Retired Members & Beneficiaries

Welcome to the SCERS Retired Members & Beneficiaries section. Whether you’re newly retired or have been receiving your SCERS benefit for years, this section is designed to help you manage your retirement with confidence—and ensure that your loved ones understand how to navigate SCERS in the future.

Who This Section Is For

This section provides guidance for two groups:

Retired Members

A retired member is a former SCERS-covered employee who has applied for and been granted a monthly service retirement or disability retirement benefit. Once your retirement is effective, you are considered a retiree—even if you later return to work in a limited capacity. 

Beneficiaries

A beneficiary is a person or entity designated to receive a SCERS benefit upon a member’s death. Some beneficiaries are eligible for a monthly continuance (if they meet survivor eligibility requirements); others may receive a lump-sum benefit such as a refund of remaining member contributions or a burial allowance.

What This Section Covers

This section helps retirees and beneficiaries understand and manage:

• Receiving and understanding your monthly benefit
• Tax withholding and end-of-year reporting (1099-R)
• Cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs)
• Updating your address, bank account, or contact information
• What to expect if returning to work after retirement
• What your survivors need to do in the event of your passing
• Frequently asked questions and life event scenarios

What SCERS Does—and Doesn’t—Provide

SCERS administers retirement benefits under the County Employees Retirement Law of 1937 (CERL). We:

• Manage your monthly retirement payments
• Calculate and apply COLAs as allowed by law
• Administer survivor and beneficiary benefits
• Maintain your records and tax documents

We do not provide:

• Health insurance or other employer-sponsored retiree benefits 
• Financial or tax planning advice