Santa Monica College Part-time Faculty Retirement Workshop By Deborah Dahl Shanks FACCC Retirement Committee

PT Retirement Options STRS: State Teacher’s Retirement System Defined Benefit Plan AND STRS: State Teacher’s Retirement System Defined Benefit Plan AND Social Security or negotiated alternative Social Security or negotiated alternative STRS Cash Balance Or other plan

State Teachers Retirement System Cash Balance: a hybrid defined benefit plan, available to PT faculty only (negotiable) Cash Balance: a hybrid defined benefit plan, available to PT faculty only (negotiable) Defined Benefit: a full defined plan which is available to ALL teachers regardless of status as FT or PT. Defined Benefit: a full defined plan which is available to ALL teachers regardless of status as FT or PT. No longer Mandatory DB enrollment based on load – membership based on status No longer Mandatory DB enrollment based on load – membership based on status Both may affect Social Security benefits, both primary and survivor: WEP & GPO Both may affect Social Security benefits, both primary and survivor: WEP & GPO

STRS Cash Balance Plan STRS Cash Balance - employee contributes 4% (negotiable) - employer contributes 4% STRS Cash Balance - employee contributes 4% (negotiable) - employer contributes 4% Immediate vesting: No Service Credit Immediate vesting: No Service Credit Cash Out if leave teaching over 55 – immediate under 55 – 6 month waiting period Cash Out if leave teaching over 55 – immediate under 55 – 6 month waiting period Convertible to STRS DB service credit Convertible to STRS DB service credit

Retiring with Cash Balance Choices include: 1. Roll into a private annuity or IRA 2. Cash out lump sum [paying all the tax] 3. STRS annuity [life or time specific – see the DBS calculator] Choices include: 1. Roll into a private annuity or IRA 2. Cash out lump sum [paying all the tax] 3. STRS annuity [life or time specific – see the DBS calculator] Typical life annuity: $50,000 at age 65 pays approx. $410 a month for life. Typical life annuity: $50,000 at age 65 pays approx. $410 a month for life. 1 year wait [break in service] before returning to teaching in a STRS system 1 year wait [break in service] before returning to teaching in a STRS system

OPT IN or OUT of CB Stay in CB if appropriate for your teaching load and future: typically low load or occasional assignments and do not expect to vest Stay in CB if appropriate for your teaching load and future: typically low load or occasional assignments and do not expect to vest If have a DB account: you may cash out your DB money once no longer employed. If have a DB account: you may cash out your DB money once no longer employed. Move from CB to DB: Roll your CB money into that plan to retrieve service credit. Move from CB to DB: Roll your CB money into that plan to retrieve service credit.

Conversion from CB to DB You should consider converting if you: 1. plan on being a career teacher or foresee your ability to vest 5 FTE years. 2. teach 40% or more each semester 3. work in more than one district 4. want a larger life-time STRS pension and want to convert unused sick leave hours. pension and want to convert unused sick leave hours.

STRS Defined Benefit Plan Required for all FT K-14 teachers and an option for all PT/hourly teachers Required for all FT K-14 teachers and an option for all PT/hourly teachers STRS Defined Benefit - 8% employee contribution (2% to DBS supplement to 2010) % employer contribution.25% sick leave conversion - VEST: 5 years FTE service credit STRS Defined Benefit - 8% employee contribution (2% to DBS supplement to 2010) % employer contribution.25% sick leave conversion - VEST: 5 years FTE service credit Monthly Retirement based upon formula Monthly Retirement based upon formula

STRS DB Benefits Survivor Benefits and Beneficiaries Survivor Benefits and Beneficiaries Disability Retirement [once vested] Disability Retirement [once vested] Inflation Protection [80-85% buying power] Inflation Protection [80-85% buying power] COLA: 2% simple COLA: 2% simple CB to DB conversion, re-deposits, permissive purchase of previous time, air time, sick leave conversion CB to DB conversion, re-deposits, permissive purchase of previous time, air time, sick leave conversion Pension2: Various savings program Pension2: Various savings program CalSTRS Home Loan Program CalSTRS Home Loan Program Long Term-Care Program through CalPERS Long Term-Care Program through CalPERS DBS: STRS Defined Benefit Supplement account DBS: STRS Defined Benefit Supplement account Ed Code : district’s must allow PTers who retire in STRS to remain in district health care if meet district eligibility requirements [AB528 (Elder)]. Ed Code : district’s must allow PTers who retire in STRS to remain in district health care if meet district eligibility requirements [AB528 (Elder)].

