PERS questions

Q1: How can my organization join PERS?

For instructions on how to join PERS, go to the About Joining PERS webpage.

Q2: Why is PERS so complicated?

Oregon PERS is the second-most complex public employees’ pension system in the country. (California PERS is the most complex.)

The reason Oregon PERS is complex is because of the modifications made to the plan over time. Oregon PERS underwent nearly 90 legislative changes from 1946 to 2020. The state can’t change benefits that employees have already been promised; changes only apply going forward. Therefore, different rules apply to benefits earned in different years.

Rules also vary for different:

PERS plans.
Employers (e.g., school vs local government).
Job classifications (e.g., Police & Fire vs General Service).
Payments made to employees (e.g., hiring bonus vs vacation lump-sum payout).
Time away from work (e.g., leave without pay).
Jobs (full-time vs part-time).