Deferred Membership

Deferred membership is an election to stop making further contributions but leave your contributions and interest on deposit with ACERA. Your contributions continue to earn interest if you are vested, you will be eligible to receive a retirement allowance when you become eligible to retire. A deferred member can receive a refund of contributions at any time, unless reciprocity is established.

A member can defer their membership if:

• Employment is terminated; or


• Member hired within six (6) months (180 days) of terminating employment with Alameda County or Member District by another system that has an inter-system membership agreement with ACERA; or


• Employment status is changed from a full-time position to a part-time, intermittent, project position.

If you defer your retirement, and if you are vested (5 years of credited service in retirement), you can begin receiving retirement benefits at any time after becoming eligible to retire. For service eligibility requirements, click HERE.

If you are not vested, you may leave your funds on deposit, however you will only be eligible to receive a lump sum payment.

To apply for a deferred retirement, call the ACERA Office for the "Report of Status Change or Separation" application or you may download it from this site (click HERE).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

• What happens if I die while on Deferred Retirement?