What is LEOFF Plan 2?
The Law Enforcement Officers' and Fire Fighters' Retirement System Plan 2 is a Washington State defined benefit pension plan for law enforcement officers and firefighters hired on or after October 1, 1977.
A defined benefit plan provides guaranteed lifetime monthly income based on a statutory formula. The benefit is administered by the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems.
Vesting and retirement eligibility
LEOFF Plan 2 members become vested after earning at least five years of service credit. Once vested, they are entitled to a lifetime retirement benefit under the plan rules.
Washington DRS states that LEOFF Plan 2 members may retire with a full benefit at age 53 with at least five years of service credit. Earlier retirement rules and reductions can vary depending on service and election choices.
The age you can retire is only one part of the decision. A strong plan also depends on how many years of service credit you will have by that retirement date and what your final average salary looks like at that point.
How the pension formula works
The base LEOFF Plan 2 pension formula is:
Annual pension = 2% x years of service credit x final average salary
Final Average Salary, or FAS, is the average of your highest 60 consecutive service credit months under DRS rules.
Example:
2% x 25 years x $80,000 FAS = $40,000 annual pension
The plan may also include benefit-enhancement details such as the tiered multiplier or the 2% pension plus lump sum path. If you want to compare those choices directly, read LEOFF 2 Tiered Multiplier vs Lump Sum.
If you want to compare what happens at ages 53, 55, 57, or 60, the Retirement Age Comparison Tool is the best next step.
COLA and returning to work
After retirement, Plan 2 members receive an annual cost-of-living adjustment based on changes in the Consumer Price Index, subject to the plan rules in effect.
DRS also publishes rules for returning to work after retirement. Whether your pension is affected depends on the kind of position you return to and the plan rules that apply.
Funding strength
Washington's LEOFF plans are widely recognized as among the strongest-funded public pension systems in the country. The funded status of LEOFF Plan 2 is reviewed through the Washington State Office of the State Actuary.
That funding strength is reassuring, but it does not remove the need for good retirement planning. Your retirement outcome still depends on timing, expenses, other income sources, and how durable the rest of your plan is.
Compare Retirement AgesSources
Washington DRS plan overview and retirement rules: LEOFF Plan 2
Washington DRS COLA overview: COLA Information
Washington DRS return-to-work guidance: Returning to Work After Retirement
Washington Office of the State Actuary funding reports: Pension Funding Reports