The following virtual educational opportunities provided by your King County Retirement Team are coming up soon to help you prepare for retirement.

Introduction to Social Security – Join this 90-minute class if you are interested in learning more about Social Security. Guest speaker Kirk Larson from the Social Security Administration will discuss your options as a King County employee and answer your questions. 

• Wednesday, March 15 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Register here.

Road to Retirement – This 90-minute class is designed for employees who are planning to retire from King County in the next six months. It covers procedures, forms, medical coverage options, and pension plans—so you’ll be on a smooth road toward a happy retirement. 

• Tuesday, March 21 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Register here.
• Tuesday, March 28 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Register here.
• Tuesday, April 18 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Register here.
• Tuesday, April 25 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Register here.

Your PERS Pension – Learn about your Washington State Department of Retirement Systems (DRS) pension. Guest speaker Jim Mendoza from DRS will discuss your options as a King County employee and answer your questions.

• Wednesday, April 12 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Register here.

Registration is required. Use the registration links above, then select the date you’d like to attend. Before classes start, you’ll receive a meeting invitation at the email address you register with.

Please note, attendance at retirement classes is strictly voluntary, on your own time, and non-work related.

For additional information, visit the King County Retirement page, refer to the Retirement Guide, or contact King County Retirement Navigator Carmen Johnson.

If you still have funds remaining in last year’s Health Care or Day Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA), be sure to get reimbursed for expenses incurred in 2022. Here’s how:

1. Check your FSA balances:

Go to Navia Benefits and log in as a participant.

2. Learn about eligible expenses incurred Jan. 1—Dec. 31, 2022:

Health Care FSAs cover a variety of medically necessary expenses for you and your eligible family members, including deductibles, coinsurance, and copays, and other Eligible Health Care Expenses.

Day Care FSAs cover a range of services for your child, disabled spouse, or dependent parent that allow you to work, such as day care, preschool, day camps, before and after school care, elder care, and other Eligible Day Care Expenses.

3. Gather documents

Proper documentation to substantiate the claim includes the date of service, type of service, and cost of service. Day Care claims also need the provider tax ID, name of dependent, and age of dependent.

4. Submit 2022 FSA claims by March 31, 2023

See the 6 Ways to Submit Claims video:

• Pay health care providers directly using your FSA debit card. Use this method only for 2022 FSA claims.
• Submit a claim form and documentation by email.
• Use Navia’s online claim submission tool.
• Use the MyNavia mobile app on your mobile device.
• Fax your claims to 866-535-9277.
• Send claims to Navia by mail.

If you have questions about your FSA, contact Navia at 800-669-3539 or Navia Customer Service.

King County Executive Dow Constantine has proclaimed March 2023 as Women’s History Month.

“Women are making history every day and will continue to do so in ways that will change our county and country,” the proclamation states. The Executive enccourages all King County residents to honor the central roles that women of every race, class, and ethnic background hold every day that are essential to the progress of our nation.

Read the entire proclamation below.

From the Sheriff’s Newsletter

On Feb. 10, Metro Transit Resource Officer (TRO) Michael Ramirez conducted a routine patrol at the Burien Transit Center (BTC). The BTC has been the focus of weekly directed patrol missions due to crime and narcotic use in the area.

While patrolling the BTC, Ramirez – a Sheriff’s Office Detective – observed a male slumped over in a wheelchair.

Concerned, Detective Ramirez checked on him and, through training and experience, found that the person had noticeable agonal breathing and was likely overdosing on a narcotic (presumed fentanyl). Detective Ramirez acted quickly and administered Narcan while checking the patient’s pulse.

As he summoned aid, Detective Ramirez remained with the male until they arrived. Medics administered several additional doses of Narcan to the patient while intubating him and ultimately transporting him to St. Anne’s Hospital with a pulse.

Detective Ramirez’s instincts and passion for community service, without question, prolonged the man’s life while limiting negative exposure to Metro passengers and community members.

We are proud of Detective Ramirez, who takes pride in his work and his duties to serve the people of King County and the Metro Transit System.

On Feb. 6, a massive earthquake struck Türkiye and Syria, flattening entire cities and communities. Tens of thousands of people lost their lives and many more were injured. Hundreds of thousands of people have been left homeless in freezing temperatures, without access to basic needs such as shelter, health care, sanitation, food, and water.

King County employees can help these communities recover and rebuild is by making donations to organizations that are providing humanitarian aid and support for the people impacted by the earthquake. A 21-day natural disaster response campaign will allow King County employees to support up to three Employee Giving Program nonprofit organizations responding to the natural disaster. From Feb. 23 – March 15, employees will be able to give in three ways during this special response:

1. Donation of accumulated vacation and/or compensatory time. Download form here (.pdf).
2. One-time payroll donation. Download form here (.pdf).
3. Credit card or e-check. On the storefront here.

Prosecuting Attorney’s Office employees can donate by payroll, e-check, or credit card, but may not donate leave or compensatory time.

Forms must be received no later than 5 p.m. March 15, 2023, by email to employeegiving@kingcounty.gov or interoffice mail to KCEGP CNK-HR-0231.

Three nonprofits are eligible for time or payroll donations:

1. American Red Cross – Türkiye (Turkey) earthquake response #9343. The American Red Cross is part of the global network of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies around the world, and is responding to calls for assistance from the local Türkiye and Syria Red Crescent Societies that are on the ground.
2. Empact Northwest #10108. Empact Northwest is a non-profit, non-governmental entity providing rescue, medical, and logistical support to those affected by disaster worldwide, as well as preparedness support to communities in need and professional rescue training.
3. Médecins Sans Frontieres / Doctors Without Borders #4172. Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) was already on the ground in the region and activated their emergency and disaster response plans immediately. They immediately began treating people in their clinics and assisting local hospitals.

This special campaign will be open through 5 p.m. March 15. Please use this form to contribute and find answers to your questions here.

It’s now easier than ever for residents and people working in Seattle, including King County employees, to report non-urgent public issues. The City of Seattle’s Find It, Fix It mobile app is a simple way to report an issue, track reports, and view service requests. Examples of issues include a streetlight outage, clogged storm drain, graffiti, abandoned vehicles, illegal dumping, unauthorized encampment, and potholes.

If you see an issue that needs addressing near or on the way to a County workplace in Seattle, use the app to report it. The app is not for reporting urgent matters or emergencies. However, the app does include phone numbers and links for reporting urgent matters to the City, Seattle City Light, Seattle Public Utilities, Street Repair and Maintenance, and other non-emergency criminal activity. In an emergency situation where you feel threatened or witness a serious event, you should always call 911 first.

Android users can download the app from the Google Play Store and iPhone users can download it from the App Store.