Attachment 5.docx

Weld County Retirement Plan

Effective for employees hired on or after January 1, 2010

Effective January 1, 2025

TABLE OF CONTENTS

You and the County contribute to provide Social Security benefits for you and your dependents. Monthly payments medical, and survivor benefits are part of Social Security benefits.

INTRODUCTION

The Weld County Retirement Plan (the "Plan") is a 40l(a) defined benefit plan adopted by the County effective January 1, 1969. The plan helps you establish a source of income for your retirement years. Through the Plan, you and the County set aside money during the time you are working to provide a lifetime income for you after you retire.

The County's retirement Plan is one source of dependable retirement income. When it's combined with Social Security benefits and your personal savings, you should have the financial protection that will help you enjoy your retirement years.

This booklet summarizes the major provisions of the pension Plan for employees hired on or after January 1, 2010. If you were hired prior to January 1, 2010, the benefits in this booklet may not be applicable to you. Please contact Human Resources to request a copy of the booklet that is applicable to you.

You can get an overview of the Plan by reading the information at the top of each page. More detailed information is given below the page headings, such as what retirement benefits you can expect to receive when you retire, how these benefits are calculated and other information about your participation in the Plan.

If you have questions about the Plan after reading this booklet, please contact Human Resources for more information.

PLAN HIGHLIGHTS

The benefits from the Weld County Retirement Plan, along with your Social Security benefits and personal savings, can help provide a comfortable income for you during retirement.

Planning for your retirement is important. Part of that planning includes having the financial resources to make your retirement years comfortable and secure. The Weld County Retirement Plan can help assure a steady income for your retirement years. The Plan is flexible enough to meet many of your individual needs, and it could be just the added security you need to make your retirement financially secure.

With the Plan, you choose from a number of options to put together the retirement package that's right for you.

First, you decide when you want to retire:

• Normal retirement begins at age 65 or upon attainment of the Rule of 80 (when you reach age 55 and your age plus service equal 80 or more) with a full benefit based on your variable benefit units, your compensation history and actual investment returns on Plan assets.

• Early retirement with reduced benefits can begin as soon as you reach age 55 and have at least five years of credited service.

• Rule of 75 early retirement provides a reduced benefit as early as age 55, if your age plus years of credited service equals 75 or more. The reduction is less than that under regular early retirement.

• Delayed retirement, working past your normal retirement age, is another option you might prefer.

Second, you choose how you want to receive your benefit:

• You may receive payments for your life, with the added assurance that at least 60, 120, or 180 monthly payments (5, 10 or 15 years) will be made, whichever you elect. This means if you die before receiving all of the payments, your beneficiary will receive the remainder of the payments.

• You can receive adjusted payments for the rest of your life and your beneficiary will continue to receive 100% or 50% of the reduced amount for his or her life.

Third, you don't have to worry about losing your benefit if you die or leave County employment before retirement. The Plan has provisions to protect your benefits:

• If you terminate your employment or become disabled before becoming eligible for retirement but have completed at least five years of credited service, you may be entitled to a benefit when you reach retirement age.

• If you die before benefit payments begin, and have completed at least five years of credited service, the Plan will pay a benefit to your surviving spouse.

• If you take a military leave, you may have certain benefit rights under federal laws protecting members who perform qualified military service. Please contact Human Resources for more information.

FACTORS AFFECTING YOUR BENEFIT

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Accrued benefit is the amount of pension benefit you have earned at any point, based on your variable benefit units, your compensation history and actual investment returns on Plan assets. The calculated amount is payable to you at normal retirement age, to the extent you are vested.

Accumulated Contributions means the total of your contributions to the retirement Plan plus credited interest. Various rates of interest have been credited on your contributions to the Plan over the years.

The current interest rate is available from Human Resources. The Retirement Board reviews this rate periodically and makes adjustments based on current conditions.

A Break in Service occurs if you stop working for the County and do not return to service within 12 months of your termination date. When a break in service occurs and you receive a distribution of your accumulated contributions, you lose your prior variable benefit units. If you return to work as a full-time employee before a break in service occurs, your variable benefit units will be restored if you repay the trust fund - with interest and within 12 months of rehire - any refunded amounts you received when your employment terminated.

