Retirement of a Plan 1 member for service by Board
Seattle Mun. Code § 4.36.600
in effect4.36.600 - Retirement of a Plan 1 member for service by Board
Retirement of a Plan 1 member for service shall be made by the Board as follows:
A. Any Plan 1 member in the City service may retire by filing with the Board a written application, stating when the member desires to be retired, such application to be made at least 30 days prior to date of retirement; provided, however, that the member, at the time specified for retirement, shall have completed five years of City service as defined in this Chapter 4.36, and shall have attained the age of 62 years, or shall have completed ten years of City service, and shall have attained the age of 57 years, or shall have completed 20 years of City service and shall have attained the age of 52 years, or shall have completed 30 years of City service as defined in this Chapter 4.36. Permanent discontinuance of City service after the Plan 1 member has become eligible for a retirement benefit under the provisions of this Chapter 4.36 shall entitle such member to his retirement benefit: Provided that if discontinuance of City service is caused by willful misconduct or violation of law on the part of the member, of which the Board shall be the judge, the Board of Administration, in its discretion, may pay to the member, in one lump sum, the member's accumulated contributions, in lieu of a retirement benefit, and such payment shall constitute full satisfaction of all obligations of the City or the retirement system to such member, and upon receipt of such payment the member shall cease to be a member of the system.
B. Any Plan 1 member of the retirement system who, upon termination of employment with the City after earning at least five years of creditable service in the retirement system, elects to leave all the member's contributions in the retirement fund pursuant to Section 4.36.665 shall be eligible to receive a retirement benefit upon reaching the age of 62 years; provided, that if such member completed ten years of service prior to termination of employment, the member shall be eligible to receive a retirement benefit upon reaching the age of 57 years, and if such member completed 20 years of service prior to termination of employment, the member shall be eligible to receive a retirement benefit upon reaching the age of 52 years. Such person shall file with the Board a written application, stating the date when the person wishes the payment of retirement benefit to commence, at least 30 days prior to said date. The member shall thereupon be awarded a retirement benefit as provided for members in Section 4.36.605, and shall be eligible to elect in lieu thereof any of the options provided in Section 4.36.610; provided, that any person leaving the City service prior to qualifying for retirement under subsection 4.36.600.A shall not be eligible to receive any disability retirement benefit under Sections 4.36.650, 4.36.655, and 4.36.660, nor shall that person's estate or beneficiaries receive the death benefit provided in Section 4.36.690; provided further, that persons leaving the City service prior to qualifying for retirement under subsection 4.36.600.A shall, if and when eligible to receive a retirement benefit as provided in this subsection 4.36.600.B, be eligible for the alternative benefit computation provided in subsection 4.36.605.B, based upon the member's age at the time of commencement of payment of such member's retirement benefit, and in the event any such former employee dies before commencement of the member's retirement benefit pursuant to this subsection 4.36.600.B, the provisions of subsection 4.36.680.C shall be applicable to such person's spouse or domestic partner, if named as beneficiary, and if there is no surviving spouse or domestic partner, the provisions of subsection 4.36.680.C.2 shall be applicable to such person's child or children under the age of 18 years, if named as beneficiary.
C. Any former employee who prior to March 1, 1977, discontinued City service to accept other public employment and who, because of such subsequent public employment, was permitted to leave the employee's contributions in the retirement fund shall be eligible to receive a retirement benefit upon reaching the age of 65 years; provided, that if such former employee completed five years of City service, the employee shall be eligible to receive a retirement benefit upon reaching the age of 62 years, and if such former employee completed ten years of City service, the employee shall be eligible to receive a retirement benefit upon reaching the age of 57 years; and if such former employee completed 20 years of City service, the employee shall be eligible to receive a retirement benefit upon reaching the age of 52 years. Such person shall file with the Board a written application, stating the date when the person wishes the payment of retirement benefit to commence, at least 30 days prior to said date. Such person shall thereupon be awarded a retirement benefit as provided for members in Section 4.36.605, and shall be eligible to elect in lieu thereof any of the options provided in Section 4.36.610; provided, that any former employee to whom this subsection is applicable shall not be eligible to receive any disability retirement benefit under Sections 4.36.650, 4.36.655, and 4.36.660, nor shall the employee's estate or beneficiaries receive the death benefit provided in Section 4.36.690; provided further, that such former employees shall, if and when eligible to receive a retirement benefit as provided in this subsection, be eligible for the alternative benefit computation provided in subsection 4.36.605.B, based on the employee's age at the time of commencement of payment of such member's retirement benefit, and, in the event any such person dies before commencement of retirement benefit pursuant to this subsection 4.36.600.B, the provisions of subsection 4.36.680.B shall be applicable to such person's spouse or domestic partner, if named as beneficiary, and if there is no surviving spouse or domestic partner, the provisions of subsection 4.36.680.C shall be applicable to such person's child or children under the age of 18 years, if named as beneficiary.
(Ord. 125109, § 31, 2016; Ord. 124574, § 31, 2014 [renumbered from 4.36.200 with cross-reference and style updates]; Ord. 121366, § 3, 2003 [cross-reference update]; Ord. 120358, § 3, 2001; Ord. 119707, § 4, 1999; Ord. 110219, § 2, 1981; Ord. 107164, § 2, 1978; Ord. 106272, § 2, 1977; Ord. 104382, § 2, 1975; Ord. 104156, § 4, 1974; Ord. 99566, § 3, 1970; Ord. 98122, § 2, 1969; Ord. 84510, § 1, 1955; Ord. 78444, § 13, 1949.)
Source: City of Seattle, Seattle Municipal Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/wa/seattle/codes/municipal_code?nodeId=TIT4PE_CH4.36CIEMRESY_4.36.600REPL1MESEBOFetched: 11/1/2026