to WSSRA to SKSR, c/o James Siscel, 19322 73rd Place W, Lynnwood Washington 98036. Jim will forward the form and check to WSSRA.
3. Go to the following link, fill out the form and pay with your credit card or debit card. You will be re-billed annually. https://wssra.org/index.php/membership/join
| application.pdf |