Deadlines for Public Employees DCP Coverage

Membership in the Public Employees Defined Contribution Plan (Public Employees DCP) is optional for public officials and certain other positions in their first 30 days of PERA-eligible work with that employer. An employee’s first day of work is the day they earn pay for work performed. Their first day of work is not necessarily the day they are hired, sworn in, elected, or appointed.

Positions that may be eligible for Public Employees DCP coverage include:  

• Public officials 
• Physicians 
• City managers
• Public ambulance service or rescue squad personnel and certain volunteer firefighters

Employer Responsibilities

Employer representatives must inform individuals eligible for optional PERA membership that they can join PERA. By law, it is the individual’s decision to participate in PERA when they are employed in a position eligible for optional PERA coverage.  

1. For each eligible individual, complete part A of the current Membership Election Form. Find the form for the individual’s position on Defined Contribution Plan | PERA
2. Instruct the public official or employee to complete part B and sign the Membership Election Form within 30 days of their first day of work. Keep a copy of the form until the signed original is returned.
3. Once parts A and B are completed, keep a copy for your records, then submit the Membership Election Form to PERA using the secure document upload feature in ERIS. After successfully submitting the form, you will receive a transmit ID code. You may also send the form by fax or mail; however, PERA must receive the form within 60 days of the individual’s first day of work. The election form must be submitted to PERA even if the individual chose not to participate.