What is needed? Three parts to the DB retirement formula: Three parts to the DB retirement formula: SC X age factor X final earnable/12 SC X age factor X final earnable/12 Service Credit: history of work record based upon load. Age Factor: a factor dependent upon age at retirement as per STRS Handbook. Final Earnable/12: typically final 3 averaged years divided by 12 for monthly benefit. Service Credit: history of work record based upon load. Age Factor: a factor dependent upon age at retirement as per STRS Handbook. Final Earnable/12: typically final 3 averaged years divided by 12 for monthly benefit.

Service Credit Service Credit SERVICE CREDIT = FTE years service SERVICE CREDIT = FTE years service Reflects % of teaching/work load history Reflects % of teaching/work load history Converts MONEY into SERVICE CREDIT Converts MONEY into SERVICE CREDIT Computation: actual earnings divided by Computation: actual earnings divided by “earnable”: FTE hours X $ hourly rate example: $22,950 [actual] div. by earnable $36,750 [525 X $70/hr] =.625 SC [ex. includes Office Hour & substitute pay] (Earnings/earnable are reported monthly by district payroll for all creditable service.) “earnable”: FTE hours X $ hourly rate example: $22,950 [actual] div. by earnable $36,750 [525 X $70/hr] =.625 SC [ex. includes Office Hour & substitute pay] (Earnings/earnable are reported monthly by district payroll for all creditable service.) Ask STRS for a SERVICE CREDIT BREAKDOWN: review your work history to make sure it is correct. Ask STRS for a SERVICE CREDIT BREAKDOWN: review your work history to make sure it is correct.

Accumulating Service Credit Classroom instruction [FTE] % load Classroom instruction [FTE] % load Unused Sick Leave Hours [converted at retirement] Unused Sick Leave Hours [converted at retirement] Substituting Substituting Office Hours Office Hours Permissive Buy Back of Time Buy service based on creditable time not previously contributed to STRS Permissive Buy Back of Time Buy service based on creditable time not previously contributed to STRS Air Time: Non-qualified time (expensive) Air Time: Non-qualified time (expensive)

Permissive Buy Back Good for retrieving previous years of creditable service or converting CB to DB. Good for retrieving previous years of creditable service or converting CB to DB. Anything creditable from in/out of California [public service]: teaching, counseling, substituting, military (more see Handbook) Anything creditable from in/out of California [public service]: teaching, counseling, substituting, military (more see Handbook) Earnable X % [age category] = cost of 1 year Service Credit. Earnable X % [age category] = cost of 1 year Service Credit. You can pay out of pocket, from another pre-tax retirement account (IRA) or on time. You can pay out of pocket, from another pre-tax retirement account (IRA) or on time.

Permissive Service Credit Costs Cost to buy permissive service credit is based upon age. Cost to buy permissive service credit is based upon age. This scale is used for general permissive & Cash Balance buying of service credit. This scale is used for general permissive & Cash Balance buying of service credit. AGE YRS RATE SALARY COST AGE YRS RATE SALARY COST % $50,000 $ 9, % $50,000 $ 9, % $ 9, % $ 9, % $ 9, % $ 9, % $11, % $11, % $13, % $13,850

Permissive Buy Back: CB to DB Formula: “earnable” X permissive % rate = cost of 1 year of service credit Formula: “earnable” X permissive % rate = cost of 1 year of service credit “annual earnable” = FTE X hourly pay rate “annual earnable” = FTE X hourly pay rate Two options to use CB money to buy back DB service credit: Two options to use CB money to buy back DB service credit: 1. money in account buys direct SC as much as will cover [approx. ½ of actual] 2. total “permissive” SC converted to cost using CB money + secondary source or may pay in installments. 1. money in account buys direct SC as much as will cover [approx. ½ of actual] 2. total “permissive” SC converted to cost using CB money + secondary source or may pay in installments.

Sick Leave Hour Conversion Unused Sick Leave is converted and added to your service credit history Unused Sick Leave is converted and added to your service credit history (only available for DB members) (only available for DB members) 6 hours = 1 SC day [Ed Code 22717] 6 hours = 1 SC day [Ed Code 22717] Example: 525 hours [1 FTE year] converts by dividing by 6 = 85 days An academic year = 85/175 days =.5 SC Example: 525 hours [1 FTE year] converts by dividing by 6 = 85 days An academic year = 85/175 days =.5 SC You can move accrued sick leave from previous districts to current. A final report will go to STRS from final district(s). You can move accrued sick leave from previous districts to current. A final report will go to STRS from final district(s).