Some situations do not count as a break in service, such as:

• A temporary layoff, with a return to service within one year:

• A formal leave of absence, with a return to service within one year after the leave of absence ends;

• A military leave of absence, with a return to service within the time period required under federal rules;

• Not being reelected as a County official, with a return to service within eight years;

• Not being reappointed as an appointed official or deputy, with a return to service within eight years; and

• Unpaid leave allowed under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) of 1993.

Variable benefit units will not be earned, and credited service will not be counted for time away from active County service for the above situations, even though a break in service does not occur. Federal laws regarding military service may be an exception to this rule.

Compensation is your normal regular salary or hourly wage rate, including your contributions to this Plan and any salary reduction plan or deferred compensation plan. It does not include bonuses, overtime pay, extra pay, workers' compensation, or payment in lieu of accrued vacation and sick leave, or County contributions to this or other benefit plans. Federal regulations limit the maximum amount of annual compensation used to calculate your retirement benefit.

County, as used in this booklet, refers to Weld County.

Credited Service is the period of time you are employed by the County which is used for determining early retirement benefits and eligibility and vesting credit. Credited service under this Plan cannot be increased by overtime, nor does it include any period of service when you are covered by another retirement plan funded by the County, other than Social Security.

Variable Benefit Units are credited at the end of each plan year during which you earn credited service. The amount of variable benefit units credited is equal to the product of (i) plan year compensation times

(ii) 1.9%, divided by (iii) the variable benefit unit value.

Variable Benefit Unit Value is determined based on an average of the investment returns earned by the Plan for the previous five plan years determined as of each Valuation Date that precedes the first day of the plan year by one year and one day. The value is adjusted each year by the ratio of (i) 1.00 plus the investment return on plan assets over (ii) 1.05.

Tier 3 Members are members with an initial hire date on or after January 1, 2010, or a former member who is subsequently rehired on or after January 1, 2010 with no service credit or accrued benefits under the Plan upon rehire after receiving a refund of 100% of their Accumulated Contributions. A Tier 3 Member is entitled to benefits determined under the rules of the Plan in effect on or after January 1, 2010. The provisions of this booklet only apply to Tier 3 Members.

PARTICIPATION AND CONTRIBUTIONS

You participate in the Plan from the day you are hired. You contribute a percent of your pay and the County contributes at least an equal amount to provide your retirement benefits.

PARTICIPATION

You begin to participate automatically in the retirement Plan on your hire date.

Only full-time employees of the County (as defined by the personnel policies and procedures of the County) and any elected or appointed County officer or deputy are eligible to participate.

Officers and employees of any federally funded County program, which specifically excludes the use of federal funds for retirement programs, may not participate in the Plan. Similarly, "leased" employees, independent contractors and employees of the Weld County Health Department may not participate in the Plan.

Once you become a participant in the Plan, you may not withdraw from participation unless you are no longer eligible to participate in the Plan.

CONTRIBUTIONS

You and the County share the cost of funding the benefits you will receive when you retire. Currently, you contribute 9% of your monthly compensation to the Plan. The County contributes at least the same amount as your contributions each year.

You and the County do not contribute to the Plan on your behalf during any period of employment when you are not receiving credit for current service.

There are special tax advantages to your contributions to the Plan. They are made on a before-tax basis. This means the amount of your retirement plan contribution is deducted from your pay before federal and state withholding taxes are calculated. Social Security taxes are calculated on your unreduced pay.

EARNINGS ON YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS

All contributions are deposited in a trust fund and invested. Your contributions are credited with interest each year at a rate determined by the Retirement Board. This rate applies to your contributions only, not to the rate the general retirement fund is earning.

You, or your beneficiary, are always assured of receiving the full amount of your accumulated contributions if you terminate your employment or die before you are eligible for a retirement benefit.

WHEN YOU CAN RETIRE

You can retire as early as age 55 as long as you have at least five years of credited service. You can retire at normal retirement age, or you may retire later.

NORMAL RETIREMENT

Normal retirement age under the Weld County Retirement Plan is the earlier of age 65 or when your reach age 55 and your age plus service equals 80 or more (Rule of 80). Your normal retirement date is the first day of the month on or after you attain normal retirement age.

The Plan allows you to retire before your normal retirement date, depending on your age and years of credited service. The early retirement options are described below.

