Retirement Planning

Preparing for retirement doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a process that should start well in advance of your anticipated retirement date. 

Whether you’re nearing the end of your career or just getting started, it’s never too early to start thinking about retirement planning.

To jump-start the retirement planning process and help you understand your SamCERA retirement benefits, read the Guide to Your SamCERA Benefits.

Some other things you should consider:

• Take advantage of SamCERA’s member education program: there are seminars and classes to help you get ready for retirement. 
• Contact SamCERA for help with the retirement process and to request a one-on-one counseling session. Our staff can be reached through the Contact Us .
• Get a retirement estimate through MySamCERA. It’s fast, easy, and secure!
• Take a look at the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) and Tax Information pages on this website for additional financial information about your benefit.
• General Members who are County or Court employees should also take a look at Social Security’s benefit estimator: ssa.gov/retirement/plan-for-retirement
• Employees of Safety, Probation and the Mosquito and Vector Control District who do not contribute to Social Security should be aware of federal laws and provisions that may impact their Social Security benefit. More information is available on the Windfall Elimination page and on Social Security’s official website.

And don’t stop here. Plan ahead carefully so you can make your financial decisions on your own terms. You may also want to contact a financial planning professional to help you prepare for retirement. 

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Additional Considerations for Inactive Members Thinking About Retirement

There are some important things inactive members should know about getting ready to retire. 

Reciprocity

Let SamCERA know if you have established reciprocity with another public employer. If you moved between California public retirement systems, you may be eligible for reciprocity. Reciprocity can affect your SamCERA benefit if you worked for a reciprocal system before coming to SamCERA, or after leaving SamCERA. Contact SamCERA if you think you might be eligible, even if you never established reciprocity. Establishing reciprocity takes time, so contact SamCERA right away.

You will have to retire concurrently from all reciprocal systems.

Divorce

Your SamCERA account is subject to California community property law, so if you had a divorce while you were an active or inactive member of SamCERA, or if you are filing for dissolution of marriage or domestic partnership, you must contact SamCERA.

You will not be able to complete the retirement process or receive retirement benefits until SamCERA receives and approves a Court order regarding the division of your SamCERA benefits.20

Social Security 

Former employees of Safety, Probation and the Mosquito and Vector Control District that did not contribute to Social Security, should be aware of the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset. Learn more on the Windfall Elimination and Social Security’s official website.

If you are a member of Plan 3, SamCERA will need a Social Security estimate before you can retire. This is because your benefits are calculated based on an equation that involves your Social Security benefit.

Your Retirement Is Not Automatic

In order to retire, you need to fill out a retirement application. SamCERA does not “automatically” begin sending you a benefit check when you reach full retirement age, or any other milestone. (Exception: Inactive members will be automatically retired in April of the year they turn 72 years old.) Contact SamCERA for more details. 

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