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 jsiscel@comcast.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 1350+ 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 30 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 and Expand 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 and expanding the Medical Benefit at $183 per month will help keep retiree medical premiums affordable.
Equalize Plan 2/3 retiree health insurance (HB 1911 & SB 5700).
Under current law, PEBB retiree insurance allows Plan 3 retirees to defer PEBB insurance if the retiree has alternative insurance. No such exceptions are made for Plan 2 retirees. If the 60-day window is missed, a Plan 2 retiree can never access PEBB insurance. That needs to be corrected.
Recapture Lost Purchasing Power in Plan 2/3 Pensions
Inflation is approaching 10%. Plan 2/3 retirees max-out at 3% increases and retain the remainder in an inflation bank for future years. Attention should be paid to whether Plan 2/3 retirees are maintaining sufficient purchasing power.
Pass Plan 1 COLA Legislation
Reinstate a permanent Cost-of-Living Adjustment for PERS 1 and TRS 1 retirees. At minimum, WSSRA is seeking COLA legislation to provide inflationary increases in July 2023 and July 2024
Pay Off the TRS 1 & PERS 1 Unfunded Liability
The State Actuary has the Washington State Legislature on a plan to pay off the Unfunded Accrued Actuarial Liability (UAAL) in TRS 1 and PERS 1. WSSRA fully supports that plan. WSSRA also supports efforts to speed up the payoff dates and insists the $800 million TRS 1 payoff scheduled for June 30, 2023.
Locally, your dues do additional work awarding $9,000 in educator grants to those currently working with children. We award four $2500 initial scholarship renewable for up to $3000 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.
Join and receive a stylus pen, keychain flashlight, and $10 rebate as a first year member.
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 1350+ 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 30 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 and Expand 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 and expanding the Medical Benefit at $183 per month will help keep retiree medical premiums affordable.
Equalize Plan 2/3 retiree health insurance (HB 1911 & SB 5700).
Under current law, PEBB retiree insurance allows Plan 3 retirees to defer PEBB insurance if the retiree has alternative insurance. No such exceptions are made for Plan 2 retirees. If the 60-day window is missed, a Plan 2 retiree can never access PEBB insurance. That needs to be corrected.
Recapture Lost Purchasing Power in Plan 2/3 Pensions
Inflation is approaching 10%. Plan 2/3 retirees max-out at 3% increases and retain the remainder in an inflation bank for future years. Attention should be paid to whether Plan 2/3 retirees are maintaining sufficient purchasing power.
Pass Plan 1 COLA Legislation
Reinstate a permanent Cost-of-Living Adjustment for PERS 1 and TRS 1 retirees. At minimum, WSSRA is seeking COLA legislation to provide inflationary increases in July 2023 and July 2024
Pay Off the TRS 1 & PERS 1 Unfunded Liability
The State Actuary has the Washington State Legislature on a plan to pay off the Unfunded Accrued Actuarial Liability (UAAL) in TRS 1 and PERS 1. WSSRA fully supports that plan. WSSRA also supports efforts to speed up the payoff dates and insists the $800 million TRS 1 payoff scheduled for June 30, 2023.
Locally, your dues do additional work awarding $9,000 in educator grants to those currently working with children. We award four $2500 initial scholarship renewable for up to $3000 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.
Join and receive a stylus pen, keychain flashlight, and $10 rebate as a first year member.
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 forms to SKSR, c/o James Siscel, 19322 73rd Place W, Lynnwood Washington 98036. OR Call him at 425-778-7202 and he will come to your school and pick up the form. 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 form 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 forms to SKSR, c/o James Siscel, 19322 73rd Place W, Lynnwood Washington 98036. OR Call him at 425-778-7202 and he will come to your school and pick up the form. 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 form 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
| membership_form.pdf |