EARLY RETIREMENT

Regular Early Retirement: If you have completed at least five years of credited service, you may retire as early as age 55 and receive a benefit from the Plan. You may begin receiving reduced retirement payments right away or you can wait and begin receiving payments at any time before you reach normal retirement age.

If you decide to receive early retirement benefit payments before normal retirement age, your monthly payments will be reduced because it is expected that they will be paid over a longer period of time. Early retirement payments will be smaller than normal retirement payments because you have earned fewer variable benefit units than you would have earned if you have continued working until normal retirement age. (See Early Retirement Benefits section)

Rule of 75 Early Retirement: Under Rule of 75 early retirement, with certain combinations of age and service, you may retire after age 55 and begin receiving benefit payments immediately with a lower reduction than under regular early retirement. To qualify for Rule of 75 early retirement, you must be at least age 55 with a combination of years of age plus years of credited service equal to 75 or more at the time your covered employment ends.

DELAYED RETIREMENT

You may elect to continue working beyond normal retirement age, thus delaying your retirement. In this case, you must file a written designation of a beneficiary for survivor benefits that would be payable if you were to die while still employed after normal retirement age. Retirement benefit payments will begin once you actually retire.

WHEN PAYMENTS BEGIN

Your retirement date is always the first of the month following your last day worked. Your first benefit payment will be made one month after that date. For example, if your last workday is February 15, your retirement date is March 1 and your first retirement benefit payment will be made April 1.

NORMAL RETIREMENT BENEFITS

The amount of your monthly benefit payment depends on your variable benefit units, compensation history and actual investment returns on Plan assets. These factors are used in a formula to calculate your benefit.

The retirement Plan uses a formula to calculate your monthly benefit payable at normal retirement age or at delayed retirement (after normal retirement age). The monthly benefit is based on the amount of variable benefit units earned. The benefit will be paid for your lifetime and is adjusted annually to reflect the Plan's actual investment returns. (See Forms of Benefit Payments section)

Your Variable Benefit is the sum of 1.9% of each year's Compensation.

The Variable Benefit is then adjusted at the end of each plan year (before and after your retirement date), when the Plan's actual investment performance is compared to the Plan's assumed rate of return of 5%. Effective for plan years beginning on and after January 1, 2018, the annual rate of investment return for a plan year shall be determined based on an average of the annual rate of investment returns for the previous five plan years determined as of the Valuation Date that precedes the first day of the plan year by one year and one day. For example, if the Plan's average actual investment performance for the five prior calendar year is determined to be 7%, the monthly life annuity will be adjusted (increased) by a factor equal to 107% divided by 105% = 102% and will be re-evaluated each succeeding year. Similarly, average actual investment performance of 5% would result in an adjustment factor (no change) of 105% divided by 105% = 100% and average actual investment performance of 3% would result in an adjustment factor (decrease) of 103% divided by 105% = 98%.

EXAMPLE:

Mary is hired by the County January 1, 2010 and earns $30,000 her first year. She will be 65 on December 16, 2025, and plans to retire effective January 1, 2026. She terminates employment with the County December 31, 2025.

Mary’s benefit is calculated as follows:

* Actual fund earnings may be very different than illustrated here.

** Excluding any COLA that may be awarded.

Federal regulations include limits on what can be paid out of the Plan. While most employees will never reach these maximums, the maximums are stated in the Plan's legal document.

EARLY RETIREMENT BENEFITS

You may retire with a reduced benefit as early as age 55 if you have at least five years of credited service.

The formula for calculating all early retirement benefits is the same as the normal retirement benefit formula. The amount calculated may be reduced depending on when payments begin and your years of credited service.

EARLY RETIREMENT

You may choose to retire and receive an early retirement benefit under the Plan at any time between ages 55 and 65 if you have at least five years of credited service. The calculated benefit amount will be payable in a reduced amount between ages 55 and normal retirement age (age 65 or Rule of 80).

RULE OF 75 EARLY RETIREMENT

Under the Rule of 75 early retirement, you may retire early and receive reduced benefits if you leave the employ of the County after reaching age 55 and the sum of your age and years of

credited service equals 75 or more. You will receive the benefit you’ve earned in a reduced amount between ages 55 and 65, but the reduction amount is less than under regular early retirement.

