Job Status & Employer Changes

Whether you’re moving to a new position, changing employment status, or transferring between SCERS-covered agencies, it’s important to know how these changes affect your SCERS membership and retirement benefit.

Changing Job Status

If your position changes from permanent to temporary, seasonal, intermittent, or a contracted position, here’s what happens:

• Your SCERS membership becomes inactive
• Contributions stop
• You stop earning service credit
• Your account remains open and continues to earn interest

You will remain a member until you either return to a SCERS-covered position or fully separate and withdraw your contributions. 

You cannot withdraw your contributions while still working for a SCERS-covered employer. 

Returning to a Covered Position

If you later return to a permanent SCERS-covered position:

• Your membership will reactivate
• You will resume earning service credit and contributing
• You may be eligible to purchase service credit for certain periods of non-covered employment, depending on the circumstances

Changing Employers

SCERS serves multiple Participating Employers. If you transfer between them, for example, from Sacramento County to another SCERS-covered agency:

• Your SCERS membership continues without interruption
• Your tier and category typically remain the same
• No new enrollment is required

Make sure your new employer is aware of your SCERS status and notify SCERS to keep your records up to date.