Age Factor and retirement Age Factor: a Pre-determined factor in STRS handbook used at time of retirement to compute benefit Age Factor: a Pre-determined factor in STRS handbook used at time of retirement to compute benefit Examples of factors: age 55 = 1.4 age 60 = 2.0 age 63 = 2.4 [maximum] Examples of factors: age 55 = 1.4 age 60 = 2.0 age 63 = 2.4 [maximum] Earliest retirement age = 55 Earliest retirement age = 55

Final Compensation Final Computation = average of 3 final years “earnable” salary or 3 highest earnable consecutive years (unless 25 Final Computation = average of 3 final years “earnable” salary or 3 highest earnable consecutive years (unless 25 SC, then highest single year). SC, then highest single year). Final computation earnable = actual gross payment divided by % load teaching. Final computation earnable = actual gross payment divided by % load teaching. Example: $25,000 3 year average gross divided by.60 [% load] = $41,666 Example: $25,000 3 year average gross divided by.60 [% load] = $41,666

Computing the benefit Service credit X age factor X final compensation = “unmodified benefit” Service credit X age factor X final compensation = “unmodified benefit” Check your Service Credit record and project work load to retirement age plus sick leave hours. Check your Service Credit record and project work load to retirement age plus sick leave hours. Check STRS book for age factor for the projected age you want to retire. Check STRS book for age factor for the projected age you want to retire. Calculate approximate Final earnable income [div. by 12]; use STRS calculator Calculate approximate Final earnable income [div. by 12]; use STRS calculator

Example: Basic Retirement History: 25 years employment at 60% load equates to 15 years service credit History: 25 years employment at 60% load equates to 15 years service credit age 65 uses 2.4 age factor age 65 uses 2.4 age factor Final compensation earnable $25,000 = $41,666 earnable divide by 12 = $3472 monthly Final compensation earnable $25,000 = $41,666 earnable divide by 12 = $3472 monthly 15 yrs. SC X 2.4 age X $3472 = $1250 unmodified monthly benefit 15 yrs. SC X 2.4 age X $3472 = $1250 unmodified monthly benefit

Enhancements Unused accrued sick leave adds more service credit to the SC amount. Unused accrued sick leave adds more service credit to the SC amount. Defined Benefit Supplements Account will add an additional amount to a secondary account from anything over 100% per year [DBS]. Defined Benefit Supplements Account will add an additional amount to a secondary account from anything over 100% per year [DBS]. If that account is more than $3500 then it can be paid out as an added benefit as a time specific or life annuity or cashed out at retirement. If that account is more than $3500 then it can be paid out as an added benefit as a time specific or life annuity or cashed out at retirement.

AB 1586 Law to fix PT retirees whose service record pre-dates Law to fix PT retirees whose service record pre-dates STRS computes years of service before 1996 and years of service after 1996 and gives the PT member the best retirement based upon their service record. STRS computes years of service before 1996 and years of service after 1996 and gives the PT member the best retirement based upon their service record. This is currently computed by specialized pension analysts. This is currently computed by specialized pension analysts. Currently 21,000 PTers in this category Currently 21,000 PTers in this category

New Plan for PT? Due to Problems with district reports Due to Problems with district reports Options: new plan, change reporting, adjust the CB plan to be more comparable to DB Options: new plan, change reporting, adjust the CB plan to be more comparable to DB Task Force direction: “change the service credit reporting” to have HR report load and Payroll report pay for appropriate SC and earnable salary. What to include? Task Force direction: “change the service credit reporting” to have HR report load and Payroll report pay for appropriate SC and earnable salary. What to include?

Retire and Return Retire before age 60 and a 6 month wait Retire before age 60 and a 6 month wait Retire after age 60 may return and continue working PT Retire after age 60 may return and continue working PT Earnings limitations Earnings limitations No longer earn SC, no longer pay into STRS No longer earn SC, no longer pay into STRS You may return, receive pension and collect unemployment You may return, receive pension and collect unemployment

STRS Pension Facts 1. Teachers (employee) invest 8% 1. Teachers (employee) invest 8% 2. District (employer) invests 8.25% 2. District (employer) invests 8.25% 3. State invests 9% 3. State invests 9% 4. Bulk of STRS funding, 55%, comes 4. Bulk of STRS funding, 55%, comes from investments 5. Average pension is $3,302/month 5. Average pension is $3,302/month 6. Recent retiree average is $4, Recent retiree average is $4,085

