7900 Public Employees' Retirement System
Program Descriptions

6410 - RETIREMENT

CalPERS provides retirement planning education, service and disability retirement, refunds, and survivor and death benefits for employees of California public employers. CalPERS provides special benefits based on death or disability incurred in the line of duty for members in certain occupations. As of June 30, 2014, there were about 1,129,000 active and inactive members, and about 587,000 retirees, survivors, and beneficiaries under the CalPERS system.

Basic retirement benefits are generally based upon three factors: age at retirement, years of service, and final compensation. There are different formulas for each of the member categories, such as Miscellaneous, Industrial, Peace Officer/Firefighter, California Highway Patrol, and Safety. Over 50 contract options are available to local cities, counties, and districts that contract with CalPERS. However, state and local employees hired after January 1, 2013 will generally be limited to one of five benefit formulas. A member's retirement and death benefits are determined by statute and/or contract provisions.

As of June 30, 2014, there were 3,093 public agency and school district employers providing CalPERS retirement, death, and survivor benefits to California public employees. CalPERS benefits may be transferable for members who continue their careers with many other public employers in California as a result of agreements between CalPERS and other public agency retirement systems.

CalPERS also administers the Legislators' and Judges' Retirement Systems.