HomeMy WebLinkAboutLocal Safety Member Benefit Pub 9What You Need to Know About Your CalPERS
Local Safety Benefits
YouR BENEfitS | YouR futuRE
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ContentS
Introduction .............................................3
Your Retirement Benefits .................................4
Service Retirement or “Normal” Retirement ...................4
Disability Retirement ...................................4
Industrial Disability Retirement ............................4
How Your Retirement Is Funded ...........................5
How Your Retirement Benefit Is Calculated ...................5
Estimating Your Retirement Allowance .......................8
Decisions to Make Before You Retire .......................9
Your Options at Retirement ...............................9
Survivor Continuance ..................................11
Pre-Retirement Death Benefits ...........................12
Not Job-Related Death, Not Eligible to Retire ................12
Not Job-Related Death, Eligible to Retire ....................14
Job-Related Death, Not Eligible to Retire ....................15
Job-Related Death, Eligible to Retire .......................17
1959 Survivor Benefit Program ...........................18
Health Insurance, Covered Under PeMHCA ................20
How Retirement Affects Your Health Benefits .................20
Your Separation Date and Your Retirement Date ...............21
Making Changes to Your Health Plan After Retirement ..........22
Additional Benefits to Consider ..........................23
Reciprocity — Other California Public Retirement Systems .......23
Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) .......................23
Inflation Protection (PPPA) ..............................23
Sick Leave Credit .....................................24
Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 401 (a)(17)
Contribution Limit ....................................24
Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 415 (b)
Retirement Benefit Limit ................................25
Retirement Formulas and Benefit Factors .................26
2% at 50 Benefit Factors ................................26
2% at 55 Benefit Factors ................................28
2% at 57 Benefit Factors ................................30
2.5% at 55 Benefit Factors ...............................32
2.5% at 57 Benefit Factors ...............................34
2.7% at 57 Benefit Factors ...............................36
3% at 50 Benefit Factors ................................38
3% at 55 Benefit Factors ................................40
2 CalPERS Member Publication | Local Safety
Become a More Informed Member ........................42
CalPERS On-Line .....................................42
Reaching Us By Phone .................................42
my|CalPERS .........................................42
CalPERS Education Center ..............................42
Visit Your Nearest CalPERS Regional Office ..................43
Glossary ...............................................44
Information Practices Statement .........................46
Special thanks ..........................................47
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IntRoDUCtIon
Retirement can be one of the best stages in your life. It can also be complicated
and at times stressful, if you are not educated about your benefits and have not
done the proper planning. Understanding the fundamentals of your CalPERS
retirement benefits is a good first step toward a happy and fruitful retirement.
This publication describes retirement benefits and formulas for Local Safety
members. “Local Safety” members are individuals employed by a public agency
or special district that has contracted with CalPERS who are involved in law
enforcement, fire suppression, the protection of public safety, or who are
employed in a position designated by law as “Local Safety.”
Featured throughout this publication are CalPERS members from the Amador
County Sheriffs Department, Jackson Police Department, Sacramento
Metro Fire, and the Sacramento Police Department Mounted Unit. Like
them, you deserve to understand the full spectrum of retirement and death
benefits available for you and your beneficiary(ies). This publication will help
educate you about your retirement formulas and benefits. It will also provide
you information on contributions, health benefits, and other programs you
should consider before and after retirement. It will help you to choose the best
retirement option for you and your beneficiary(ies).
You may obtain a copy of any publication or form referenced in this publication,
by calling CalPERS at 888 CalPERS (or 888-225-7377) or by visiting CalPERS
On-Line at www.calpers.ca.gov.
4 CalPERS Member Publication | Local Safety
YoUR RetIReMent BeneFItS
There are three types of retirement benefits:
Service Retirement or “Normal” Retirement
Disability Retirement
Industrial Disability Retirement
Service Retirement or “normal” Retirement
To be eligible for service retirement, you must be at least age 50 and have a
minimum of five years of CalPERS-credited service. If you are employed on
a part-time basis, and you have worked at least five years, contact CalPERS to
find out if an exception will apply to you. There is no mandatory retirement
age for Local Safety members.
If you are considering applying for a service retirement, you should obtain
the CalPERS publication A Guide to Completing Your CalPERS Service
Retirement Election Application.
Disability Retirement
This type of retirement applies to you if you become disabled and can no
longer perform the duties of your job. Disability retirement has no minimum
age requirement and does not have to be job-related. However, you must have
a minimum of five years of CalPERS service credit. If you are employed on a
part-time basis and you have worked at least five years, contact CalPERS to
find out if an exception may apply to you.
Industrial Disability Retirement
This type of retirement applies to you if you become disabled from a job-related
injury or illness and can no longer perform the duties of your job. Industrial
disability retirement has no minimum age or service credit requirement.
You may apply for a disability or industrial disability retirement if:
You are working for a CalPERS-covered employer; or
You are within four months of separation from a CalPERS-covered
employer; or
You separated at any time from your CalPERS-covered employer because
of a disability and you have remained disabled since then; or
You are on military or approved leave.
As a Local Safety member, your employer will make the determination as
Emergency Retirement
CalPERS will expedite
retirement processing for
you if you are terminally
ill or facing imminent death.
Contact CalPERS or your
employer immediately
if there is a need for
emergency retirement.
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to whether you are incapacitated. Once the determination is made, your
employer will notify CalPERS of their finding and we will administer the
benefit accordingly.
If you are considering applying for disability or industrial disability retirement,
you should obtain the CalPERS publication A Guide to Completing Your
CalPERS Disability Retirement Election Application.
How Your Retirement Is Funded
Three sources fund a defined benefit retirement plan like CalPERS. First,
employees generally make contributions into the System. The percentage of
your contribution is fixed by statute and is generally intended to be an amount
that will cover half of the normal cost of the benefit earned per year. Normal
cost will vary by benefit type as higher benefit formulas have higher normal
costs. The second source of funding is earnings from the investment of System
assets in stocks, bonds, real estate, and other investment vehicles. The amount
contributed from this source fluctuates from year to year. The balance of the
funding is provided by employer contributions. Employer contributions decline
when investment returns rise and increase when investment returns decline.
In a defined benefit retirement plan, a retiree will receive a benefit
determined by a set formula. CalPERS uses the member’s years of service,
age at retirement, and highest one-year or three-year compensation while
employed. This contrasts with a defined contribution plan, in which the
benefits are determined not by a formula, but solely by the amount of
contributions in an account, plus earnings.
How Your Retirement Benefit Is Calculated
Now that you understand the basic building blocks of a defined benefit
retirement plan, it’s time to learn how to calculate your retirement benefit.
Three factors are multiplied together to calculate your service retirement:
Service Credit
Benefit Factor
Final Compensation
Service Credit
You earn service credit for each year or partial year you work for a CalPERS-
covered employer. Service credit accumulates on a fiscal year basis, July 1
through June 30. Refer to your CalPERS Annual Member Statement to verify
your current service credit total as of June 30.
In some cases, you may be eligible for other types of service credit that can help
6 CalPERS Member Publication | Local Safety
you maximize your retirement benefit. Other types of service credit include:
Unused sick leave at retirement
Redeposit of contributions you previously withdrew from CalPERS
Service with a CalPERS-covered employer prior to your date
of membership
Service with a public agency prior to the date of that agency’s
contract with CalPERS
Certain types of leaves of absence, military service, Peace Corps,
AmeriCorps*Vista, AmeriCorps
For more information about service credit, obtain the CalPERS publication
A Guide to Your CalPERS Service Credit Purchase Options.
Benefit Factor
Your benefit factor is the percentage of pay to which you are entitled for each
year of service. It is determined by your age at retirement and the retirement
formula based on your membership date with each employer. This guide
explains the following Local Safety retirement formulas:
Limitations
The percentage of pay to which you are entitled is limited for the following
retirement formulas:
Percentage of pay to which you are entitled cannot exceed
90 percent of your final compensation.
Percentage of pay to which you are entitled cannot exceed
90 percent of your final compensation.**
Percentage of pay to which you are entitled cannot exceed
90 percent of your final compensation.**
Percentage of pay to which you are entitled cannot exceed
90 percent of your final compensation.
Percentage of pay to which you are entitled cannot exceed
90 percent of your final compensation.
502percent@
552percent@
55percent@52.
503percent@
553percent@
Health Vesting
Consult your agency
Personnel office or call
CalPeRS to determine
which types of service
credit apply to health
vesting requirements.
Final Compensation
Limits
the Public employees’
Retirement Law limits
the percentage of final
compensation a safety
member may receive. If
you have service under
different safety formulas,
the service under the
different formulas might
not combine toward
the limit. Additionally,
service in a miscellaneous
retirement formula is not
applied against the limit.
Membership date on or after January 1, 2013
If you have service under both the 2% @ 55 (Local Safety) and the 2.5% @ 55 formula (Local Safety),
the percentage under the two formulas combined cannot exceed 90 percent of final compensation.
553percent@503percent@
502percent@ 55percent@52.57percent@52.
57percent@72.
552percent@ 572percent@ (*)
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Refer to your CalPERS Annual Member Statement to verify your retirement
formula. If you have safety service with multiple employers and under different
safety formulas, there could be more than one maximum benefit cap applied
to your retirement allowance. Contact CalPERS for more information.
Understanding Your Retirement Formula
Starting on page 26 we have provided two charts for each of the Local Safety
retirement formulas. The first chart shows how the benefit factor increases
for each quarter year of age and the number of years of service to reach your
maximum percentage allowed by law. The second chart shows the percentage
of final compensation you will receive.
If you became a member prior to January 1, 2013, but you permanently
separate from employment and return to membership after a break in service
of more than 6 months, you are subject to the retirement formula in place on
January 1, 2013 for any service credit earned after that date. This does not
apply if you return to the same employer.
Note: All State departments are considered the same State employer. All school
county offices and districts are considered the same school employer.
Final Compensation
Your final compensation is the highest average pay rate and special
compensation during any consecutive one-year or three-year period. Which
compensation period we use depends on your membership date and employer’s
contract with CalPERS. If you are not sure, ask your Personnel Office. We
use your full-time pay rate, not your earnings. If you work part-time, we will
use your full-time equivalent pay rate to determine your final compensation.
my|CalPERS automatically finds and uses the highest compensation period
during your employment with CalPERS.
