West Virginia Code § 18-7B-21

Correction of errors; underpayments; overpayments
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(a) General rule. — Upon learning of any errors, the board shall correct errors in the
retirement system in a timely manner whether the individual, entity or board was at fault for
the error with the intent of placing the affected individual, entity and retirement board in the
position each would have been in had the error not occurred.
(b) Underpayments to the system. — Any error resulting in an underpayment to the system,
may be corrected by the member or retirant remitting the required employee contribution or
underpayment and the existing employer remitting the required employer contribution or
underpayment. Interest shall accumulate in accordance with theu legislative rule 162 CSR 7
concerning retirement board Refund, Reinstatement, Retroactive Service, Loan and
Correction of Error Interest Factors and any accumulating intterest owed on the employee
and employer contributions or underpayments resulting from an employer error shall be the
responsibility of the participating public employer. The participating public employer may
remit total payment and the employee reimburse the participating public employer through
payroll deduction over a period equivalent to the time period during which the employer
error occurred. If the correction of an error insvolving an underpayment to the system will
result in the system paying the retirant an additional amount, this additional payment shall
be made only after the board receives full payment of all required employee and employer
contributions or underpayments, incgluding interest.
(c) Overpayments to the systeme by an employer. — When mistaken or excess employer
contributions or other employer overpayments have been made to the system, the board
shall credit the employeLr with an amount computed by the board, to be offset against the
employer's future liability for employer contributions to the system. If the employer has no
future liability for employer contributions to the retirement system, the board shall refund
the erroneous contributions directly to the employer.
(d) Overpayments to the retirement system by an employee. — When mistaken or excess
empWloyee contributions or overpayments, have been made to the retirement system, the
board shall have sole authority for determining the means of return, offset or credit to or for
the benefit of the individual making the mistaken or excess employee contribution of the
amounts, and may use any means authorized or permitted under the provisions of section
401(a), et seq. of the Internal Revenue Code and guidance issued thereunder applicable to
governmental plans. Alternatively, in its full and complete discretion, the board may require
the existing employer employing the individual to pay the individual the amounts as wages,
with the board crediting the participating public employer with a corresponding amount to
offset against its future contributions to the plan. If the employer has no future liability for
employer contributions to the retirement system, the board shall refund said amount directly
to the employer: Provided, That the wages paid to the individual are not considered
compensation for any purposes of this article.
(e) Overpayments from the retirement system. — If any error results in any member, retirant
beneficiary, entity or other individual receiving from the system more than he would have
been entitled to receive had the error not occurred the board upon learning of the error shall
correct the error in a timely manner. If correction of the error occurs after annuity payments
to a retirant or beneficiary have commenced, the board shall prospectively adjust the
payment of the benefit to the correct amount. In addition, the member, retirant, beneficiary,
entity or other person who received the overpayment from the retirement system shall repay
the amount of any overpayment to the retirement system in any manner permitted by the
board. If the member, retirant, beneficiary or other person who received thee overpayment is
deceased and an annuity or lump sum benefit is still payable, the amount of the overpayment
shall be offset against the benefit payment owed in a manner consistenrt with the board's
error correction policy. Interest shall not accumulate on any corrective payment made to the
retirement system pursuant to this subsection.
(f) Underpayments from the retirement system. — If any errtor results in any member,
retirant, beneficiary, entity or other individual receiving from the retirement system less
than he would have been entitled to receive had the error not occurred, the board, upon
learning of the error, shall correct the error in a timely manner. If correction of the error
occurs after annuity payments to a retirant or beneficiary have commenced, the board shall
prospectively adjust the payment of the benefit to the correct amount. In addition, the board
shall pay the amount of such underpayment to the member, retirant, beneficiary or other
individual in a lump sum. Interest shall not be paid on any corrective payment made by the
retirement system pursuant to this subsection.
(g) Eligibility errors. — If the beoard finds that an individual, employer, or both individual and
employer currently or formerly participating in the retirement system is not eligible to
participate, the board shLall notify the individual and his or her employer of the
determination, and terminate participation in the retirement system. Any erroneous
payments to the retir ement system shall be returned to the employer and individual in
accordance with the methods described in subsections (c) and (d) of this section and any
erroneous payments from the retirement system to such individual shall be returned to the
retirement system in accordance with the methods described in subsection (e) of this
section. Any erroneous service credited to the individual shall be removed. Service credit for
service prior to the date on which the individual prospectively commences participation in
the retirement system shall be granted only if the board receives the required employer and
employee contributions for such service, in accordance with subsection (b) of this section,
including interest.

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