Reciprocity

Note:The information contained in this section is not intended to be all inclusive. The statements in this guide are general in nature and are written to be as understandable as possible while remaining accurate. The retirement law is very complex, and if conflict arises, any decision will be based on the law and not on the text from this website. No statement in this section is considered a legally binding interpretation, enlargement, or amendment of the provisions contained in the County Employees' Retirement Law of 1937 ('37 Act) or ACERA Bylaws.

Reciprocity is the "linking" or joining retirement membership between similarly administered public retirement systems in California. This type of membership allows employees who move between certain California retirement systems to preserve and enhance their total retirement benefits. Reciprocal membership establishes retirement benefits to members with benefits from two (2) or more retirement systems and defines the financial obligations of each system. You must establish reciprocity within six (6) months (180 days) of entering membership in ACERA from a qualifying member system or leaving ACERA to enter service with a qualifying member system, regardless of your length of County or Member District employment.

Qualifications for Reciprocity

1. You must elect to defer you retirement and leave your contributions on deposit with your prior retirement association; and
2. Within six (6) months (180 days) join another 1937 Act County, PERS system or an Agency which has established a reciprocal agreement with ACERA ; and

3. Retire from all retirement systems in which you have established inter-system membership on the same day.

Once you establish reciprocity, you cannot withdraw your contributions unless you completely terminate employment and withdraw your contributions from your latest system. In addition, when you get ready to retire, you must file separate applications with each "linked" retirement system and retire from all of them on the same day. Each retirement system will send you a separate retirement check for the service which you earned within the individual systems.

Benefits Of Establishing Reciprocity

1. Your contribution rate in the new retirement system may be based on your age at entry in the first system;
2. Service from other reciprocal agencies is not combined to calculate your retirement allowance. Each retirement system separately computes and pays benefits earned in their system; however, total service in linked systems will count towards retirement eligibility.
3. Your highest earnings under any of these systems will be used to determine your ACERA benefits at retirement, disability, or death.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

• What are the Agencies which have reciprocal agreements with ACERA?
• What is PERS?

- Last Modified: 03 / 31 / 2004