Frequently Asked Questions
The CSU contributes 32% on your behalf. This can be found here: Required Employer Contributions - CalPERS. You will not see the contributions in your CalPERS account from the employer because the contributions are going into a big melting pot for all retiree’s lifetime pension and benefits. Employees are contributing 8% into CalPERS and will be able to view contributions, interest, and service credit in a myCalPERS account.
For most members, the earliest they can retire is age 50. If they became a member on or after January 1, 2013, they must be age 52. Members should check with their Human Resources Office to confirm which formula they are under and what age they are eligible to retire.
No, your retirement date will be the day after your separation date.
- Example: If your separation date is May 31st, your retirement date will be June 1st.
Payroll will not mail checks; you will need to come to campus to pick up your paycheck including your vacation lumpsum. When the time comes, Payroll will communicate to you when and where your paycheck can be picked up.
A CalPERS member becomes fully vested for a retirement pension after 5 years of CalPERS service credit.
- For faculty (R03), if hired on or after July 1, 2017, you will need 10 years of CalPERS service credit to receive the lifetime benefits (health and dental). In addition, you MUST retire from the CSU.
- All other bargaining units, if hired on or after July 1, 2018, you will need 10 years of CalPERS service credit to receive the lifetime benefits (health and dental). In addition, you MUST retire from the CSU.
- A beneficiary is anyone you choose to receive a lump sum or lifetime benefit. It is not set by law.
- A survivor is defined by law. For this benefit, the survivor is defined in the order of eligibility as:
- Spouse or Registered Domestic Partner, if marriage or partnership was effective 1 year prior to your retirement date
- Unmarried children under the age of 18
- Parents who are dependent upon you for 50% or more
- A survivor continuance is an employer-paid monthly benefits payable after your death in retirement to an eligible survivor. The amount of the survivor continuance is 25% of the unmodified allowance.
For more information, reference my CalPERS & Your Retirement Options Learning Guide
2,000 hours equals one year of service credit. To find out how much service credit your sick leave will provide, take your unused sick leave hours and divide it by 2,000.
- Example: You have 1,832 hours and if you retire at the end of May, then you would only accumulate sick time through May. Since you accumulate 8 hours every month, you would have 1,864 hours of sick leave. 1864/2000 = 0.932 of service credit
The retirement calculator is calculating the gross amount that you would receive in retirement. When you apply for retirement, you will need to provide information about your Federal and State tax withholdings. For the most part, taxes will be all that is taken out of the pension (and possibly medical or voluntary benefit plans). Deductions that are taken from your current check such as Medicare, social security, parking pass, union dues, etc. will not be deducted and therefore the “net” amount will be more in retirement than as an active employee.
A retiree should receive their first check within 45 days of their retirement date or application received date, whichever is more current. For example, if their retirement date is September 4th, their first check should be paid in early October.
A member can modify their retirement date and/or benefit option within 30 days after the issue of their first retirement check.
Members can only change their life option or beneficiary more than 30 days after retirement if they have a qualifying life event such as marriage, registration of domestic partnership, death of a beneficiary, or dissolution of marriage or domestic partnership. They can do this online through their my CalPERS account.
The following resource, can provide similar, if not the same information that is provided in the education class.
Refer to Social Security Administration for any SS benefit inquiries.
Stipends are not counted towards CalPERS calculation because they are temporary.
No, Social Security and Medicare deductions will not continue after you retire with CalPERS.
Social Security will not affect your pension. The pension is set and will not change based on when you pull Social Security. It is a pension based on a calculation and cannot be changed unless there is a COLA (cost of living increase) in California in which you would receive the increase.
Employees can wait to withdraw Social Security, if that is the case, Medicare will send you a bill of the Medicare premium separately every month. Once you start withdrawing Social Security, the Medicare premium will be deducted from your Social Security check.
No, Social Security and Medicare deductions will not continue after you retire with CalPERS.
Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) is an annual cost-of-living increase that begins the second calendar year after retirement and helps yoaur retirement benefit keep up with rate of inflations. Eligible retirees, including survivors and beneficiaries will receive a letter or be notified in April, and may receive the COLA on their May 1 retirement check. For more information, reference COLA – CalPERS.
Your reciprocal service credit earned will not be reflected in your CalPERS account since it is not combined time. You will be eligible to receive two different pensions from each reciprocal system based on service credit earned for each, if reciprocity is approved.
To request online, log in to . Go to the Retirement tab, select Service Credit Purchase followed by the Search for Purchase Options Here, you will be prompted to answer a series of questions to help determine which service credit types you may be eligible to purchase. You will also be asked to provide employment and service information for the requested period. Once all required information has been completed, you can view the estimated cost for any available purchase options and submit your request for review. For additional information, reference .
The California Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act (PEPRA) changed the way CalPERS retirement and health benefits were applied and placed compensation limits on new members who joined CalPERS for the first time on or after January 1, 2013. Members who don’t fall under the definitions of PEPRA are considered classic members. For more details about PEPRA, go to .
In California, all types of retirement benefits are considered community property. If you have a community property claim on your retirement account, a hold is placed on your account and benefits are held until the claim is resolved. We recommend that you resolve the claim before you retire to avoid possible delays in processing your retirement benefits. For more information, review publication .
If you permanently leave your job and do not take a position with another agency covered by CalPERS, you can keep your money with CalPERS, or you can request a refund of your member contributions and interest by submitting a or by applying for a refund through your my CalPERS account. If you choose not to take a refund, your money will continue to earn 6% interest and you can withdraw it later, or you may apply for a retirement benefit as soon as you meet the minimum retirement eligibility requirements. For information, review .
All university programs, activities and opportunities are open and available to all regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. For more details, please visit the University Statement on Equal Opportunity and Excellence in Education and Employment.
General Inquiries
Hours: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM I Email: hrscsc@cpp.edu I Phone: 909-869-3733
3801 W. Temple Ave, Pomona, CA 91768
Student Services Building 121, Second Floor
Map and Directions to our office
Map and Directions to our office