TIMING AND AMOUNT OF BENEFIT PAYMENTS

Early retirement benefit payments may begin immediately after your early retirement date, but the amount of your monthly benefit will be reduced if the payments begin before normal retirement age. The reduction occurs because it is expected that payments will be made over a longer period of time.

Regular Early Retirement: If you are at least age 55, and have at least five years of credited service, the benefit amount will be reduced by 5% for each year payments begin before normal retirement age.

Rule of 75 Early Retirement: If you are at least age 55 and the sum of your age and years of credited service equals 75 or more, the benefit amount will be reduced by 2.5% for each year payments begin before age 65.

EARLY RETIREMENT PAYMENT EXAMPLES

Laura elects to take Regular Early Retirement at age 60. She has twelve years of credited service. She wants to start receiving payments immediately. Let's assume her monthly retirement benefit is calculated to be $1,000, payable at age 65.

• Her benefit will be reduced from age 65.

• Laura's monthly retirement benefit beginning at age 60 is $750 ($1,000 x 75%).

• If she was age 55 instead of age 60 and started payments immediately, her benefit would be $500 ($1000 x 50%) per month.

Susan, age 58 with 18 years of credited service, is eligible for Rule of 75 early retirement because her age plus year of credited service is at least 75. She wants to start receiving payments immediately. Let's assume her monthly retirement benefit is calculated to be $1000, payable at age 65.

• Her benefit will be reduced from age 65.

• Susan's monthly retirement benefit beginning at age 58 is $825 ($1,000 x 82.5%).

• If she was age 55 instead of age 58 and started payments immediately, , she would not be eligible for the Rule of 75 (55+18 = 73), but would still be eligible for a regular early retirement benefit. Susan’s normal retirement age at her retirement date is age 62(80 – 18 = 62). Because her normal retirement age is age 62, the table above cannot be used and her benefit is reduced by 5% for each year she retires before age 62. Her benefit would be $650 ($1000 x 65%) per month.

FORMS OF BENEFIT PAYMENT

There are several forms of payment available when you get ready to retire. You may elect to have benefits paid to you only or to you and a beneficiary.

The retirement Plan has several ways in which your monthly benefit can be paid. When you get ready to retire, you must elect a form of payment in writing at least 30 days before you want the payments to begin. You may change the option you have elected, but this change must also be made at least 30 days before the first payment is due. Elections must be filed with the Retirement Board. Once your payments have begun, you cannot change your form of payment, even if you incur a change in status due to divorce, marriage or the death of your beneficiary. However, your designated beneficiary may be changed after your payments have begun for the single life benefit, or any optional life and term certain form of payment elected.

Spousal Consent: For married participants to receive benefit payments in any form other than the 50% joint and survivor option, the participant's spouse must agree in writing to that form of payment and the agreement must be notarized or witnessed by a Plan representative. The Retirement Board has forms for this alternate designation and payment cannot begin until a properly completed form is received by the Board. For purposes of electing optional forms of payments under the Plan, a civil union partner under Colorado law is treated as a spouse.

Life and Term Certain: The adjusted benefit is a monthly payment to you for your lifetime. If you die before receiving 60 payments (5 years), 120 payments (10 years), or 180 payments (15 years), whichever you elected initially, your beneficiary will receive the remainder of the payments. For example, if you elected 120 payments and die after receiving payments for 48 months, your beneficiary will receive the remaining 72 payments (120 minus 48).

Joint and Survivor: The joint and survivor benefit pays an adjusted benefit to you for your lifetime. After your death, either 100% or 50% (whichever you initially elected) of your adjusted benefit will continue to your spouse for his or her lifetime. Upon the death of your spouse, payments will stop. If your spouse dies before you, payments will stop when you die. The 50% joint and survivor form of payment, with your spouse as beneficiary, is the only form of payment that married employees may elect without spousal consent.

Single Life Benefit: You may elect to receive a monthly benefit for your lifetime only. The monthly payments stop when you die. There are no monthly survivor benefits (see "Minimum Payment" below). This is the form of payment for the benefit amount calculated by the Plan's benefit formula.

Direct Rollover: If you receive a lump-sum payment from the Plan, you may be eligible to directly roll over all or a portion of your benefit that includes your before-tax contributions and earnings. You may request a direct rollover to an IRA (Individual Retirement Account) or

another qualified employer plan. See Human Resources for more information if this applies to you.

