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 [email protected].
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 the past 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 each year since 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.
Service Credit for Plans 2 & 3
Add an additional .5 years of service credit for TRS & SERS Plans 2/3 for every year of service after 30 years. Currently if a person works beyond 30 years he/she gets no additional retirement benefits.
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 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.
Locally, your dues do additional work awarding $15,000 in educator grants to those currently working with children. We award four $2500 initial scholarship renewable for $1000 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 working in the field of education, or a monthly deduction from your DRS retirement check for those who are retired.
!!1 Join and receive a stylus pen, keychain flashlight, and $20 Starbucks card 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 the past 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 each year since 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.
Service Credit for Plans 2 & 3
Add an additional .5 years of service credit for TRS & SERS Plans 2/3 for every year of service after 30 years. Currently if a person works beyond 30 years he/she gets no additional retirement benefits.
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 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.
Locally, your dues do additional work awarding $15,000 in educator grants to those currently working with children. We award four $2500 initial scholarship renewable for $1000 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 working in the field of education, or a monthly deduction from your DRS retirement check for those who are retired.
!!1 Join and receive a stylus pen, keychain flashlight, and $20 Starbucks card as a first year member.
Payment Options:
1. Print the application file below and mail it to SKSR, c/o James Siscel, 4632 148th St SW Unit 5, Lynnwood WA 98087. OR Call him at 425-778-7202 and he will come to your school and pick up the form and deliver your joining bonuses. 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 application file below and mail it with a check for $84 payable to WSSRA to SKSR, c/o James Siscel, 4632 148th St SW Unit 5, Lynnwood WA 98087. 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://form.jotform.com/201386302829152
1. Print the application file below and mail it to SKSR, c/o James Siscel, 4632 148th St SW Unit 5, Lynnwood WA 98087. OR Call him at 425-778-7202 and he will come to your school and pick up the form and deliver your joining bonuses. 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 application file below and mail it with a check for $84 payable to WSSRA to SKSR, c/o James Siscel, 4632 148th St SW Unit 5, Lynnwood WA 98087. 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://form.jotform.com/201386302829152
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