9.2 Enrolling an Employee in a Retirement Plan

Purpose:  Use this document as a reference for enrolling benefit eligible staff member in a retirement plan in ctcLink.

Audience:  Benefits Administrators.

You must have at least one of these local college managed security roles:

  • ZC Benefits Enrollments
  • ZD Benefits Enrollment Inquiry

If you need assistance with the above security roles, please contact your local college supervisor or IT Admin to request role access.

Enrolling an Employee in a Retirement Plan

Navigation:  NavBar > Navigator > Benefits > Enroll in Benefits > Retirement Plans

  1. The Retirement Plans search page displays.
  2. You must know the Empl ID or name of the employee you want to enroll in the benefit. Enter their ID in the Empl ID field.
  3. Select the Search button.  
Retirement Plans search page
  1. The Retirement Plans page displays.
  2. Confirm the employee is enrolled in either SB1 (primary benefits) or SB2 (secondary benefits) Benefit Program. (If the employee's benefit program is set to SB0 (403b/457 retire/tax dfer cont), you will not be able to enroll this employee in benefits inclusive of retirement plan setup).
  3. Select the lookup (magnifying glass) next to Plan Type at the top of the page and choose the desired option:
    • 7X - SBRP Retirement Plan TIAA-CREF
    • 7Y - Teacher's Retirement System WA
    • 7Z - Public Employees Retirement WA
  4. Enter the desired date for Deduction Begin Date (typically this will be for the first of the coverage month, but can vary according to college and payroll needs).
  5. Coverage Election should be Elect.
  6. Election Date for employee's retirement plan setup is synonymous with Benefit Eligibility Date.  Because this date will default to the system's effective date, make sure that this date is updated to reflect the correct benefit eligibility/election date.
    • While an Election Date can be earlier than a Deduction Begin Date, it must never be later on an Elect action or else there will be data issues.
    • When moving employee, for example, from PERS2 to PERS3 plan, the Election Date (Benefit Eligibility Date) will not change.
    • Retirement is the only enrollment screen in which Election Date must be changed purposefully. (Refer to Dates on Retirement Plan Page QRG).
  7. Use the lookup to choose the desired Benefit Plan (selections will be locked to only ones valid to the Plan Type chosen).
  8. Select the Save button.

Making PERS/TRS Retirement Plan Selection Changes (ex.  moving from PERS 2 to PERS 3 plan)

Navigation:  NavBar > Navigator > Benefits > Enroll in Benefits > Retirement Plans

  1. The Retirement Plans search page displays.
  2. You must know the Empl ID or name of the employee you want to enroll in the benefit. Enter their ID in the Empl ID field.
  3. Select the Search button.  
Retirement Plans search page
  1. The Retirement Plans page displays.
  1. Select the plus sign (+) in the lower portion of Retirement Plans window to add a new row.
Retirement Plan page
  1. New data row populates - see image below.
Retirement Plan page
  1. Update Election Date (benefit eligibility)  to reflect the date populated on original data row.  (Moving employee for example from PERS2 to PERS3 plan, the Election Date (Benefit Eligibility Date) will not change.)
  2. Populate correct Deduction Begin Date.
  3. Select Benefit Plan.
  4. Select the Save button.
  5. End of procedure.

For information on retirement plan options for non-retired employees working in positions eligible for participation in a Higher Education Retirement Plan (HERP) or for a DRS-administered plan, please review the Reporting in Higher Education section by accessing the following link:  https://www.drs.wa.gov/employer/ch5/#reporting-in-higher-education

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