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Chapter 415-04 WAC

Last Update: 5/25/16

PETITION PROCEDURE

WAC Sections

HTMLPDF415-04-015When can I use the petition process?
HTMLPDF415-04-017What is not covered by this chapter?
HTMLPDF415-04-020How do I file a petition for review?
HTMLPDF415-04-025Who may file a petition?
HTMLPDF415-04-030What should my petition include?
HTMLPDF415-04-035How much information do I need to provide in support of my petition?
HTMLPDF415-04-037If I petition for disability retirement benefits, who pays the cost of obtaining additional medical data?
HTMLPDF415-04-040What will the department do after receiving my petition?
HTMLPDF415-04-050How do I appeal a petition decision?
DISPOSITION OF SECTIONS FORMERLY CODIFIED IN THIS TITLE
415-04-010Definitions. [Statutory Authority: RCW 41.50.050(5), 41.50.050, 41.50.060. WSR 01-18-018, § 415-04-010, filed 8/24/01, effective 9/24/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 41.50.050 and 41.50.780(11). WSR 96-16-020, § 415-04-010, filed 7/29/96, effective 7/29/96. Statutory Authority: RCW 41.50.050(5) and 34.05.250. WSR 93-11-079, § 415-04-010, filed 5/18/93, effective 6/18/93; Order 4, § 415-04-010, filed 7/27/77.] Repealed by WSR 16-12-051, filed 5/25/16, effective 6/25/16. Statutory Authority: RCW 41.50.050(5).


PDF415-04-015

When can I use the petition process?

You may use the petition process to request review of administrative decisions that address the following matters, including, but not limited to:
(1) Service credits;
(2) Service retirement benefits;
(3) Membership in the retirement systems;
(4) Disability benefits, except as otherwise provided by law;
(5) Survivor benefits; and
(6) Benefit increases provided by RCW 41.16.145 or 41.18.104.
(7) Deferred compensation accounts, except that review of decisions regarding payments due to unforeseeable emergency, are governed by WAC 415-08-015.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 41.50.050(5), 41.50.050, 41.50.060. WSR 01-18-018, § 415-04-015, filed 8/24/01, effective 9/24/01.]



PDF415-04-017

What is not covered by this chapter?

You may not use the petition process to request review of administrative decisions that address the following matters, including, but not limited to:
(1) Overpayments if the procedures in RCW 41.50.135 or 41.50.138 apply.
(2) Deferred compensation plan payments because of an unforeseeable emergency (see WAC 415-08-015).
(3) Law enforcement officers' and firefighters' (LEOFF) Plan 1 appeals of disability board decisions that the LEOFF administrator reviews. For more information about LEOFF Plan 1 disability board appeals, please refer to RCW 41.26.140 (reexaminations of disability beneficiaries), RCW 41.26.200 (right to appeal); WAC 415-104-035 (jurisdiction), WAC 415-104-045 (who can appeal, and deadline), WAC 415-104-050 (how DRS will handle the appeal), and WAC 415-104-060 (records reviewed on appeals).
[Statutory Authority: RCW 41.50.050(5), 41.50.060, 41.50.770, 41.50.780, 2001 c 42. WSR 02-12-084, § 415-04-017, filed 6/4/02, effective 7/5/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 41.50.050(5), 41.50.050, 41.50.060. WSR 01-18-018, § 415-04-017, filed 8/24/01, effective 9/24/01.]



PDF415-04-020

How do I file a petition for review?

(1) You may request administrative review of an administrator's decision by filing a petition with the petition examiner.
(2) You must file the petition within one hundred twenty days from the date you received the administrator's decision.
(3) If you fail to file the petition within one hundred twenty days, you lose the right to judicial review, because of your failure to exhaust administrative remedies as required by RCW 34.05.534.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 41.50.050(5), 41.50.050, 41.50.060. WSR 01-18-018, § 415-04-020, filed 8/24/01, effective 9/24/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 41.50.050 and 41.50.780(11). WSR 96-16-020, § 415-04-020, filed 7/29/96, effective 7/29/96. Statutory Authority: RCW 41.50.050(5) and 34.05.250. WSR 93-11-079, § 415-04-020, filed 5/18/93, effective 6/18/93. Statutory Authority: RCW 41.50.050. WSR 91-19-064, § 415-04-020, filed 9/16/91, effective 10/17/91; Order 4, § 415-04-020, filed 7/27/77.]



