PERSI Overview

PERSI is Idaho’s retirement system for public employees. If you work for a PERSI-covered employer, like the District, you’re automatically enrolled in the Base Plan. 

Both you and your employer contribute. Your contributions go into a personal account; employer contributions help fund future benefits. No action on your part is necessary, contributions will begin automatically.

After 60 months of service (with any PERSI employer), you're vested and eligible for a lifetime benefit at retirement. With over 800 participating employers, you can move between public jobs without losing your PERSI membership.

Who is eligible?

Employees automatically become a member of PERSI and eligible for the Base Plan if:

• The employer belongs to PERSI and;

• Employment is for 5 consecutive months or more and;

• The employee normally works 20 hours or more per week or is a teacher who works a half-time contract or more.

*Substitutes are exempt from PERSI membership

PERSI Choice 401(k)

The PERSI Choice 401(k) Plan is a voluntary retirement savings option for PERSI-eligible employees. It supplements your PERSI Base Plan, and you can choose from several investment fund options within the PERSI Choice 401(k) Plan to create a diversified portfolio.

You choose how much to contribute:

• • A percentage (1%–100%) or a flat dollar amount

  • 2025 IRS limit: $23,000 (plus $7,500 catch-up if age 50+)

To get started:
Log in to Employee Online, go to Payroll Information, and fill out the 401(k) Paycheck Contribution Election form. Then, submit it to Payroll at the DSC.

How Unused Sick Leave Helps at Retirement

As a PERSI member, unused sick leave rolls over year to year and can be used at retirement to help pay premiums for employer-sponsored insurance (health, dental, vision, life), per Idaho Code § 33-1228.

⚠️ You must have at least one (1) day of unused sick leave at retirement in order to continue paying benefit premiums through PERSI.

How to Calculate Your Benefit:

What You’ll Need:

Unused Sick Days -  Log in to Absence Management to find your sick leave balance. If leave is in hours, convert to days (Sick Hours ÷ Hours Worked Per Day).

Check out Viewing Absence Reason Balances if you need help finding your sick leave balance.

Highest Daily Rate of Pay with a PERSI Employer - If you've only worked for the District, your highest daily rate of pay can be found in Employee Online.

Check out Employee Online | How to View District Job History  if you need help finding your daily rate of pay with the District.

Formula: (Unused Sick Days ÷ 2) × Highest Daily Rate of Pay

Example: (100 unused days ÷ 2) × $150 = $7,500

Want To Learn More?

It’s never too early to plan for your future. If you're PERSI-eligible, don’t miss out—sign up for a PERSI Member Workshop today!