December 3rd 2024
Happy Thanksgiving from LEOFFI Coalition! |
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Join the LEOFF1 Coalition Protect Your Retirement Plan and Medical BenefitsThe Coalition is the only state wide organization that exclusively represents retired LEOFF1 Members and Beneficiaries. Membership FormsClick here for the PAYROLL DEDUCTION MEMBERSHIP form - PDF VERSION Click here for the MEMBERSHIP & CONTRIBUTION form - PDF VERSION |
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NOTICE: UPDATED Letter from DRSGood afternoon Retired LEOFF 1 Coalition Members and Beneficiaries,Please read the letter below; I received from Shawn Merchant, the Washington State Department of RetirementHello Joyce, Shawn Merchant
Pronouns: he/him
Director Legislative and Community Relations
Department of Retirement Systems
6835 Capitol Boulevard
Tumwater, Washington 98501
LEOFF I Coalition Please print, fill out, and send this OR Please print, fill out, and send this form 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
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2023 Updates on Signing In to Testify in CommitteeFor 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). |
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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. Click Here to View Video |
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Beneficiary Designation |
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Have a Safe and Happy Holiday Season! From the LEOFF1Coalition Board | |
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Line-of-duty Disability Will Not Pay TaxLEOFF Plan 1: Lump-sum benefit 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 Scammers are calling LEOFF 1 Members and Benfuarary 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. |
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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. |
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COLAs for LEOFF Plan 1 (effective April 1, 2022)
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Update on LEOFF 1 Surplus, SSB 5791
Governor's actions: The Governor reviews the bill. |
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SSB 5791 House Appropriations CommitteePublic Hearing on TVW:
The LEOFF 1 Surplus belongs to LEOFF 1 Members and Beneficiaries. |
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House Appropriations Committee - Watch LiveClick here to watch the House Appropriations Committee Meeting live today (Feb. 22) at 3:30PM. |
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Medicare Coverage Outside the United States is Limited! Click here to find out more
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Pension and InvestmentsWashington state high court rules pension benefit reductions are constitutionalClick here for more details. |
The LEOFF 1 Coalition website contains some files that come in a "pdf" format which requires Adobe's Acrobat Reader in order to view and search through the documents. If you don't already have it, you can download it here. It's free from Adobe.
Legislator Information! |
Join the Leoff 1 Coalition
The Coalition is the only state wide organization that exclusively represents retired LEOFF1 Members and Beneficiaries. MEMBERSHIP FORMSClick here for the PAYROLL DEDUCTION MEMBERSHIP form - PDF VERSION Update Your InformationContact Joyce Willms at joyce@leoff1coalition.org or by calling the Coalition office at 360-570-1035. |
Keep Track with What's Happening at the Capital!Washington State Wire - Click Here! The Olympian: Politics/Government - Click Here! The Seattle Times: Olympia Politics - Click Here! The News Tribune: Politics & Government - Click Here! The Columbian: Politics - Click Here! The Spokesman: Washington Politics - Click Here! |
Swisher v. City of Moses Lake
Swisher v. City of Moses Lake Case letter from Joe Fischnaller, Atty - Click here Finding of Fact Conclusions of Law and Order - case document filed Feb. 5, 2010 - Click here Order of Motion for Summer Judgement - case document filed Oct. 9, 2009 - Click here Superior Court of Washington for Grant County, Elvis T. Swisher vs City of Moses Lake - July 7, 2008 - Click here
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State LegislatorsPlease read thisBakenhus Decision 1956 |
RETIREMENT LAWS Medical Benefits For Plan1 Members Law Enforcement Officers' and Fire Fighters' Plan 1 Hand Book Contact - 1-800-547-6657 Department of Retirement Systems Leoff1 Plan Disability Benefits Leoff1 Plan Disability Board Guidelines What To Do When Contact - 1-800-547-6657 ext.47081 Washington State Department of Retirement Systems Annual Inflation Lifetime Retirement For more government information and phone numbers, Click Here! Social Security |
Veteran’s Benefits |