FAQ Category: Active Members

Your contribution rate is based on your tier and membership category (Miscellaneous or Safety) and is deducted from your paycheck.

Reciprocity allows your service credit and eligibility to carry over between SCERS and other California public retirement systems, as long as you meet specific criteria.

If your new employer is part of a reciprocal retirement system, you may be able to establish reciprocity. This links your service credit between systems and may allow you to use your highest final compensation across both systems when calculating your benefit. To receive the most benefit, you may establish reciprocity when moving to a separate reciprocal retirement system, regardless of having previously established reciprocity in the new reciprocal retirement system.

You can either leave your contributions on deposit (and potentially retire later if vested), or request a refund—which ends your membership and forfeits your future SCERS benefit.

Your membership becomes inactive, but your contributions remain on file and continue to earn interest.

Yes. Submit a new Member’s Affidavit to SCERS. The most recent valid designation on file will override all prior versions.

You can name any individual, trust, or organization to receive a lump-sum death benefit. Monthly survivor benefits are limited to eligible survivors, such as a spouse or minor child.

If there is no eligible survivor or named beneficiary, benefits may be paid to your estate or next of kin.

You should promptly update your beneficiary. SCERS may require additional documentation, especially if a court has issued a Domestic Relations Order (DRO).

SCERS may pay either a lump-sum or monthly survivor benefit, depending on your service credit, the cause of death, and survivor eligibility.