PDF415-04-025

Who may file a petition?

You may file a petition if you are a member, current or former spouse, designated beneficiary or employer, and have a sufficient stake in the outcome of the petition proceeding.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 41.50.050(5), 41.50.050, 41.50.060. WSR 01-18-018, § 415-04-025, filed 8/24/01, effective 9/24/01.]



PDF415-04-030

What should my petition include?

Your petition should include:
(1) A statement of what you want the department to do (relief requested) after considering the petition;
(2) An explanation of why your request has merit;
(3) All facts relating to the petition, including any relevant documents or sworn statements;
(4) The name and address of your attorney, if applicable; and
(5) Your name, address, phone number, fax number, email address, and signature.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 41.50.050(5), 41.50.050, 41.50.060. WSR 01-18-018, § 415-04-030, filed 8/24/01, effective 9/24/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 41.50.050 and 41.50.780(11). WSR 96-16-020, § 415-04-030, filed 7/29/96, effective 7/29/96.]



PDF415-04-035

How much information do I need to provide in support of my petition?

You bear the burden of convincing the petition examiner that you are entitled to the relief requested. You must provide sufficient information to outweigh the information that the plan administrator used in making the administrative determination that is being reviewed.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 41.50.050(5), 41.50.050, 41.50.060. WSR 01-18-018, § 415-04-035, filed 8/24/01, effective 9/24/01.]



PDF415-04-037

If I petition for disability retirement benefits, who pays the cost of obtaining additional medical data?

If you petition the department for a disability retirement benefit and you need to provide additional medical data in support of your petition, you must pay any cost involved.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 41.50.050(5), 41.50.050, 41.50.060. WSR 01-18-018, § 415-04-037, filed 8/24/01, effective 9/24/01.]



PDF415-04-040

What will the department do after receiving my petition?

The department's petition examiner will:
(1) Acknowledge receipt of your petition;
(2) Notify persons or entities potentially impacted by the outcome of the process, such as the member, current or former employer(s), designated beneficiaries, or former spouse, that you filed a petition;
(3) If deemed necessary or useful, request additional information at any time;
(4) Issue a written decision within ninety days of the date the department received your petition, unless that deadline is extended for good cause; and
(5) If deemed necessary or useful, and without issuing a petition decision, refer the petition back to the appropriate administrator for a new determination if:
(a) The petition adds new issues or facts that have not been addressed in the plan administrator's final determination; or
(b) The administrator did not have access to information that may have changed the outcome of the administrative determination.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 41.50.050(5). WSR 16-12-051, § 415-04-040, filed 5/25/16, effective 6/25/16; WSR 04-09-042, § 415-04-040, filed 4/14/04, effective 5/15/04. Statutory Authority: RCW 41.50.050(5), 41.50.050, 41.50.060. WSR 01-18-018, § 415-04-040, filed 8/24/01, effective 9/24/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 41.50.050 and 41.50.780(11). WSR 96-16-020, § 415-04-040, filed 7/29/96, effective 7/29/96.]



PDF415-04-050

How do I appeal a petition decision?

(1) You may file an appeal of the petition decision with the department's director no later than sixty days after you receive the petition decision.
(2) You must follow the procedures in chapter 415-08 WAC in filing your appeal.
(3) If you fail to file your appeal within sixty days, you lose your right to judicial review, because of your failure to exhaust administrative remedies as required by RCW 34.05.534.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 41.50.050(5), 41.50.050, 41.50.060. WSR 01-18-018, § 415-04-050, filed 8/24/01, effective 9/24/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 41.50.050 and 41.50.780(11). WSR 96-16-020, § 415-04-050, filed 7/29/96, effective 7/29/96.]