Washington DRS Retirement Calculator: How to Use It
The calculator applies RCW 41.40.630 and DRS's published early retirement factors for PERS and TRS Plans 2 and 3. It shows the defined benefit pension only.
The inputs
Plan
PERS or TRS, Plan 2 or Plan 3. TRS uses the same formulas, ages and factors as PERS in these plans.
First hired
Before or after May 1, 2013. It only matters if you'll have 30 years: earlier hires use the 2008 ERF, later hires lose 5% a year before 65.
12 months after age 44 (Plan 3 only)
Plan 3 vests at 10 years, or at 5 years if at least 12 of those months came after you turned 44. Tick the box if your past service meets that. If your projected service runs a year or more past 44, the calculator counts it as met.
Service credit and AFC
Service credit from your DRS account. AFC is your 60 highest-paid consecutive months averaged; enter it as a yearly figure and the calculator converts it to monthly, the way DRS states the formula.
How the result is built
Monthly pension = 2% (Plan 2) or 1% (Plan 3) x service x monthly AFC, times the early retirement factor. The actuarial factor comes from DRS's monthly table: the 2026 table for retirements in 2026, the 2027 table from January 1, 2027. The 2008 ERF uses the statute's whole-age table. The 5% ERF is prorated by month.
Leave before 55 and you keep the age and service options you've earned. With 30 years and a pre-May 2013 hire date, the result shows the full pension from 62 and the 2008 ERF amount from 55. With 20 years (Plan 3: 10), it shows the full pension at 65 and the actuarial amount from 55.
DRS revises the actuarial factors at least every six years. Confirm the factor for your retirement date with DRS.
Frequently asked questions
Is 55 with 30 years unreduced?
No. Hired before May 1, 2013: 20% off at 55 under the 2008 ERF, unreduced from 62. Hired on or after May 1, 2013: 5% a year before 65.
Why is the reduction so large with fewer than 30 years?
DRS uses actuarial factors, which reflect that you'll collect for 10 more years. At 55 the 2026 factor is 0.4092, a 59% cut.
Does the calculator include my Plan 3 investment account?
No. Only the 1% pension. Check your Plan 3 account balance separately.
What COLA does the calculator assume?
The year-10 figure assumes 2.5% inflation. The real COLA follows the Seattle-area CPI and is capped at 3% a year.