New to SCERS?

If you’ve recently started working for Sacramento County or one of our Participating Employers, you may now be a member of SCERS, and as an eligible member, you’re earning a guaranteed monthly retirement benefit for life. This section offers a brief introduction to how SCERS works and what to expect as a new member. 

What Is SCERS?

The Sacramento County Employees’ Retirement System (SCERS) is a multiple-employer public employee retirement system, enacted and administered in accordance with the provisions of the County Employees Retirement Law of 1937.   As a defined benefit pension plan, SCERS provides eligible members with a lifetime retirement benefit. That means:

  • Your retirement benefit is guaranteed once you retire.
  • It’s based on a formula—not your account balance or investment choices.
  • Your benefit is protected by law.

As a SCERS member, you don’t have to manage your own investments, and your benefit grows automatically as you work and contribute through payroll deductions.  Disability or survivorship benefits may also be available for eligible SCERS members. 

How Membership Works

Most permanent full-time and part-time employees are automatically enrolled in SCERS when they are hired. SCERS membership is mandatory for all eligible employees. As a member: 

  • You contribute a percentage of your pay through payroll deductions.
  • You earn service credit for each pay period you work in a SCERS-covered position.

If you’re unsure whether you’re enrolled, check with your HR department or contact SCERS directly.

Membership Categories and Tiers

When you join SCERS, you are placed into a membership category and a benefit tier based on your job classification and hire date.

  • Membership Category: Most employees are classified as Miscellaneous. Safety members include certain law enforcement and fire personnel.
  • Benefit Tier: Your tier determines your benefit formula, retirement age eligibility, and other factors. It is assigned based on when you were first hired into a SCERS-covered position.

As a new SCERS member, you will be placed in Miscellaneous Tier 5 or Safety Tier 4. If you are unsure about your membership category or tier, check the MySCERS portal or contact  your HR department.  

If you are first hired in a SCERS-eligible position after attaining age 60, you may irrevocable waive membership within 60 days of hire by completing a signed membership waiver form.

What Determines Your Benefit

Your future benefit is calculated using the formula for your membership category and tier, which considers your:

  • Age at Retirement
  • Years of Service Credit
  • Final Compensation

You are eligible for a monthly SCERS retirement benefit when you become vested by earning 5 years of full-time service credit with a Participating Employer or other California public employment covered by a reciprocal retirement system (See Employment & Life Changes/Reciprocity for more information). Each element in this formula is explained in more detail throughout this section. In general, the more years you work and the higher your final average compensation, the greater your monthly retirement benefit will be.

Pre-Retirement Survivor Death Benefits 

As a new SCERS member, you will designate a beneficiary.  Should you die while actively employed, certain benefits may be payable to your designated beneficiary, including a basic death benefit consisting of: 

  • Your member contributions plus interest in your account as of the date of death.  
  • One month’s compensation for each year of full-time service credit to a maximum 6 month’s compensation.

An additional lifetime monthly retirement benefit may be payable to your eligible survivor continuance beneficiary in lieu of the basic death benefits if you are a vested active member. 

Staying Informed 

Register for a MySCERS account. There, you can view your personal information, retirement benefit calculator, member statements and resources, and account information such as:

  • Your total contributions 
  • Your earned service credit 
  • Your assigned tier and membership category 

Be sure to keep your contact information current with your employer so SCERS communications reach you.