Retirement Checklist

If you’re approaching retirement, it can be hard to know where to start—or whether you’ve missed a step. This checklist outlines the key actions to take as you prepare to retire from SCERS-covered employment.

It’s designed to help you plan, apply, and retire with confidence.

12+ Months Before Retirement

  • Understand Your Membership Category and Tier
    Confirm your membership category and tier (Legacy or PEPRA) by reviewing your MySCERS account information or contacting SCERS.
  • Review Your Service Credit
    Log into MySCERS to confirm your total service credit and vesting status.
  • Explore or Confirm Reciprocity (if applicable)
    If you’ve worked under another California public retirement system, confirm reciprocity is established with each retirement system. 
  • Consider purchasing service credit 
    If you’re eligible to buy prior service (e.g., medical leave, prior public service), begin the process early—it may take time to evaluate and complete.
  • Submit divorce documents (if applicable)
    If you were divorced during your membership, submit divorce documents to SCERS for review. 

6–12 Months Before Retirement

  • Estimate Your Benefit
    Use the personalized estimator in MySCERS or the guest calculator on scers.gov to project your monthly retirement income. 
  • Attend a SCERS retirement planning webinar or request an appointment
    Workshops are offered throughout the year. An individual appointment can help you understand your payment options and timeline. 
  • Discuss plans with your family or financial advisor 
    Consider how your chosen retirement date, benefit option, and beneficiary decisions align with your financial goals. 
  • Gather required supporting documents 
    This may include your ID, marriage certificate, and birth certificate(s) 

60 Days Before Retirement

  • Choose Your Retirement Date
    Select a date that aligns with your employment end date and personal readiness. Your retirement becomes effective the day you request, but no earlier than the day after your last day on payroll.
  • Download and complete required forms (or apply online via MySCERS)
  • Submit Your Application to SCERS
    Submit your forms no earlier than 60 days—and ideally at least 30 days—before your retirement date.

After You Apply

  • Watch for confirmation from SCERS
    You will receive email confirmation of your application submission. You will also receive written confirmation of your retirement effective date and monthly benefit.
  • Expect your first benefit payment
    SCERS pays retirement benefits monthly in arrears. Your first payment typically arrives within 30–45 days of your retirement date.

Other Considerations

  • Update your beneficiary (if needed)
    Submit a new Member’s Affidavit if your beneficiary has changed. You will choose a beneficiary on the Application for Service Retirement. 
  • Review post-retirement health benefits
    SCERS does not administer health insurance. Contact your employer’s HR department to review any retiree health coverage options. 
  • Meet with a tax advisor
    Retirement may change your tax situation. Consider reviewing your withholding elections and retirement income strategy.