Bowen v. Public Employees Retirement Board

# Bowen v. Public Employees Retirement Board ## What Happened Bowen worked for Union County for seven years before joining the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS). She believed those seven years should count toward her retirement benefits under PERS. The Public Employees Retirement Board disagreed and refused to credit her earlier service time. ## What the Court Decided The court sided with the retirement board. The judges ruled that the seven years Bowen worked before joining PERS could not be counted toward her retirement eligibility. The court determined that even though a Chief Justice had apparently promised this arrangement, no one had the legal authority to make such a promise. The retirement system's governing laws did not allow this exception. ## Why This Matters for Workers This ruling reinforces that retirement benefits are strictly controlled by written laws, not by verbal promises or handshake agreements. Workers cannot rely on informal assurances about retirement credit. If you believe you have a right to retirement benefits, you need it documented in official policy or a signed agreement, not just someone's word. Always get retirement promises in writing before accepting employment.