Minimum Payment: If your monthly benefit when you retire is less than $100, the Retirement Board may elect to pay you an equivalent amount on a quarterly basis. Also, if the total amount of benefits paid to you and your beneficiary is less than the total of your accumulated contributions, the difference will be paid to your beneficiary (or your estate if your beneficiary dies before you).

The table below shows how your benefit payments are affected if you elect an optional form of payment:

BENEFICIARY DESIGNATIONS

Persons eligible to be designated as your beneficiary are your spouse or any other person, subject to the spousal consent rules described earlier in this section. You may also name your estate as your beneficiary.

When you begin to participate in the Plan, you will designate a beneficiary for your accumulated contributions. When you retire and select the form of retirement benefit payments you want, you will designate a beneficiary for survivor benefits. All beneficiary designations for married participants are subject to the spousal consent rules described earlier in this section.

If your beneficiary dies before the due date of your first benefit payment and you do not name a new beneficiary, benefits will be paid to you as follows:

• If you are married, you will receive a benefit under the 50% joint and survivor form of payment, with your spouse as the beneficiary; or

• If you are single, you will receive a benefit under the single life annuity form of payment, with your estate as the beneficiary if the total amount of benefits paid to you is less than the total of your accumulated contributions.

CHANGING YOUR BENEFICIARY

For retirement purposes, you may change your beneficiary designation at any time up to 30 days before payments begin. After benefit payments have begun under either of the joint and survivor forms of payment, you may not change the beneficiary. You may change your beneficiary after payments have begun under the life and term certain and single life forms of payments.

OBTAINING YOUR BENEFITS

When you decide to retire, you should notify Human Resources at least 30 days in advance of the date you want payments to begin. You will decide on the type of retirement benefit you want to receive and when you want payments to begin. Also, you will name a beneficiary for any survivor benefits that may be applicable.

If you terminate your employment with the County prior to being eligible for early retirement, you will need to discuss your status as a vested member and/or distribution of your accumulated contributions with Human Resources.

PROTECTING YOUR SURVIVORS

Your spouse will be eligible to receive a monthly benefit if you die before benefit payments begin.

Certain benefits under this Plan are protected for your survivors when you die.

DEATH BEFORE PAYMENTS BEGIN FOR VESTED MEMBERS

If you are single, your beneficiary or estate will receive two times the amount of your accumulated contributions if you die after earning enough service to be a "vested member" (See “If You Leave” section) whose payments have not started yet.

If you are married, and die before benefit payments begin, as a vested member your surviving spouse must elect the type of benefit to be paid. The options are:

1. A monthly benefit for life, which will be 75% of the benefit you had earned as of the date of your death. Payments to your surviving spouse will normally begin on the first day of the month following your date of death, regardless of your age when you died.

OR

1. Two times the amount of your accumulated contributions in a lump-sum payment. This amount is payable immediately after the election is made, regardless of your age when you died.

Benefits described in this section apply to married members who are employed by the County or who have terminated employment with the County and have a vested benefit, but payments have not started yet.

Upon notice of your death, the Retirement Board will send forms to the surviving spouse to elect the payment option. Payments will not be made until this completed form is received by the Retirement Board.

DEATH AFTER PAYMENTS BEGIN

• If you die after retiring and benefit payments have begun, payments will continue according to the payment method you selected.

• If you and your beneficiary die before the total amount of benefits paid is equal to the amount of your accumulated contributions or the amount of any guaranteed number of payments, your estate will receive the balance.

IF YOU LEAVE

Terminating your employment with the County after five years of credited service entitles you to a vested benefit, payable at normal retirement age or at any time after age 55 in accordance with the early retirement provisions. With less than five years, you will receive your accumulated contributions.

If you terminate your employment with the County before you are eligible for early retirement and you have less than five years of credited service, you will receive your accumulated contributions. Payment will be made within 90 days after your last day of employment.

BECOMING A VESTED MEMBER

After five years of credited service, you become 100% vested, and you have an option when you terminate your employment:

• You can leave your accumulated contributions on deposit in the retirement trust and become a vested member, or

• You can elect to withdraw your accumulated contributions and give up your right to any other benefits under the retirement Plan.

Elected officers and appointed officials of the County become 100% vested in their earned benefit regardless of their years of credited service if they are not reelected to County office or reemployed by the County within 30 days after their term of office expires.