If your membership date is on or after January 1, 2013, and you are
coordinated with Social Security, there is a cap on the compensation used to
calculate your benefit equal to the Social Security wage base, or $113,700 in
2013. If you are not coordinated with Social Security, the cap on compensation
used to calculate your benefit is equal to 120 percent of the Social Security
wage base, or $136,400 in 2013. The actual compensation cap depends on
the year of retirement and is adjusted annually based on the Consumer Price
Index for all Urban Consumers.
Special Compensation
Certain items such as special compensation earned during your final
compensation period may be included in your final compensation. Contact
your employer or CalPERS if you are unsure which items of special
compensation can be included.
Pay Rate
Pay rate is your base pay,
paid on a full-time basis
during normal working
hours.
8 CalPERS Member Publication | Local Safety
estimating Your Retirement Allowance
More Than One Year From Retirement
You have two options for generating retirement estimates when you are more
than one year from your expected retirement date.
The first option is to use the CalPERS Retirement Estimate Calculator on our
website at www.calpers.ca.gov. This online calculator allows you to generate
multiple estimates, customizing them to include projections based on:
Career plans
Expected promotions or pay increases
Special Compensation
Possible changes to your time base
Any expected formula changes
Alternative retirement dates
Additional service credit
You can print but not save estimates produced using this calculator.
The second option is to log into my|CalPERS at my.calpers.ca.gov, which
requires a username and password, to obtain an estimate that incorporates data
your employer already reported to CalPERS. You can generate a variety of
scenarios and save them in my|CalPERS for future reference.
Within One Year of Retirement
If you are within one year of your expected retirement date, you may request a
CalPERS-generated retirement estimate by completing a Retirement Allowance
Estimate Request Form and mailing it to the address on the form. You can find
this form in the Forms & Publications Center at www.calpers.ca.gov.
A CalPERS-generated retirement estimate uses your most current CalPERS
account information, but does not include projections of salary increases,
special compensation or other job-related changes. It allows you to make
informed retirement decisions and verify that our records properly reflect or
match yours.
When you eventually submit your retirement election application, you must
specify a retirement option and designate a beneficiary. The CalPERS-
generated estimate may display options that are not available with the online
Retirement Estimate Calculator.
You are limited to two CalPERS-generated estimate requests in a 12-month
period and must be within one year of retirement.
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DeCISIonS to MAke BeFoRe YoU RetIRe
Your options at Retirement
At retirement, you can choose to receive the highest benefit payable, which
is referred to as the “Unmodified Allowance.” The Unmodified Allowance
provides a monthly benefit to you that ends upon your death.
You also have the choice of requesting a reduction in the Unmodified
Allowance to provide a lump-sum or monthly benefit for a beneficiary upon
your death. This section gives you an overview of various options available
to you at retirement.
Option 1
This retirement option provides a lump-sum payment of your remaining
member contributions to your beneficiary after your death. The reduction to
your monthly benefit to provide this payment is based on your life expectancy
at retirement and the amount of your contributions. You may name one
or more beneficiary(ies), and you may name a new beneficiary at any time.
If you name someone other than your spouse or registered domestic
partner as your Option 1 beneficiary(ies), upon your death your spouse
or domestic partner may still be entitled to a community property share
of any remaining contributions.
The following options, 2, 2W, 3, 3W, and 4, provide lifetime monthly benefits
to your designated beneficiary. The reduction to your monthly benefit to provide
a monthly allowance to your beneficiary is based on both your life expectancy at
retirement and your beneficiary’s - the younger your beneficiary, the greater the
reduction. If you have someone eligible for Survivor Continuance, the reduction is
applied only to the option portion of your allowance. In most cases, you may name
only one beneficiary, and you may not change your designation after retirement
except under limited circumstances.
You may name someone other than your spouse or registered domestic partner
for a lifetime death benefit allowance under options 2, 2W, 3, 3W or 4.
However, your spouse or registered domestic partner may be entitled to a
community property share of the beneficiary’s monthly death benefit.
Option 2
The same retirement allowance you receive will be paid to your beneficiary
for life. If Survivor Continuance applies, and your beneficiary is not your
eligible survivor, the beneficiary’s allowance will not include the Survivor
Continuance portion. Your retirement allowance will increase to the
Unmodified Allowance if:
Your beneficiary dies; or
Your non-spouse or non-domestic partner beneficiary waives entitlement
to the Option 2 benefit;
Your beneficiary is your spouse or domestic partner legally recognized in
California and upon a divorce, legal separation, termination of partnership,
Unmodified Allowance
the Unmodified
Allowance is the highest
amount payable and
provides a monthly
benefit to you that ends
upon your death.
10 CalPERS Member Publication | Local Safety
or annulment you provide CalPERS with a judgment that awards you
the entire interest in your CalPERS benefits and
You notify CalPERS of the change.
Option 2W
As an alternative to the Option 2, you may elect the slightly higher
allowance under Option 2W. However, your allowance will not increase
to the Unmodified Allowance under the situations described in Option 2.
Option 3
In this option, one-half of your monthly retirement allowance will be paid to
your beneficiary for life. If Survivor Continuance applies, and your beneficiary
is not your eligible survivor, the beneficiary’s allowance will not include the
Survivor Continuance portion. Your retirement allowance will increase to the
Unmodified Allowance if:
Your beneficiary dies; or
Your non-spouse or non-domestic partner beneficiary waives entitlement
to the Option 3 benefit;
Your beneficiary is your spouse or domestic partner legally recognized in
California and upon a divorce, legal separation, termination of partnership,
or annulment you provide CalPERS with a judgment that awards you the
entire interest in your CalPERS benefits; and
You notify CalPERS of the change.
Option 3W
As an alternative to the Option 3, you may elect the slightly higher
allowance under Option 3W. However, your allowance will not increase
to the Unmodified Allowance under the situations described in Option 3.
Option 4
Option 4 is a somewhat flexible option. There are several unique variations
of Option 4, each specifically designed to mesh with various situations that
might apply to you. If you are interested in choosing a lifetime option, you
should familiarize yourself with these options by obtaining the CalPERS
publication A Guide to CalPERS Retirement Option 4. The amount payable
to your beneficiary under Option 4 cannot exceed the amount payable
under Option 2W. The percentage payable to a beneficiary must be less
than 100 percent. Please note: There is no provision with any variation
of Option 4 for your allowance to increase to the Unmodified Allowance
under the situations described in Option 2 or 3.
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Survivor Continuance
In making a decision about whether to reduce your Unmodified Allowance
to provide for a beneficiary, you will want to consider if your employer offers
Survivor Continuance. This is a contracted employer paid benefit that public
agency employers can offer you. This benefit consists of a monthly allowance
that automatically continues to an eligible survivor following your death after
retirement regardless of the retirement option you select.
Who is Eligible?
Your spouse, if you were married for at least one year before your retirement
and remained married until the date of your death, will receive the Survivor
Continuance benefit for life. (For disability retirement, you need only to
have been married at retirement and remained married until the date of
your death.)
Your domestic partner, if you were legally registered at least one year prior to
your retirement and continuously until your death, will receive the Survivor
Continuance benefit for life. (For disability retirement, you need only
to have been registered as domestic partners at retirement and remained
registered until the date of your death.)
If you do not have an eligible spouse or registered domestic partner,
your natural or adopted unmarried children under age 18 will receive
this monthly benefit until marriage or age 18. An unmarried child who
was disabled prior to age 18 and whose disability has continued without
interruption will receive this benefit until the disability ends or until marriage.
Qualifying financially dependent parents, if none of the above.
Survivor Continuance
Survivor Continuance will
apply only if you have an
eligible family member as
of the date of your death.
Impact of Social
Security
If your service is not
coordinated with Social
Security, the Survivor
Continuance will be one-
half of your Unmodified
Allowance. If your service
is coordinated with Social
Security, the Survivor
Continuance will be one-
quarter of your Unmodified
Allowance. If you have some
time covered and some time
not covered under Social
Security, or if you have a
combination of service under
CalPeRS with the State or a
local public agency, special
consideration must be
given to figure the Survivor
Continuance amount.
12 CalPERS Member Publication | Local Safety
PRe-RetIReMent DeAtH BeneFItS
As a CalPERS member, you are eligible for various pre-retirement death
benefits depending on your membership category, employer, retirement
eligibility status, and other factors. The benefits range from a simple return
of your contributions plus interest to a monthly allowance payable to a spouse
or domestic partner equal to what you would have received upon retirement.
To be eligible for any type of monthly pre-retirement death benefit, your
spouse or domestic partner must have been either married to you or legally
registered before the occurrence of the injury or the onset of the illness that
resulted in your death or for at least one year prior to your death.
Each member’s death benefits can vary significantly depending on
circumstances and data. Questions relating to specific situations should
be addressed to CalPERS staff for a more accurate description of
individual benefits.
Upon a member’s pre-retirement death, the respective employer and surviving
family member are encouraged to immediately contact CalPERS for assistance.
For your convenience, we have divided the pre-retirement section into two parts:
Not Job-Related Death
Job-Related Death
not Job-Related Death, not eligible to Retire
You must be at least age 50 and have a minimum of five years of CalPERS-
credited service or have worked part-time for at least five years to be eligible
to retire. If you pass away before you are eligible to retire, your beneficiary(ies)
are entitled to the following benefits.
Alternate Death Benefit for Qualified Firefighters
Talk to your employer to find out if they have contracted for this benefit.
This benefit applies to members who have 20 or more years of CalPERS
service credit at the time of death. Instead of the Basic Death Benefit, your
eligible spouse or registered domestic partner may receive a monthly allowance
equal to the amount you would have received if you had retired under a
service retirement” at age 50 and elected Option 2W or if you are older than
50 the Option 2W will be based on your age at death. Upon the death of your
spouse or registered domestic partner, the benefit will continue to your natural
or adopted unmarried children under age 18.
If you are not survived by either an eligible spouse or registered domestic
partner, but you are survived by minor unmarried children under age 18, the
unmarried children will receive an allowance until age 18 equal to one-half
of what your highest service retirement allowance would have been had you
retired at age 50, or if older than 50, it’s equal to half of what your highest
service retirement allowance would have been based on your age at death.
Eligibility for Monthly
Death Benefits
to be eligible for any type
of monthly pre-retirement
death benefit, your spouse
or domestic partner must
have been either married
to you or legally registered
before the occurrence of
the injury or the onset of
the illness that resulted in
your death or for at least
one year prior to your
death.