More Facts General replacement ratio for new retirees is 59% of final year compensation General replacement ratio for new retirees is 59% of final year compensation Average years of service credit is 27 Average years of service credit is 27 Average age a teacher retirees is 63 Average age a teacher retirees is 63 65% of STRS retirees are female 65% of STRS retirees are female The typical pension with 27 years of service at age 63 is 65% of salary The typical pension with 27 years of service at age 63 is 65% of salary [compared to police with 50 years and 90% of salary AND Social Security] [compared to police with 50 years and 90% of salary AND Social Security]

STRS Issues STRS does not allow “spiking” STRS does not allow “spiking” STRS (unlike PERS) has never taken a funding “holiday” STRS (unlike PERS) has never taken a funding “holiday” Contribution rates have been stable for decades Contribution rates have been stable for decades Current state contributions to STRS is LESS than half than what it was in 1998 Current state contributions to STRS is LESS than half than what it was in 1998 Percentage of state revenues going to STRS has not changed in 20 years Percentage of state revenues going to STRS has not changed in 20 years STRS is NOT headed toward insolvency. STRS is NOT headed toward insolvency. Unfunded Liability does exist and the STRS Advisory Board is working on it. But still considered well funded if over 80% fully funded. Unfunded Liability does exist and the STRS Advisory Board is working on it. But still considered well funded if over 80% fully funded.

STRS/FACCC Contacts STRS website for information, calculators, forms and statements STRS website for information, calculators, forms and statementswww.calstrs.com STRS Ombudsman: Tom Barrett STRS Ombudsman: Tom Barrett STRS toll-free phone: STRS toll-free phone: Call to request CB to DB conversion request form or have a membership review. Call to request CB to DB conversion request form or have a membership review. Deborah Shanks, FACCC Retirement Committee Deborah Shanks, FACCC Retirement Committee (510) (510)

Social Security Social Security benefits can be affected by any public pension Social Security benefits can be affected by any public pension STRS benefits will off-set a Social Security pension or spousal benefit if less than 30 years substantial earnings STRS benefits will off-set a Social Security pension or spousal benefit if less than 30 years substantial earnings There is a sliding scale of off-set from 20 to 30 years substantial earnings There is a sliding scale of off-set from 20 to 30 years substantial earnings These are called the WEP and GPO These are called the WEP and GPO

WEP and GPO Off-sets WEP: Windfall Elimination Provision (employee) WEP: Windfall Elimination Provision (employee) WEP cannot be more than 1/2 of STRS benefit WEP cannot be more than 1/2 of STRS benefit There is also a sliding scale on this off-set based on the original SS benefit. The lower the benefit, the less the off-set There is also a sliding scale on this off-set based on the original SS benefit. The lower the benefit, the less the off-set The maximum off-set of no more than $ The maximum off-set of no more than $ GPO: Government Pension Off-set (survivor benefit) is also affected by this provision, but it does not have a protection clause GPO: Government Pension Off-set (survivor benefit) is also affected by this provision, but it does not have a protection clause

Calculating WEP Calculating WEP is one of the most complex of the Social Security entitlement provisions. There is now a hand-dandy chart that shows how your benefits can be affected by WEP on the Social Security website. And you don’t even have to touch a calculator. Calculating WEP is one of the most complex of the Social Security entitlement provisions. There is now a hand-dandy chart that shows how your benefits can be affected by WEP on the Social Security website. And you don’t even have to touch a calculator. chart.htm chart.htm chart.htm chart.htm

Calculating GPO Affects Spousal Benefits of FT private sector employees whose spouses are in the public sector. Affects Spousal Benefits of FT private sector employees whose spouses are in the public sector. Age 65 spouse receives 50% of PIA “Primary Insurance Amount” Age 65 spouse receives 50% of PIA “Primary Insurance Amount” Social Security spousal and widow benefit reduced by 2/3 of the STRS pension Social Security spousal and widow benefit reduced by 2/3 of the STRS pension

What Next? Knowledge is Power: Be Informed Knowledge is Power: Be Informed Know your Options: Ask Questions Know your Options: Ask Questions Consider where you are now & plan for the future Consider where you are now & plan for the future Support the organizations who advocate for your rights Support the organizations who advocate for your rights

The End FACCC Part-Time Issues and Retirement Committees