If you do not elect to receive your accumulated contributions within 90 days of your termination date, you automatically become a vested member. However, as a vested member, you may elect at any time prior to commencing a monthly retirement benefit to receive your accumulated contributions. Once you receive your accumulated contributions, you give up your rights to all other benefits under the Plan. If you are married and elect to withdraw your accumulated contributions and give up your right to a vested benefit, your spouse must consent in writing to this form of payment.

VESTED BENEFIT AMOUNT

As a vested member in the retirement Plan, you have the right to receive an unreduced retirement benefit at normal retirement age. The benefit amount is based on the benefit formula in the Plan on the date your employment ends.

You may also elect to have your vested retirement benefit payments begin as early as age 55. However, payments that begin before age 65 will be reduced because they are expected to be paid over a longer period of time.

INCOME TAX

The taxable portion of your accumulated contributions or retirement benefit becomes subject to income tax when distributed. If you receive the payment in a lump sum before age 59 ½, you also may have to pay an additional 10% tax. You may be able to use special tax rules to reduce the tax you owe, or you

may roll over the taxable portion of your accumulated contributions or lump sum benefit to another retirement plan or individual retirement account (IRA). When you leave the County, you will receive details on your situation, your options, and the laws at that time. You may want to consult a tax advisor before you take a payment of your benefits from the Plan.

REEMPLOYMENT OF FORMER PARTICIPANTS

If you stop your employment with the County before being eligible for a retirement benefit and are later rehired on a full-time basis, your credited service for calculating future benefits will be determined by the break in service rules defined in the section on Factors Affecting Your Benefit.

REEMPLOYMENT OF RETIREES

If you are reemployed by the County on a full-time basis after having retired, your monthly benefit payments will stop while you are employed. When you retire again, your monthly benefit will be recalculated based on any additional credited service and compensation and will be reduced to reflect your previous benefit payments. However, if you retire under the Rule of 80 normal retirement, you can continue to work or return to work for the County without stopping retirement benefit payments, regardless of full-time or part-time employment status.

WORKING AFTER RETIREMENT

Employees who retire under the Rule 80 of normal retirement, regardless of full-time or part-time employment, will be subject to a new working retiree program effective July 1, 2024. Under the new program, you can only be a working retiree for 18 months. Existing retirees who returned to work prior to July 1, 2024 can only remain a working retiree for an additional five years after this effective date. All working retirees, regardless of full-time or part-time employment, will contribute to the Retirement Plan, except for those who were part-time working retirees on or before January 1, 2024.

PLAN ADMINISTRATION

The Weld County Retirement Plan is managed by a five-member Retirement Board. Other important administrative information is covered here also.

CONTROL AND ADMINISTRATION

Plan administration is by a five-member Retirement Board, including:

• The incumbent County Treasurer;

• Two nonelected County employees, selected by their fellow employees; and

• Two qualified electors of the County, appointed by the Board of County Commissioners.

Duties of the Retirement Board include management of the Plan, interpreting the Plan's provisions, recommending any changes to the Plan for approval by the Board of County Commissioners, and controlling the level of contributions to the Plan by the County and its employees. Decisions of the Retirement Board are final and binding upon current and former participants and related parties.

PLAN PERMANENCE

The County and Retirement Board intend to continue the Weld County Retirement Plan indefinitely but reserve the right to change the plan or discontinue it. Any changes to the Plan must be for the exclusive benefit of the employees, retired employees or beneficiaries of Plan benefits, and must be made to protect all retirement benefits earned as of the date of the change.

If the plan ends, you will stop earning benefits and contributions to the Plan would stop; all affected funds in the retirement fund will be converted to cash and allocated to members and beneficiaries; and payments may be made in cash or nontransferable annuity contracts. Members or beneficiaries would first receive the total of their accumulated contributions and then the remaining funds would be allocated in accordance with the Plan document. No funds may be returned to the County unless all liabilities to members or beneficiaries have been satisfied. The Retirement Board will determine when benefits are to be paid.

PLAN YEAR

January 1 - December 31

ASSIGNMENT OF BENEFITS

The plan is intended to pay benefits only to you or your beneficiaries. Your benefits cannot be used as collateral for loans or be assigned in any other way, except as permitted under Colorado law for child support, or effective January I, 1997, for payments made in compliance with a court order due to a legal separation or divorce. You and/or your spouse may receive a summary of the Plan and domestic relations orders procedures by contacting Human Resources.