Pre-Retirement Death
Benefits Designations
If you name a beneficiary
other than your spouse
or registered domestic
partner, your spouse
or registered domestic
partner will still receive
their community property
share. the remainder will
be paid to your designated
beneficiary(ies). to
designate a beneficiary,
please obtain a CalPeRS
Beneficiary Designation
Form from your personnel
office or from CalPeRS
on-Line. (note: this
designation will be valid
only if your death is not
job-related. Different rules
apply to job-related death
benefit eligibility.)
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Inactive Members
Beneficiaries of members
who were separated from
employment more than
120 days for non-health
reasons are only eligible
for the Limited Death
Benefit, which consists of
a return of contributions
and interest from the
member’s account.
or ..................................
Basic Death Benefit
The Basic Death Benefit will be paid if:
no one is eligible for the Alternate Death Benefit, or
the person who is eligible for the Alternate Death Benefit chooses instead
to receive the Basic Death Benefit; or
a person other than a spouse or registered domestic partner is designated
as a beneficiary for all or a portion of your contributions
and interest.
Benefit Payments
If no one is eligible for the Alternate Death Benefit, your beneficiary will
receive a lump-sum payment of:
a refund of your contributions, plus interest; and
up to six months’ pay (one month’s salary rate for each year of current
service to a maximum of six months).
Your beneficiary for the Basic Death Benefit will be determined as follows:
named beneficiary, or if none;
spouse or registered domestic partner, or if none;
your children, or if none;
parents, or if none;
brothers and sisters, or if none;
estate if probated, or if not;
trust, or if none;
next of kin, as provided by law.
and .................................
1959 Survivor Benefit
Talk to your employer to find out if they have contracted for this benefit.
Applicable only for members not covered under Social Security while
employed under a CalPERS-covered agency. The 1959 Survivor Death
Benefit may not be payable if the Special Death Benefit is elected.
14 CalPERS Member Publication | Local Safety
not Job-Related Death, eligible to Retire
If you pass away at age 50 or over with a minimum of five years of CalPERS-
credited service, your beneficiary(ies) are eligible for the following benefits.
Pre-retirement Option 2W Death Benefit
Talk to your employer to find out if they have contracted for this benefit.
Your eligible spouse or registered domestic partner will receive a monthly
allowance equal to the amount you would have received if you had retired
under a “service retirement” on the date of your death and elected Option 2W.
The benefit is payable to your spouse or domestic partner until death. Upon
the death of your spouse or domestic partner, the benefit will continue to your
natural or adopted unmarried children under age 18.
or ..................................
1957 Survivor Benefit
This benefit provides a monthly allowance equal to one-half of what your
highest “service retirement” allowance would have been had you retired on
the date of your death. Those eligible to receive this allowance are:
your spouse or registered domestic partner, or if none;
your natural or adopted unmarried children under age 18.
or ..................................
Basic Death Benefit
The Basic Death Benefit will be paid if:
no one is eligible for either of the monthly allowances above; or
the person who is eligible for one of the monthly allowances above chooses
instead to receive the Basic Death Benefit; or
a person other than a spouse or registered domestic partner is designated
as a beneficiary for all or a portion of your contributions and interest.
Benefit Payments
Your beneficiary will receive a lump-sum payment of:
a refund of your contributions plus interest; and
up to six months’ pay (one month’s salary rate for each year of current
service to a maximum of six months).
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If no one is eligible for the Pre-retirement Option 2W Death Benefit or the
1957 Survivor Benefit, your beneficiary will be determined as follows:
named beneficiary, or if none;
spouse or registered domestic partner, or if none;
children, or if none;
parents, or if none;
brothers and sisters, or if none;
estate if probated, or if not;
trust, or if none;
next of kin, as provided by law.
and .................................
1959 Survivor Benefit
Talk to your employer to find out if they have contracted for this benefit.
Applicable only for members not covered under Social Security while
employed under a CalPERS-covered agency. The 1959 Survivor Death
Benefit may not be payable if the Special Death Benefit is elected.
Job-Related Death, not eligible to Retire
You must be at least age 50 and have a minimum of five years of CalPERS-
credited service to be eligible to retire. If you pass away before you are eligible
to retire and your death is determined to be job-related, your beneficiary(ies)
are entitled to the following benefits.
Special Death Benefit
Your eligible surviving spouse, registered domestic partner, or unmarried
children or eligible unmarried stepchildren may receive a monthly allowance
equal to one-half of your final compensation. If the cause of death is some
external violence or physical force while on the job, and there are eligible
surviving unmarried children in addition to your spouse or registered domestic
partner, the allowance may be increased to a maximum of 75 percent. The
Special Death Benefit is payable to your surviving spouse or registered
domestic partner until death, or to your unmarried children until age 22.
or ..................................
Alternate Death Benefit for Qualified Firefighters
Talk to your employer to find out if they have contracted for this benefit.
This benefit applies only if you had 20 or more years of CalPERS service
credit at the time of death. Instead of the Basic Death Benefit, your eligible
spouse or registered domestic partner may receive a monthly allowance equal
to the amount you would have received if you had retired under a “service
retirement” at age 50 and elected Option 2W. Upon the death of your spouse
16 CalPERS Member Publication | Local Safety
or registered domestic partner, the benefit will continue to your natural or
adopted unmarried children under age 18.
If you are not survived by either an eligible spouse or registered domestic
partner, but you are survived by unmarried minor children, the children will
receive an allowance equal to one-half of what your highest service retirement
allowance would have been had you retired at age 50.
or ..................................
Basic Death Benefit
The Basic Death Benefit will be paid if:
no one is eligible for either of the monthly allowances above; or
the person who is eligible for one of the monthly allowances above chooses
instead to receive the Basic Death Benefit.
Benefit Payments
Your beneficiary will receive a lump-sum payment of:
a refund of your contributions, plus interest; and
up to six months’ pay (one month’s salary rate for each year of current
service to a maximum of six months).
If no one is eligible for the Special Death Benefit or Alternate Death Benefit,
your beneficiary for the Basic Death Benefit will be determined as follows:
named beneficiary, or if none;
spouse or registered domestic partner, or if none;
children, or if none;
parents, or if none;
brothers and sisters, or if none;
estate if probated, or if not;
trust, or if none;
next of kin, as provided by law.
and .................................
1959 Survivor Benefit
Talk to your employer to find out if they have contracted for this benefit.
Applicable only for members not covered under Social Security while
employed under a CalPERS-covered agency. The 1959 Survivor Death
Benefit may not be payable if the Special Death Benefit is elected.
17888CalPERS (or 888-225-7377) | www.calpers.ca.gov
Job-Related Death, eligible to Retire
If you pass away at age 50 or over with a minimum of five years of CalPERS-
credited service, and your death is determined to be job-related, your
beneficiary(ies) are eligible for the following benefits.
Special Death Benefit
Your eligible surviving spouse, registered domestic partner, or unmarried
children or eligible unmarried stepchildren may receive a monthly allowance
equal to one-half of your final compensation. If the cause of death is some
external violence or physical force while on the job, and there are eligible
surviving unmarried children in addition to your spouse or registered domestic
partner, the allowance may be increased to a maximum of 75 percent.
The Special Death Benefit is payable to your surviving spouse or registered
domestic partner until death, or to your unmarried children until age 22.
or ..................................
Pre-retirement Option 2W Death Benefit
Talk to your employer to find out if they have contracted for this benefit.
Instead of the Special Death Benefit, your eligible spouse or registered
domestic partner may choose to receive a monthly allowance equal to
the amount you would have received if you had retired under a “service
retirement” on the date of your death and elected Option 2W. The benefit
is payable to your spouse or domestic partner until death. Upon the death
of your spouse or domestic partner, the benefit will continue to your natural
or adopted unmarried children under age 18.
or ..................................
1957 Survivor Benefit
This benefit provides a monthly allowance equal to one-half of what your
highest “service retirement” allowance would have been had you retired on
the date of your death. Those eligible to receive this allowance are:
your spouse, registered domestic partner, or if none;
your natural or adopted unmarried children under age 18.
or ..................................
Basic Death Benefit
The Basic Death Benefit will be paid if:
no one is eligible for any of the monthly allowances described above; or
the person who is eligible for one of the monthly allowances above chooses
instead to receive the Basic Death Benefit.
18 CalPERS Member Publication | Local Safety
Benefit Payments
Your beneficiary will receive a lump-sum payment of:
a refund of your contributions plus interest; and
up to six months’ pay (one month’s salary rate for each year of current
service to a maximum of six months).
If no one is eligible for the Special Death Benefit, the Pre-Retirement
Option 2W Death Benefit, or the 1957 Survivor Benefit, your beneficiary
will be determined as follows:
named beneficiary, or if none;
spouse or registered domestic partner, or if none;
children, or if none;
parents, or if none;
brothers and sisters, or if none;
estate if probated, or if not;
trust, or if none;
next of kin, as provided by law.
and .................................
1959 Survivor Benefit
Talk to your employer to find out if they have contracted for this benefit.
Applicable only for members not covered under Social Security while
employed under a CalPERS-covered agency. The 1959 Survivor Death
Benefit may not be payable if the Special Death Benefit is elected.
1959 Survivor Benefit Program
The 1959 Survivor Benefit coverage is available by contract amendment for
those not covered by federal Social Security with their employer. Covered
members are required to pay a minimum $2 monthly fee that is deducted from
their salary specifically to fund the 1959 Survivor Benefit Program.
The Program provides a monthly allowance to eligible survivors of members
who were covered by this benefit program and died before retirement. The
1959 Survivor Benefit allowance is payable in addition to any other pre-
retirement death benefit paid by CalPERS, with the possible exception of the
Special Death Benefit. If the 1959 Survivor Benefit is greater than the Special
Death Benefit, then the difference is paid as the 1959 Survivor Benefit.
Eligible Survivors
Spouse
A surviving spouse is a husband or wife who was legally married to you at least
one year before your death or before the occurrence of the injury or onset of
the illness that resulted in your death. A surviving spouse is entitled to the
1959 Survivor Benefit as long as they have care of an eligible child, or are at
19888CalPERS (or 888-225-7377) | www.calpers.ca.gov
least age 62 (age 60 at Level 4 and under the Indexed Level or, if contracted
by your employer for level 1, 2, or 3.) A surviving spouse may remarry and
continue to receive their allowance.
