Returning to Work or Establishing Reciprocity

As a deferred member, your SCERS status may change if you return to public service—either with a SCERS-covered employer or another public agency that participates in a reciprocal retirement system. These scenarios can impact your eligibility, retirement benefits, and service credit.

Returning to SCERS-Covered Employment

If you return to work for Sacramento County or another Participating Employer:

Your deferred status ends once you’re re-employed in a permanent full-time or part-time position
You begin contributing to SCERS again and resume earning service credit
Your original membership tier and category are preserved to the extent the employer provides the same membership tier
Your service credit accumulates across all periods of covered employment

If you’re rehired into a temporary, seasonal, or intermittent position, you may not resume SCERS membership unless the position qualifies.

Establishing Reciprocity

If you begin working for another California public agency that participates in a reciprocal retirement system, you may be able to link your SCERS membership with your new retirement system if you meet the requirements. Establishing reciprocity allows:

Your service credit to remain separate, but your highest final compensation may be used across both systems when calculating your pension benefit
Your entry age and membership tier with SCERS to be preserved
Coordination of retirement benefits from both systems once you retire

Requirements for Reciprocity

To establish reciprocity:

You must become a member of the reciprocal system within six months of leaving SCERS-covered employment
You cannot overlap service in both systems
You must retire from all reciprocal systems on the same day

SCERS is reciprocal with all other 1937 Act counties, CalPERS, and many other public retirement systems in California.

If you think you may be eligible for reciprocity, notify SCERS and your new retirement system as soon as possible after beginning employment.