MAXIMUM BENEFITS

In accordance with federal regulations, the Plan has provisions detailing the maximum benefit you can receive. While most employees will never reach this maximum, the maximum is stated in the Plan's legal document.

EFFECT ON EMPLOYMENT

The Plan in no way guarantees you continued employment with the County. If you terminate your employment or if you are discharged, the Plan does not give you any right to any benefit or interest in the funds contributed by the County or earned by the retirement trust, except as specifically provided in the Plan.

Similarly, there is no prohibition in the Plan on terminated or retired employees receiving or continuing to receive retirement benefits, if eligible under the Plan, because they obtain employment with another employer.

PLAN DOCUMENT

This booklet describes the Plan in everyday language and tries to avoid the technical language of the Plan's legal document. If, in our efforts to make the Plan easy to understand, we have omitted or misstated any of the Plan's provisions, the Plan's official legal document must remain the final authority. If you wish, you may examine the legal document in Human Resources. The Plan described in this booklet was most recently amended and restated effective January 1, 2022.

SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS

You and the County contribute to provide Social Security benefits for you and your dependents. Monthly payments, and medical and survivor benefits are part of Social Security benefits.

Social Security benefits add to your County retirement Plan benefits to provide dependable income for your retirement years. Throughout your working career you and the County (and other employers, if applicable) contribute annual amounts set by federal law to provide Social Security benefits.

These benefits may include monthly retirement payments to you beginning as early as age 62, or sooner if you become disabled or die. Hospital and medical benefits begin for you and your dependents at age 65, or earlier in case of disability. Your dependents may qualify for survivor's benefits if you die.

WHEN YOU ARE ELIGIBLE

Before you can qualify for benefits, you must work for a required period of time under the Social Security program. Under current law, you receive one quarter of coverage (to a maximum of four quarters per year) for certain amounts of earnings in a year. For example, in 2023 for each $1,120 of earnings, you receive one quarter of coverage.

Once you have 40 quarters of coverage, you are fully "insured" for life. "Insured" means you'll be able to receive benefits at retirement. The amount of the monthly benefit will depend on your earnings during your working career.

YOUR BENEFITS

Calculating your monthly Social Security benefit is complicated and requires detailed information about your age, date of retirement, disability or death, and your year-by-year earnings history. The Social Security Administration makes this calculation for you when you retire.

If you are born before 1938, the age at which you can receive your full Social Security benefit (your full retirement age) is age 65. If you are born in 1938 or later, your full retirement age gradually increases from age 65 to age 67, as discussed below. You can begin your benefits before your full retirement age, but not earlier than age 62. If you begin your benefits before your full retirement age, you will receive a permanently reduced amount.

A change in the Social Security law passed in 1983 provides that beginning in the year 2003 the age for full Social Security benefits will gradually be raised, reaching age 67 in the year 2025:

• The age for full benefits will increase by two months each year from 2003 to 2008, when it will be age 66.
• Starting in 2020, the full benefit age will increase by two months a year until 2025, when it will be age 67.

MEDICARE

The four parts of Medicare - hospital insurance (Part A), medical insurance (Part B), Medicare Advantage (Part C) and prescription drug coverage (Part D) - provide health care protection for people ages 65 and older. Also eligible for Medicare are disabled people under age 65 who have been entitled to Social Security disability benefits for 24 months. Insured employees and their dependents who need dialysis treatment or a kidney transplant because of permanent kidney failure also have Medicare protection.

MORE INFORMATION

Detailed information about monthly benefit payments and Medicare coverage is available from the local Social Security office. Representatives will answer your questions and provide booklets about Social Security programs. You can find the location of the nearest office in the telephone directory under "U.S. Government, Social Security Administration." Otherwise, for additional information about these benefits, you may contact the Social Security Administration toll-free at 1-800-772-1213, or access the Social Security Administration website at www.ssa.gov .

ANNUAL STATEMENT

Each year, you will receive a personalized statement showing the retirement benefit you have earned to date based on your compensation and service. Additionally, this statement gives you an estimate of the benefit amount you can expect to receive from the retirement Plan if you continue to work for the County until age 65 and retire at that time.