Domestic Partner
To be eligible, a surviving domestic partner must have been in a legally
registered domestic partnership with the member at least one year before the
member’s death or before the occurrence of the injury or onset of the illness
that resulted in the member’s death. A surviving registered domestic partner
is entitled to the 1959 Survivor Benefit as long as they have care of an eligible
child, or are at least age 62 (age 60 at Level 4 and under the Indexed Level
or, if contracted by your employer for Level 1, 2, or 3). A surviving registered
domestic partner may register as a domestic partner to someone else and
continue to receive the allowance.
Children
An unmarried child or unmarried stepchild (if the child was living with the
member in a parent-child relationship) is eligible for benefits while under age
22. An unmarried child who is incapacitated because of a disability that began
before attaining age 22 may be entitled to the benefit until married or the
disability ends. If an unmarried child is in the care of a guardian or is living
alone, the unmarried child’s portion of the benefit is payable to the guardian
or to the unmarried child directly, rather than to the surviving spouse.
Parents
A parent who is at least age 62 (age 60 at Level 4 and under the Indexed Level,
or if contracted by your employer for Level 1, 2, or 3) may be eligible if there
is no surviving spouse, registered domestic partner, or eligible children, and the
parent(s) was dependent on the member for at least half of their support at the
time of the member’s death.
1959 Survivor Monthly Benefit Levels
Currently, there are five different benefit levels for Local Safety members.
Your coverage depends on your employer’s contract with CalPERS. Please
refer to the following chart to determine the amounts payable under each
level depending on the number of eligible survivors:
Benefit
Level
One
Survivor
Two
Survivors
Three or More
Survivors **
Level 1 $180 $360 $430
Level 2 $225 $450 $538
Level 3 $350 $700 $840
Level 4 $950 $1,900 $2,280
Indexed Level* $634.10 $1,268.20 $1,902.30
Amounts can differ if all children are not in the spouse’s or domestic partner’s care.
The amounts quoted are effective January 1, 2012. These amounts will increase by 2 percent
on January 1, 2013 and each year thereafter.
20 CalPERS Member Publication | Local Safety
HeALtH InSURAnCe, CoveReD UnDeR PeMHCA
How Retirement Affects Your Health Benefits
If you are nearing retirement, you should read this section to gain an
understanding of how retirement will affect your health benefits. Any
questions can be directed to your Health Benefits Officer or Personnel Office.
If, upon retirement, you are enrolled in a CalPERS “Basic” health plan and you
are eligible for Part A at no cost to you, State law does not allow you to remain
enrolled in your “Basic” plan. Contact CalPERS immediately after receiving
your Medicare card to coordinate the effective date of your Medicare coverage.
If you are retiring within 90 days of your own or your spouse’s 65th birthday,
contact the Social Security Administration (SSA) at (800) 772-1213 or
TTY (800) 325-0778 about signing up for Medicare. In addition to signing
up for Medicare, you will have to change from a Basic health plan to a
Medicare plan that combines your Medicare benefits with your CalPERS-
sponsored health benefits. CalPERS Medicare health plan members have
prescription drug coverage that is as good or better than Medicare Part D
prescription coverage and must not enroll in an external Medicare Part D plan.
If you do enroll in a non-CalPERS Medicare part D plan, you will lose your
CalPERS health coverage.
If you do not qualify for premium-free Medicare Part A based on your
Social Security/Medicare work record or the record of your current, former,
or deceased spouse, you may remain in a CalPERS “Basic” health plan.
If you later qualify for Medicare Part A at no cost, you must enroll in Medicare
Part B and in a CalPERS Medicare health plan.
You may enroll in a Supplement to Medicare or Managed Medicare health plan,
and CalPERS health plans offer several ways to supplement Medicare. Please
see the CalPERS Medicare Enrollment Guide for more detailed information.
Once you are retired, contact CalPERS if you have any questions about your
health benefits or if you need to make changes to your plan or dependents.
PEMHCA
Public employees’ Medical
and Hospital Care Act.
If Your Effective Date
of Retirement…
is more than 120 days
after separation from
employment, you are
not eligible to be enrolled
in a CalPeRS health plan
at retirement or at any
future date.
Medicare Health Plans
If at retirement you are
enrolled in a CalPeRS
health plan and you
are eligible for Social
Security Medicare
benefits, State law
prohibits your continued
enrollment in the Basic
plan. However, you can
continue your CalPeRS
health care by enrolling
in a CalPeRS Medicare
health plan. Contact
CalPeRS immediately
after receiving your
federal Medicare card to
determine your eligibility
and to coordinate the
effective date of your
Medicare coverage.
21888CalPERS (or 888-225-7377) | www.calpers.ca.gov
Making Direct
Payment for
Health Premiums
to Cover Delays
If you are aware of a
delay in receiving your
first retirement check,
you should contact
your Personnel office to
discuss making direct
payments for your health
premiums. the direct
payments will ensure
continuation of services
and claim payments for
your current PeMHCA
coverage. You will be
reimbursed for the direct
payment amounts by
the plan as soon as the
payments are made
by CalPeRS.
Your Separation Date and Your Retirement Date
As retirement approaches, you should check your calendar to determine
the best way to maintain your health coverage. Two dates are particularly
important: your separation date and your retirement date. If you are not sure
when these dates occur, talk to your employer. The following are your health
plan enrollment options when you retire:
If your separation date and your retirement date are within 30 days of
each other and you are enrolled in a CalPERS health plan at the time of
retirement, your coverage will continue into retirement without a break.
If you do not want your health benefits to continue into retirement, you
have the option to cancel your coverage by:
Submitting a Health Benefits Plan Enrollment form to your employer
if you are still employed)
Declining health coverage in Section 7 of the CalPERS Retirement
Election Application
Calling or writing CalPERS to request to cancel health coverage
if you are retired)
If your separation date and your retirement date are between 30 and
120 days of each other, your coverage will not automatically continue.
You may re-enroll by either writing to the CalPERS Health Account
Services Division within 60 days of your retirement date and requesting
re-enrollment, or waiting for the next Open Enrollment period.
You can pay monthly premiums directly to your health plan when you are
not on a regular pay status. You can avoid having your coverage suspended
between your last day of work and your retirement date by paying the full
monthly premium. Contact the Health Benefits Officer where you worked
and complete a Direct Payment Authorization form within 30 days of your
last day on pay status.
If you are not enrolled in a health plan at retirement and your retirement
date is within 120 days of separation, you may enroll within 60 days of
retirement or during a future Open Enrollment period. Contact your Health
Benefits Officer if you are an active employee or CalPERS if you are retired.
If your retirement effective date is more than 120 days after separation from
employment, you are not eligible for coverage at retirement or at any future date.
There are some exceptions to this rule for exempt State employees. Contact
CalPERS at 888 CalPERS (or 888-225-7377) if you have questions about
your eligibility.
If you were covered as a dependent through another health plan when you
retired, you may be eligible to enroll in a CalPERS health plan. Contact
CalPERS for more information.
22 CalPERS Member Publication | Local Safety
If you have questions about your CalPERS health benefits and you are an
active member, contact your Personnel Office or Health Benefits Officer.
If you are a retiree, contact CalPERS at 888 CalPERS (or 888-225-7377).
Making Changes to Your Health Plan After Retirement
Once you retire, CalPERS becomes your Health Benefits Officer or Personnel
Office. This means you can make most changes to your health enrollment by
calling CalPERS at 888 CalPERS (or 888-225-7377). For some changes, we
will ask you to send additional information to CalPERS, as indicated below.
If you prefer, you can correspond with us in writing. Please include your (or
the member’s) name, Social Security number or CalPERS ID, a copy of your
Medicare card, and daytime phone number with area code. Be sure to include
the following information when you request changes:
Changing Your Address
Include both the old and new address.
Adding or Deleting a Dependent
Include the dependent’s name, Social Security number, birth date, a copy of
the birth certificate and Medicare card, if applicable, relationship to member,
and reason you are adding or deleting the dependent.
Adding a Spouse Due to Marriage
Include a copy of the Marriage Certificate and your spouse’s date of birth and
Social Security number with your request.
Deleting a Spouse Due to Divorce
Include a complete signed copy of the Divorce Decree with your request.
Adding a Domestic Partner
Submit a copy of the Declaration of Domestic Partnership that has been
approved by the California Secretary of State’s Office, and the Social Security
number and date of birth of your domestic partner.
Deleting a Domestic Partner
Submit a complete signed copy of the Termination of Domestic Partnership that
you submitted to the California Secretary of State’s Office.
Adding an Economically Dependent Child
Complete an Affidavit of Eligibility form.
Applying for a CalPERS-Sponsored Medicare Plan
Upon your retirement and three months before you turn 65, CalPERS
will send you a Certification of Medicare Status form to validate Medicare
eligibility, ineligibility, or deferment. Complete and return this form to
CalPERS along with a copy of your Medicare card or SSA documentation.
23888CalPERS (or 888-225-7377) | www.calpers.ca.gov
Reciprocity
this agreement between
retirement systems does
not apply to health vesting
requirements.
ADDItIonAL BeneFItS to ConSIDeR
Reciprocity — other California Public Retirement
Systems
CalPERS has an agreement with many public retirement systems in California
that allows movement from one public employer to another, within a specified
time limit, without losing valuable retirement rights and related benefits. This
is called “reciprocity.”
There is no transfer of funds or service credit between retirement systems
when you establish reciprocity. You become a member of both systems and are
subject to the membership and benefit obligations and rights of each system.
You must retire from each system separately, but it must be on the same
date for all the benefits of reciprocity to apply. Once you have retired, you
will receive separate retirement checks from each system.
For more information, or to establish reciprocity, you should obtain
the CalPERS publication A Guide to CalPERS When You Change
Retirement Systems.
Cost-of-Living Adjustment (CoLA)
Cost-of-living adjustments are provided by law and are based on the Consumer
Price Index for all United States cities. Cost-of-living adjustments are paid the
second calendar year of your retirement and then every year thereafter.
The standard cost-of-living adjustment is a maximum of 2 percent per year.
If the Consumer Price Index registers a lower rate of inflation, you could
receive a lower percentage.
Public agency members like yourself may receive a 2 percent, 3 percent,
4 percent, or 5 percent cost-of-living adjustment, depending upon your
employer’s contract.
Inflation Protection (PPPA)
Added protection against inflation is provided by the Purchasing Power
Protection Account (PPPA), created to restore your monthly allowance to
80 percent of its original purchasing power.
You will automatically receive PPPA supplemental payments on a monthly
basis if your allowance falls below the 80 percent purchasing power level.
24 CalPERS Member Publication | Local Safety
Sick Leave Credit
Talk to your employer to find out if they have contracted for this benefit.
At retirement, any unused sick leave you have may be converted to additional
service credit. (The additional service will not change your age at retirement.)
You will receive credit for unused sick leave certified by your employer up to
the formula cap. It takes 250 days of sick leave to receive one year of service
credit. For example: if your employer certified 120 days of sick leave, your
additional service credit would be 0.480 (120 x .004= 0.480) of a year’s service
credit. If your employer submits this information prior to CalPERS processing
your retirement application, we will include the additional service credit in your
initial retirement benefit. Otherwise, we will adjust your account to reflect a
change in service credit at the time your employer submits it.
To receive sick leave credit, your retirement date must be within 120 days
of the date of separation from employment.
Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 401 (a)(17)
Contribution Limit
If you first became a member of CalPERS on or after July 1, 1996, IRC section
401(a)(17) places limits on the amount of member contributions you can pay
into CalPERS, a tax-qualified pension plan. This section applies to annual
salaries (earnings) that exceed $250,000. The actual dollar limit is set each year
by the Internal Revenue Service. This section does not limit or place a cap on
the salary an employer can pay an employee. It does specify the highest salary on
which member contributions can be paid into an employee’s CalPERS account.
Your employer is responsible for monitoring when your salary reaches or exceeds
this annual limit and for refunding any excess contributions. Each year CalPERS
issues a Circular Letter to all employers announcing the IRC 401(a)(17) limit
for the calendar year.
At retirement, your highest average salary (final compensation amount) used to
calculate your benefit will be section 401(a)(17) salary limit for that year. For
example, if you became a member of CalPERS in August 1996, your annual
salary is $300,000, and the 401 limit in the year you retire is $250,000, you
will pay contributions on $250,000 of your salary and your retirement benefit
calculation would use $250,000 as your highest final compensation.
25888CalPERS (or 888-225-7377) | www.calpers.ca.gov
Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 415 (b)
Retirement Benefit Limit
IRC Section 415 places a dollar limit on the annual retirement benefit you
can receive from CalPERS, a tax-qualified pension plan. This limit generally
applies to retirement benefits of approximately $200,000 or more a year for
an employee retiring at his or her Social Security normal retirement age of
62 through 65. Please note that the determination of whether your retirement
benefit will be subject to this limit can only be made at retirement.
This dollar limit is set each year by the Internal Revenue Service and is
adjusted for several factors including inflation, age at retirement and after-tax
contributions. If your retirement benefit must be limited under Section 415,
you will be enrolled in the IRC 415(b) Replacement Benefit Plan, an employer-
funded plan, if eligible.
The CalPERS Replacement Benefit Plan provides a replacement benefit
that will, to the extent possible, make up the amount your CalPERS benefit
is limited.
For additional information please see the IRC 415(b) Replacement Benefit
Plan Fact Sheet on our website at www.calpers.ca.gov.
26 CalPERS Member Publication | Local Safety
RetIReMent FoRMULAS AnD BeneFIt FACtoRS
2% at 50 Benefit Factors
The chart below shows how the benefit factor increases for each quarter year
of age from 50 to 55, as well as showing the required years of service to reach
your maximum percentage allowed by law.
2% @ 50 Benefit Formula
Minimum Age for Retirement 50
Age at Retirement Benefit Factor Years Needed to Attain 90%
50 2.000%45.000
50¼2.035%44.226
50½2.070%43.478
50¾2.105%42.775
51 2.140%42.056
51¼2.175%41.379
51½2.210%40.724
51¾2.245%40.090
52 2.280%39.474
52¼2.315%38.877
52½2.350%38.298
52¾2.385%37.736
53 2.420%37.191
53¼2.455%36.660
53½2.490%36.145
53¾2.525%35.644
54 2.560%35.157
54¼2.595%34.683
54½2.630%34.221
54¾2.665%33.772
55 or older 2.700%33.334
502percent@
27888CalPERS (or 888-225-7377) | www.calpers.ca.gov
PeRCentAGe oF FInAL CoMPenSAtIon
Age 50 51 52 53 54 55+
Benefit Factor 2.000 2.140 2.280 2.420 2.560 2.700
Years of Service Percentage of Final Compensation
5 10.00 10.70 11.40 12.10 12.80 13.50
6 12.00 12.84 13.68 14.52 15.36 16.20
7 14.00 14.98 15.96 16.94 17.92 18.90
8 16.00 17.12 18.24 19.36 20.48 21.60
9 18.00 19.26 20.52 21.78 23.04 24.30
10 20.00 21.40 22.80 24.20 25.60 27.00
11 22.00 23.54 25.08 26.62 28.16 29.70
12 24.00 25.68 27.36 29.04 30.72 32.40
13 26.00 27.82 29.64 31.46 33.28 35.10
14 28.00 29.96 31.92 33.88 35.84 37.80
15 30.00 32.10 34.20 36.30 38.40 40.50
16 32.00 34.24 36.48 38.72 40.96 43.20
17 34.00 36.38 38.76 41.14 43.52 45.90
18 36.00 38.52 41.04 43.56 46.08 48.60
19 38.00 40.66 43.32 45.98 48.64 51.30
20 40.00 42.80 45.60 48.40 51.20 54.00
21 42.00 44.94 47.88 50.82 53.76 56.70
22 44.00 47.08 50.16 53.24 56.32 59.40
23 46.00 49.22 52.44 55.66 58.88 62.10
24 48.00 51.36 54.72 58.08 61.44 64.80
25 50.00 53.50 57.00 60.50 64.00 67.50
26 52.00 55.64 59.28 62.92 66.56 70.20
27 54.00 57.78 61.56 65.34 69.12 72.90
28 56.00 59.92 63.84 67.76 71.68 75.60
29 58.00 62.06 66.12 70.18 74.24 78.30
30 60.00 64.20 68.40 72.60 76.80 81.00
31 62.00 66.34 70.68 75.02 79.36 83.70
32 64.00 68.48 72.96 77.44 81.92 86.40
33 —70.62 75.24 79.86 84.48 89.10
34 ——77.52 82.28 87.04 90.00 max
35 ———84.70 89.60 90.00 max
36 ———— 90.00 max 90.00 max
37 ————— 90.00 max
502percent@
28 CalPERS Member Publication | Local Safety
RetIReMent FoRMULAS AnD BeneFIt FACtoRS
2% at 55 Benefit Factors
The chart below shows how the benefit factor increases for each quarter year
of age from 50 to 55, as well as showing the required years of service to reach
your maximum percentage allowed by law.
2% @ 55 Benefit Formula
Minimum Age for Retirement 50
Age at Retirement Benefit Factor Years Needed to Attain 90%
50 1.426%63.114
50¼1.450%62.069
50½1.474%61.059
50¾1.498%60.080
51 1.522%59.133
51¼1.550%58.065
51½1.576%57.107
51¾1.602%56.180
52 1.628%55.283
52¼1.656%54.348
52½1.686%53.381
52¾1.714%52.509
53 1.742%51.665
53¼1.772%50.790
53½1.804%49.890
53¾1.834%49.074
54 1.866%48.232
54¼1.900%47.369
54½1.932%46.584
54¾1.966%45.779
55 or older 2.000%45.000
552percent@
29888CalPERS (or 888-225-7377) | www.calpers.ca.gov
PeRCentAGe oF FInAL CoMPenSAtIon
Age 50 51 52 53 54 55
Benefit Factor 1.426 1.522 1.628 1.742 1.866 2.000
Years of Service Percentage of Final Compensation
5 7.13 7.61 8.14 8.71 9.33 10.00
6 8.56 9.13 9.77 10.45 11.20 12.00
7 9.98 10.65 11.40 12.19 13.06 14.00
8 11.41 12.18 13.02 13.94 14.93 16.00
9 12.83 13.70 14.65 15.68 16.79 18.00
10 14.26 15.22 16.28 17.42 18.66 20.00
11 15.69 16.74 17.91 19.16 20.53 22.00
12 17.11 18.26 19.54 20.90 22.39 24.00
13 18.54 19.79 21.16 22.65 24.26 26.00
14 19.96 21.31 22.79 24.39 26.12 28.00
15 21.39 22.83 24.42 26.13 27.99 30.00
16 22.82 24.35 26.05 27.87 29.86 32.00
17 24.24 25.87 27.68 29.61 31.72 34.00
18 25.67 27.40 29.30 31.36 33.59 36.00
19 27.09 28.92 30.93 33.10 35.45 38.00
20 28.52 30.44 32.56 34.84 37.32 40.00
21 29.95 31.96 34.19 36.58 39.19 42.00
22 31.37 33.48 35.82 38.32 41.05 44.00
23 32.80 35.01 37.44 40.07 42.92 46.00
24 34.22 36.53 39.07 41.81 44.78 48.00
25 35.65 38.05 40.70 43.55 46.65 50.00
26 37.08 39.57 42.33 45.29 48.52 52.00
27 38.50 41.09 43.96 47.03 50.38 54.00
28 39.93 42.62 45.58 48.78 52.25 56.00
29 41.35 44.14 47.21 50.52 54.11 58.00
30 42.78 45.66 48.84 52.26 55.98 60.00
31 44.21 47.18 50.47 54.00 57.85 62.00
32 45.63 48.70 52.10 55.74 59.71 64.00
33 —50.23 53.72 57.49 61.58 66.00
34 ——55.35 59.23 63.44 68.00
35 ———60.97 65.31 70.00
36 ————67.18 72.00
37 —————74.00
38 —————76.00
39 —————78.00
40 —————80.00
41 —————82.00
42 —————84.00
43 —————86.00
44 —————88.00
45 —————90.00
552percent@
30 CalPERS Member Publication | Local Safety
RetIReMent FoRMULAS AnD BeneFIt FACtoRS
2% at 57 Benefit Factors
The chart below shows how the benefit factor increases for each quarter year
of age from 50 to 57, as well as showing the required years of service to reach
your maximum percentage allowed by law.
2% @ 57 Benefit Formula
Minimum Age for Retirement 50
Membership Date on or After January 1, 2013
Age Exact Year ¼ Year ½ Year ¾ Year
50 1.426 1.447 1.467 1.488
51 1.508 1.529 1.549 1.570
52 1.590 1.611 1.631 1.652
53 1.672 1.693 1.713 1.734
54 1.754 1.775 1.795 1.816
55 1.836 1.857 1.877 1.898
56 1.918 1.939 1.959 1.980
57 or older 2.000 2.000 2.000 2.000
572percent@
31888CalPERS (or 888-225-7377) | www.calpers.ca.gov
PeRCentAGe oF FInAL CoMPenSAtIon
Age 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57+
Benefit Factor1.4261.5081.5901.6721.7541.8361.9182.000
Years of Service Percentage of Final Compensation
5 7.13 7.54 7.95 8.36 8.77 9.18 9.59 10.00
6 8.56 9.05 9.54 10.03 10.52 11.02 11.51 12.00
7 9.98 10.56 11.13 11.70 12.28 12.85 13.43 14.00
8 11.41 12.06 12.72 13.38 14.03 14.69 15.34 16.00
9 12.83 13.57 14.31 15.05 15.79 16.52 17.26 18.00
10 14.26 15.08 15.90 16.72 17.54 18.36 19.18 20.00
11 15.69 16.59 17.49 18.39 19.29 20.20 21.10 22.00
12 17.11 18.10 19.08 20.06 21.05 22.03 23.02 24.00
13 18.54 19.60 20.67 21.74 22.80 23.87 24.93 26.00
14 19.96 21.11 22.26 23.41 24.56 25.70 26.85 28.00
15 21.39 22.62 23.85 25.08 26.31 27.54 28.77 30.00
16 22.82 24.13 25.44 26.75 28.06 29.38 30.69 32.00
17 24.24 25.64 27.03 28.42 29.82 31.21 32.61 34.00
18 25.67 27.14 28.62 30.10 31.57 33.05 34.52 36.00
19 27.09 28.65 30.21 31.77 33.33 34.88 36.44 38.00
20 28.52 30.16 31.80 33.44 35.08 36.72 38.36 40.00
21 29.95 31.67 33.39 35.11 36.83 38.56 40.28 42.00
22 31.37 33.18 34.98 36.78 38.59 40.39 42.20 44.00
23 32.80 34.68 36.57 38.46 40.34 42.23 44.11 46.00
24 34.22 36.19 38.16 40.13 42.10 44.06 46.03 48.00
25 35.65 37.70 39.75 41.80 43.85 45.90 47.95 50.00
26 37.08 39.21 41.34 43.47 45.60 47.74 49.87 52.00
27 38.50 40.72 42.93 45.14 47.36 49.57 51.79 54.00
28 39.93 42.22 44.52 46.82 49.11 51.41 53.70 56.00
29 41.35 43.73 46.11 48.49 50.87 53.24 55.62 58.00
30 42.78 45.24 47.70 50.16 52.62 55.08 57.54 60.00
31 44.21 46.75 49.29 51.83 54.37 56.92 59.46 62.00
32 45.63 48.26 50.88 53.50 56.13 58.75 61.38 64.00
33 47.06 49.76 52.47 55.18 57.88 60.59 63.29 66.00
34 48.48 51.27 54.06 56.85 59.64 62.42 65.21 68.00
35 49.91 52.78 55.65 58.52 61.39 64.26 67.13 70.00
36 51.34 54.29 57.24 60.19 63.14 66.10 69.05 72.00
37 52.76 55.80 58.83 61.86 64.90 67.93 70.97 74.00
38 54.19 57.30 60.42 63.54 66.65 69.77 72.88 76.00
39 55.61 58.81 62.01 65.21 68.41 71.60 74.80 78.00
40 57.04 60.32 63.60 66.88 70.16 73.44 76.72 80.00
572percent@
32 CalPERS Member Publication | Local Safety
RetIReMent FoRMULAS AnD BeneFIt FACtoRS
2.5% at 55 Benefit Factors
The chart below shows how the benefit factor increases for each quarter year
of age from 50 to 55, as well as showing the required years of service to reach
your maximum percentage allowed by law.
2.5% @ 55 Benefit Formula
Minimum Age for Retirement 50
Age at Retirement Benefit Factor Years Needed to Attain 90%
50 2.000%45.000
50¼2.025%44.445
50½2.050%43.903
50¾2.075%43.375
51 2.100%42.858
51¼2.125%42.353
51½2.150%41.861
51¾2.175%41.380
52 2.200%40.910
52¼2.225%40.450
52½2.250%40.000
52¾2.275%39.561
53 2.300%39.131
53¼2.325%38.710
53½2.350%38.298
53¾2.375%37.895
54 2.400%37.500
54¼2.425%37.114
54½2.450%36.735
54¾2.475%36.364
55 or older 2.500%36.000
55percent@52.
33888CalPERS (or 888-225-7377) | www.calpers.ca.gov
PeRCentAGe oF FInAL CoMPenSAtIon
Age 50 51 52 53 54 55+
Benefit Factor 2.000 2.100 2.200 2.300 2.400 2.500
Years of Service Percentage of Final Compensation
5 10.00 10.50 11.00 11.50 12.00 12.50
6 12.00 12.60 13.20 13.80 14.40 15.00
7 14.00 14.70 15.40 16.10 16.80 17.50
8 16.00 16.80 17.60 18.40 19.20 20.00
9 18.00 18.90 19.80 20.70 21.60 22.50
10 20.00 21.00 22.00 23.00 24.00 25.00
11 22.00 23.10 24.20 25.30 26.40 27.50
12 24.00 25.20 26.40 27.60 28.80 30.00
13 26.00 27.30 28.60 29.90 31.20 32.50
14 28.00 29.40 30.80 32.20 33.60 35.00
15 30.00 31.50 33.00 34.50 36.00 37.50
16 32.00 33.60 35.20 36.80 38.40 40.00
17 34.00 35.70 37.40 39.10 40.80 42.50
18 36.00 37.80 39.60 41.40 43.20 45.00
19 38.00 39.90 41.80 43.70 45.60 47.50
20 40.00 42.00 44.00 46.00 48.00 50.00
21 42.00 44.10 46.20 48.30 50.40 52.50
22 44.00 46.20 48.40 50.60 52.80 55.00
23 46.00 48.30 50.60 52.90 55.20 57.50
24 48.00 50.40 52.80 55.20 57.60 60.00
25 50.00 52.50 55.00 57.50 60.00 62.50
26 52.00 54.60 57.20 59.80 62.40 65.00
27 54.00 56.70 59.40 62.10 64.80 67.50
28 56.00 58.80 61.60 64.40 67.20 70.00
29 58.00 60.90 63.80 66.70 69.60 72.50
30 60.00 63.00 66.00 69.00 72.00 75.00
31 62.00 65.10 68.20 71.30 74.40 77.50
32 64.00 67.20 70.40 73.60 76.80 80.00
33 —69.30 72.60 75.90 79.20 82.50
34 ——74.80 78.20 81.60 85.00
35 ———80.50 84.00 87.50
36 ————86.40 90.00 max
37 ————— 90.00 max
55percent@52.
34 CalPERS Member Publication | Local Safety
RetIReMent FoRMULAS AnD BeneFIt FACtoRS
2.5% at 57 Benefit Factors
The chart below shows how the benefit factor increases for each quarter year
of age from 50 to 57, as well as showing the required years of service to reach
your maximum percentage allowed by law.
2.5% @ 57 Benefit Formula
Minimum Age for Retirement 50
Membership date on or after January 1, 2013
Age Exact Year ¼ Year ½ Year ¾ Year
50 2.000 2.018 2.036 2.054
51 2.071 2.089 2.107 2.125
52 2.143 2.161 2.179 2.196
53 2.214 2.232 2.250 2.268
54 2.286 2.304 2.321 2.339
55 2.357 2.375 2.393 2.411
56 2.429 2.446 2.464 2.482
57 or older 2.500 2.500 2.500 2.500
57percent@52.
35888CalPERS (or 888-225-7377) | www.calpers.ca.gov
PeRCentAGe oF FInAL CoMPenSAtIon
Age 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57+
Benefit Factor 2.000 2.071 2.143 2.214 2.286 2.357 2.429 2.500
Years of Service Percentage of Final Compensation
5 10.00 10.36 10.72 11.07 11.43 11.79 12.15 12.50
6 12.00 12.43 12.86 13.28 13.72 14.14 14.57 15.00
7 14.00 14.50 15.00 15.50 16.00 16.50 17.00 17.50
8 16.00 16.57 17.14 17.71 18.29 18.86 19.43 20.00
9 18.00 18.64 19.29 19.93 20.57 21.21 21.86 22.50
10 20.00 20.71 21.43 22.14 22.86 23.57 24.29 25.00
11 22.00 22.78 23.57 24.35 25.15 25.93 26.72 27.50
12 24.00 24.85 25.72 26.57 27.43 28.28 29.15 30.00
13 26.00 26.92 27.86 28.78 29.72 30.64 31.58 32.50
14 28.00 28.99 30.00 31.00 32.00 33.00 34.01 35.00
15 30.00 31.07 32.15 33.21 34.29 35.36 36.44 37.50
16 32.00 33.14 34.29 35.42 36.58 37.71 38.86 40.00
17 34.00 35.21 36.43 37.64 38.86 40.07 41.29 42.50
18 36.00 37.28 38.57 39.85 41.15 42.43 43.72 45.00
19 38.00 39.35 40.72 42.07 43.43 44.78 46.15 47.50
20 40.00 41.42 42.86 44.28 45.72 47.14 48.58 50.00
21 42.00 43.49 45.00 46.49 48.01 49.50 51.01 52.50
22 44.00 45.56 47.15 48.71 50.29 51.85 53.44 55.00
23 46.00 47.63 49.29 50.92 52.58 54.21 55.87 57.50
24 48.00 49.70 51.43 53.14 54.86 56.57 58.30 60.00
25 50.00 51.78 53.58 55.35 57.15 58.93 60.73 62.50
26 52.00 53.85 55.72 57.56 59.44 61.28 63.15 65.00
27 54.00 55.92 57.86 59.78 61.72 63.64 65.58 67.50
28 56.00 57.99 60.00 61.99 64.01 66.00 68.01 70.00
29 58.00 60.06 62.15 64.21 66.29 68.35 70.44 72.50
30 60.00 62.13 64.29 66.42 68.58 70.71 72.87 75.00
31 62.00 64.20 66.43 68.63 70.87 73.07 75.30 77.50
32 64.00 66.27 68.58 70.85 73.15 75.42 77.73 80.00
33 66.00 68.34 70.72 73.06 75.44 77.78 80.16 82.50
34 68.00 70.41 72.86 75.28 77.72 80.14 82.59 85.00
35 70.00 72.49 75.01 77.49 80.01 82.50 85.02 87.50
36 72.00 74.56 77.15 79.70 82.30 84.85 87.44 90.00
37 74.00 76.63 79.29 81.92 84.58 87.21 89.87 92.50
38 76.00 78.70 81.43 84.13 86.87 89.57 92.30 95.00
39 78.00 80.77 83.58 86.35 89.15 91.92 94.73 97.50
40 80.00 82.84 85.72 88.56 91.44 94.28 97.16 100.00
57percent@52.
36 CalPERS Member Publication | Local Safety
RetIReMent FoRMULAS AnD BeneFIt FACtoRS
2.7% at 57 Benefit Factors
The chart below shows how the benefit factor increases for each quarter year
of age from 50 to 57, as well as showing the required years of service to reach
your maximum percentage allowed by law.
2.7% @ 57 Benefit Formula
Minimum Age for Retirement 50
Membership date on or after January 1, 2013
Age Exact Year ¼ Year ½ Year ¾ Year
50 2.000 2.025 2.050 2.075
51 2.100 2.125 2.150 2.175
52 2.200 2.225 2.250 2.275
53 2.300 2.325 2.350 2.375
54 2.400 2.425 2.450 2.475
55 2.500 2.525 2.550 2.575
56 2.600 2.625 2.650 2.675
57 or older 2.700 2.700 2.700 2.700
57percent@72.
37888CalPERS (or 888-225-7377) | www.calpers.ca.gov
PeRCentAGe oF FInAL CoMPenSAtIon
Age 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57+
Benefit Factor 2.00 2.10 2.20 2.30 2.40 2.50 2.60 2.70
Years of Service Percentage of Final Compensation
5 10.00 10.50 11.00 11.50 12.00 12.50 13.00 13.50
6 12.00 12.60 13.20 13.80 14.40 15.00 15.60 16.20
7 14.00 14.70 15.40 16.10 16.80 17.50 18.20 18.90
8 16.00 16.80 17.60 18.40 19.20 20.00 20.80 21.60
9 18.00 18.90 19.80 20.70 21.60 22.50 23.40 24.30
10 20.00 21.00 22.00 23.00 24.00 25.00 26.00 27.00
11 22.00 23.10 24.20 25.30 26.40 27.50 28.60 29.70
12 24.00 25.20 26.40 27.60 28.80 30.00 31.20 32.40
13 26.00 27.30 28.60 29.90 31.20 32.50 33.80 35.10
14 28.00 29.40 30.80 32.20 33.60 35.00 36.40 37.80
15 30.00 31.50 33.00 34.50 36.00 37.50 39.00 40.50
16 32.00 33.60 35.20 36.80 38.40 40.00 41.60 43.20
17 34.00 35.70 37.40 39.10 40.80 42.50 44.20 45.90
18 36.00 37.80 39.60 41.40 43.20 45.00 46.80 48.60
19 38.00 39.90 41.80 43.70 45.60 47.50 49.40 51.30
20 40.00 42.00 44.00 46.00 48.00 50.00 52.00 54.00
21 42.00 44.10 46.20 48.30 50.40 52.50 54.60 56.70
22 44.00 46.20 48.40 50.60 52.80 55.00 57.20 59.40
23 46.00 48.30 50.60 52.90 55.20 57.50 59.80 62.10
24 48.00 50.40 52.80 55.20 57.60 60.00 62.40 64.80
25 50.00 52.50 55.00 57.50 60.00 62.50 65.00 67.50
26 52.00 54.60 57.20 59.80 62.40 65.00 67.60 70.20
27 54.00 56.70 59.40 62.10 64.80 67.50 70.20 72.90
28 56.00 58.80 61.60 64.40 67.20 70.00 72.80 75.60
29 58.00 60.90 63.80 66.70 69.60 72.50 75.40 78.30
30 60.00 63.00 66.00 69.00 72.00 75.00 78.00 81.00
31 62.00 65.10 68.20 71.30 74.40 77.50 80.60 83.70
32 64.00 67.20 70.40 73.60 76.80 80.00 83.20 86.40
33 66.00 69.30 72.60 75.90 79.20 82.50 85.80 89.10
34 68.00 71.40 74.80 78.20 81.60 85.00 88.40 91.80
35 70.00 73.50 77.00 80.50 84.00 87.50 91.00 94.50
36 72.00 75.60 79.20 82.80 86.40 90.00 93.60 97.20
37 74.00 77.70 81.40 85.10 88.80 92.50 96.20 99.90
38 76.00 79.80 83.60 87.40 91.20 95.00 98.80 102.60
39 78.00 81.90 85.80 89.70 93.60 97.50 101.40 105.30
40 80.00 84.00 88.00 92.00 96.00 100.00 104.00 108.00
57percent@72.
38 CalPERS Member Publication | Local Safety
RetIReMent FoRMULAS AnD BeneFIt FACtoRS
3% at 50 Benefit Factors
The chart below shows how the benefit factor increases for each quarter year
of age from 50 to 55, as well as showing the required years of service to reach
your maximum percentage allowed by law.
3% @ 50 Benefit Formula
Minimum Age for Retirement 50
Age at Retirement Benefit Factor Years Needed to Attain 90%
50 3.000%30.000
50¼3.000%30.000
50½3.000%30.000
50¾3.000%30.000
51 3.000%30.000
51¼3.000%30.000
51½3.000%30.000
51¾3.000%30.000
52 3.000%30.000
52¼3.000%30.000
52½3.000%30.000
52¾3.000%30.000
53 3.000%30.000
53¼3.000%30.000
53½3.000%30.000
53¾3.000%30.000
54 3.000%30.000
54¼3.000%30.000
54½3.000%30.000
54¾3.000%30.000
55 or older 3.000%30.000
503percent@
39888CalPERS (or 888-225-7377) | www.calpers.ca.gov
PeRCentAGe oF FInAL CoMPenSAtIon
Age 50 51 52 53 54 55+
Benefit Factor 3.000 3.000 3.000 3.000 3.000 3.000
Years of Service Percentage of Final Compensation
5 15.00 15.00 15.00 15.00 15.00 15.00
6 18.00 18.00 18.00 18.00 18.00 18.00
7 21.00 21.00 21.00 21.00 21.00 21.00
8 24.00 24.00 24.00 24.00 24.00 24.00
9 27.00 27.00 27.00 27.00 27.00 27.00
10 30.00 30.00 30.00 30.00 30.00 30.00
11 33.00 33.00 33.00 33.00 33.00 33.00
12 36.00 36.00 36.00 36.00 36.00 36.00
13 39.00 39.00 39.00 39.00 39.00 39.00
14 42.00 42.00 42.00 42.00 42.00 42.00
15 45.00 45.00 45.00 45.00 45.00 45.00
16 48.00 48.00 48.00 48.00 48.00 48.00
17 51.00 51.00 51.00 51.00 51.00 51.00
18 54.00 54.00 54.00 54.00 54.00 54.00
19 57.00 57.00 57.00 57.00 57.00 57.00
20 60.00 60.00 60.00 60.00 60.00 60.00
21 63.00 63.00 63.00 63.00 63.00 63.00
22 66.00 66.00 66.00 66.00 66.00 66.00
23 69.00 69.00 69.00 69.00 69.00 69.00
24 72.00 72.00 72.00 72.00 72.00 72.00
25 75.00 75.00 75.00 75.00 75.00 75.00
26 78.00 78.00 78.00 78.00 78.00 78.00
27 81.00 81.00 81.00 81.00 81.00 81.00
28 84.00 84.00 84.00 84.00 84.00 84.00
29 87.00 87.00 87.00 87.00 87.00 87.00
30 90.00 max 90.00 max 90.00 max 90.00 max 90.00 max 90.00 max
503percent@
40 CalPERS Member Publication | Local Safety
RetIReMent FoRMULAS AnD BeneFIt FACtoRS
3% at 55 Benefit Factors
The chart below shows how the benefit factor increases for each quarter year
of age from 50 to 55, as well as showing the required years of service to reach
your maximum percentage allowed by law.
3% @ 55 Benefit Formula
Minimum Age for Retirement 50
Age at Retirement Benefit Factor Years Needed to Attain 90%
50 2.400%37.500
50¼2.430%37.037
50½2.460%36.586
50¾2.490%36.145
51 2.520%35.715
51¼2.550%35.295
51½2.580%34.884
51¾2.610%34.483
52 2.640%34.091
52¼2.670%33.708
52½2.700%33.334
52¾2.730%32.967
53 2.760%32.609
53¼2.790%32.258
53½2.820%31.915
53¾2.850%31.579
54 2.880%31.250
54¼2.910%30.928
54½2.940%30.613
54¾2.970%30.303
55 or older 3.000%30.000
553percent@
41888CalPERS (or 888-225-7377) | www.calpers.ca.gov
PeRCentAGe oF FInAL CoMPenSAtIon
Age 50 51 52 53 54 55+
Benefit Factor 2.400 2.520 2.640 2.760 2.880 3.000
Years of Service Percentage of Final Compensation
5 12.00 12.60 13.20 13.80 14.40 15.00
6 14.40 15.12 15.84 16.56 17.28 18.00
7 16.80 17.64 18.48 19.32 20.16 21.00
8 19.20 20.16 21.12 22.08 23.04 24.00
9 21.60 22.68 23.76 24.84 25.92 27.00
10 24.00 25.20 26.40 27.60 28.80 30.00
11 26.40 27.72 29.04 30.36 31.68 33.00
12 28.80 30.24 31.68 33.12 34.56 36.00
13 31.20 32.76 34.32 35.88 37.44 39.00
14 33.60 35.28 36.96 38.64 40.32 42.00
15 36.00 37.80 39.60 41.40 43.20 45.00
16 38.40 40.32 42.24 44.16 46.08 48.00
17 40.80 42.84 44.88 46.92 48.96 51.00
18 43.20 45.36 47.52 49.68 51.84 54.00
19 45.60 47.88 50.16 52.44 54.72 57.00
20 48.00 50.40 52.80 55.20 57.60 60.00
21 50.40 52.92 55.44 57.96 60.48 63.00
22 52.80 55.44 58.08 60.72 63.36 66.00
23 55.20 57.96 60.72 63.48 66.24 69.00
24 57.60 60.48 63.36 66.24 69.12 72.00
25 60.00 63.00 66.00 69.00 72.00 75.00
26 62.40 65.52 68.64 71.76 74.88 78.00
27 64.80 68.04 71.28 74.52 77.76 81.00
28 67.20 70.56 73.92 77.28 80.64 84.00
29 69.60 73.08 76.56 80.04 83.52 87.00
30 72.00 75.60 79.20 82.80 86.40 90.00 max
31 74.40 78.12 81.84 85.56 89.28 90.00 max
32 76.80 80.64 84.48 88.32 90.00 max 90.00 max
33 —83.16 87.12 90.00 max 90.00 max 90.00 max
34 ——89.76 90.00 max 90.00 max 90.00 max
35 ——— 90.00 max 90.00 max 90.00 max
553percent@
42 CalPERS Member Publication | Local Safety
BeCoMe A MoRe InFoRMeD MeMBeR
CalPeRS on-Line
Visit our website at www.calpers.ca.gov for more information on all your
benefits and programs.
Reaching Us By Phone
Call us toll free at 888 CalPERS (or 888-225-7377).
Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
TTY: (877) 249-7442
my|CalPeRS
Stay informed and be in control of the information you want and need —
with my|CalPERS!
my|CalPERS is the personalized and secure website that provides all your
retirement, health, and financial information in one place. Take advantage of
the convenience of 24/7 access to learn more about CalPERS programs and
services that are right for you in your career stage. With my|CalPERS, you can:
Get quick and easy access to all your account information.
Manage and update your contact information and online account profile.
Access information about your health plan and family members enrolled
in your plan.
See all the information you need to make health plan decisions.
View, print, and save online statements.
Go “green” by opting out of receiving future statements by mail.
Use financial planning tools to calculate your retirement benefit estimate
or estimate your service credit cost.
Keep informed with CalPERS news so you don’t miss a thing.
CalPeRS education Center
my|CalPERS is your gateway to the CalPERS Education Center. Whether
you’re in the early stages of your career, starting to plan your retirement,
or getting ready to retire, visit the CalPERS Education Center to:
Take online classes that help you make important decisions about your
CalPERS benefits and your future.
Register for instructor-led classes at a location near you.
Download class materials and access information about your current
and past classes.
Browse our retirement fair schedule.
Make a personal appointment with a retirement counselor.
Log in today at my.calpers.ca.gov.
43888CalPERS (or 888-225-7377) | www.calpers.ca.gov
visit Your nearest CalPeRS Regional office
Fresno Regional Office
10 River Park Place East, Suite 230
Fresno, CA 93720
Glendale Regional Office
Glendale Plaza
655 North Central Avenue, Suite 1400
Glendale, CA 91203
Orange Regional Office
500 North State College Boulevard, Suite 750
Orange, CA 92868
Sacramento Regional Office
Lincoln Plaza East
400 Q Street, Room E1820
Sacramento, CA 95811
San Bernardino Regional Office
650 East Hospitality Lane, Suite 330
San Bernardino, CA 92408
San Diego Regional Office
7676 Hazard Center Drive, Suite 350
San Diego, CA 92108
San Jose Regional Office
181 Metro Drive, Suite 520
San Jose, CA 95110
Walnut Creek Regional Office
1340 Treat Blvd., Suite 200
Walnut Creek, CA 94597
Visit the CalPERS website for directions to your local office.
Regional Office hours are Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
44 CalPERS Member Publication | Local Safety
GLoSSARY
This glossary can assist you in understanding some of the words and phrases
you may encounter when dealing with CalPERS.
Benefit Factor
The percentage of pay you are entitled to for each year of CalPERS-covered
service, and is determined by your age at retirement and your retirement
formula.
Beneficiary
A person designated by the member to receive a benefit after the death of a
member or other benefit recipient. (Also, see survivor, which has a different
definition. Your beneficiary and survivor may or may not be the same person.)
Break in Service
A break in service begins when you permanently separate from CalPERS-
covered employment. A leave of absence, such as maternity leave, military
leave, etc. is not considered a break in service.
COBRA
The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) is federal
legislation that allows you or a family member to continue health plan
enrollment when there is an involuntary loss of coverage. A loss of coverage
could include separation from employment, a dependent reaching age 26,
effective January 1, 2011), or divorce or legal separation.
Dependent
Those family members who meet the specific eligibility criteria for coverage
in the CalPERS Health Program. This includes your children up to age 26
who may or may not be dependent upon you for support.
Domestic Partner
Registered domestic partners legally recognized by California law will be
qualified for benefits and rights that apply to a spouse.
Disability
An inability to substantially perform the duties of your job due to illness
or injury, which is determined to be permanent or of an extended and
uncertain duration.
Final Compensation
Your final compensation is the highest average pay rate and special
compensation during any consecutive one-year or three-year period. Which
compensation period we use depends on your membership date and employer’s
contract with CalPERS. If you are not sure, ask your Personnel Office. We
use your full-time pay rate, not your earnings. If you work part-time, we will
use your full-time equivalent pay rate to determine your final compensation.
my|CalPERS automatically finds and uses the highest compensation period
during your employment with CalPERS.
45888CalPERS (or 888-225-7377) | www.calpers.ca.gov
Fiscal Year
CalPERS operates on a fiscal year calendar, which is July 1 to June 30 each year.
Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act (HIPAA)
This federal law protects health insurance coverage for workers and their families
when they change or lose their jobs. It also includes provisions providing
national standards to protect the privacy of personal health information.
Member
An employee who qualifies for membership in CalPERS and whose employer
has become obligated to pay contributions into the Retirement Fund.
Open Enrollment Period
A period of time determined by the CalPERS Board when you can enroll
or change health plans, or add eligible family members who are not currently
enrolled in the CalPERS Health Program.
PEMHCA
Public Employees’ Medical and Hospital Care Act. Government Code
22751 et seq is the body of State law that governs the CalPERS Health
Benefits Program.
Reciprocal Agreement
An agreement between CalPERS and many public retirement systems within
California that allows movement from one public employer to another, within
a specified time limit, without losing valuable retirement rights and benefits.
Service Credit
Your credited years of employment with a CalPERS employer. This amount
of service is credited to your CalPERS account and used in the formula to
determine your retirement benefits. In some cases, other types of service credit
e.g., sick leave and service credit purchases) can be credited to your retirement
account and used to enhance your retirement benefits.
Special Compensation
Additional income you might receive for uniform allowance, holiday pay,
longevity pay, etc., and is reported separately from your base pay.
Supplement to Original Medicare Plan
For CalPERS members in Social Security due to age (over 65) or Social
Security-approved disability, Medicare becomes the primary payer of claims
and the supplemental CalPERS health plan covers any costs not paid by
Medicare if you have CalPERS health benefits coverage in retirement
Covered under PEMHCA).
Survivor
A family member defined by law as eligible to receive specific benefits upon
a member’s death.
46 CalPERS Member Publication | Local Safety
InFoRMAtIon PRACtICeS StAteMent
The Information Practices Act of 1977 and the Federal Privacy Act require
the California Public Employees’ Retirement System to provide the following
information to individuals who are asked to supply information. The
information requested is collected pursuant to the Government Code
Sections 20000, et seq.) and will be used for administration of the CalPERS
Board’s duties under the California Public Employees’ Retirement Law, the
Social Security Act, and the Public Employees’ Medical and Hospital Care Act,
as the case may be. Submission of the requested information is mandatory.
Failure to supply the information may result in the System being unable to
perform its function regarding your status and eligibility for benefits. Portions
of this information may be transferred to State and public agency employers,
State Attorney General, Office of the State Controller, Teale Data Center,
Franchise Tax Board, Internal Revenue Service, Workers’ Compensation
Appeals Board, State Compensation Insurance Fund, County District
Attorneys, Social Security Administration, beneficiaries of deceased members,
physicians, insurance carriers, and various vendors who prepare the microfiche
or microfilm for CalPERS. Disclosure to the aforementioned entities is done
in strict accordance with current statutes regarding confidentiality.
You have the right to review your membership file maintained by the System.
For questions concerning your rights under the Information Practices Act
of 1977, please contact the Information Practices Act Coordinator, CalPERS,
400 Q Street, P.O. Box 942702, Sacramento, CA 94229-2702.
While reading this material, remember that we are governed by the Public
Employees’ Retirement Law and the Alternate Retirement Program provisions in
the Government Code, together referred to as the Retirement Law. The statements
in this publication are general. The Retirement Law is complex and subject to
change. If there is a conflict between the law and this publication, any decisions
will be based on the law and not this publication. If you have a question that is not
answered by this general description, you may make a written request for advice
regarding your specific situation directly to CalPERS.
47888CalPERS (or 888-225-7377) | www.calpers.ca.gov
SPeCIAL tHAnkS
We thank the Amador County Sheriffs Department, Jackson Police
Department, Sacramento Metro Fire, and the Sacramento Police Department
Mounted Unit for their cooperation to make the photos for this book possible.
Amador County Sheriffs Department
Brian Gillaspie, page 13
Jackson Police Department
Todd Breedlove, page 18
Michael Collins, page 3
Sacramento Metro Fire
Xavier L. Brown, page 4
Tom Chin, page 9
Troy Gillam, front cover
Michael Johnson, page 1
James Mandes, back cover, center photo
Shani Richeson, page 16
Adam Russell, front cover
Jay Skidmore, page 14
Darell Suemram, front cover
Curt Wick, page 40
Walt White, front cover
Sacramento Police Department Mounted Unit
Jeff Babbage pictured with “George”, page 7
Lo Anne Holmsen pictured with “Ted”, front cover, center photo
William Lyons pictured with “Oak”, page 22
California Public Employees’ Retirement System
400 Q Street
P.o. Box 942701
Sacramento, CA 94229-2701
888 CalPERS (or 888-225-7377)
www.calpers.ca.gov
PUB 9
December 2012
Printed at CalPERS
2013.1.1