CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT ASSOCIATION

  

Reciprocity encourages career public service by allowing retirement benefit credits to accrue and link together from one public employer to another public employer.

For example, if you are employed with Contra Costa County and decide to take a job with Alameda County, your service may qualify as reciprocal, since Contra Costa County and Alameda County are both 1937 Act counties (retirement benefits legislated under the 1937 Act).  
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There are advantages to being a reciprocal member of a retirement system:
  • Your retirement contribution rate in all reciprocal systems, which is usually based on your age at entry into the first reciprocal system, will be lower. (Younger members pay a lower contribution rate, since they have more time to contribute before retirement.)
  • Service credits earned in all reciprocal systems may be used to meet system vesting and retirement eligibility.
  • When you retire, your highest rate of final compensation from any reciprocal system will be used by all reciprocal systems to calculate your benefit. (For Contra Costa County, the final average salary will be based on either a 12 month or 36 month final average salary calculation, depending on your retirement tier.)
  • Benefits are computed by each system based on the benefit formula for each retirement system.
The requirements for establishment of reciprocity are very specific:
  • After separation from a reciprocal system, you must enter membership in the next system within 180 days (6 months).
  • You cannot be employed with two reciprocal systems at the same time. You must be separated from the first system prior to joining the second system. This even includes overlapping time due to use of leave or vacation credits.
  • If you choose reciprocity, you may not take a refund of contributions from the system you are leaving.
  • You must retire on the same date from all reciprocal systems by filing an application with each system.
  • All public employers are NOT reciprocal with CCCERA.
CCCERA is reciprocal with other 1937 Act Counties:
  • Alameda
  • Mendocino
  • San Joaquin
  • Ventura
  • Fresno
  • Merced
  • San Mateo
  • Imperial
  • Orange
  • Santa Barbara
  • Kern
  • Sacramento
  • Sonoma
  • Los Angeles
  • San Bernardino
  • Stanislaus
  • Marin
  • San Diego
  • Tulare
As of 2007, CCCERA is reciprocal with CalPERS (California Public Employees Retirement System).

As of 2007, CCCERA has limited reciprocity with the following agencies through state law and agreement with CalPERS: (Employment with a PERS agency is not required, but your employer must have a reciprocal agreement with PERS. Call CCCERA for details.)

  • CalSTRS (State Teachers Retirement System
  • JRS (Judges'  Retirement System)
  • LRS (Legislators' Retirement System
  • JRSII (Judges' Retirement System II)
  • University of California Retirement Plan (UCRP)
As of 2007, CCCERA is reciprocal with the following independent public agencies, through reciprocal agreements with CalPERS:
Cities: Other Agencies:
  • Concord
  • Costa Mesa (Safety only)
  • City of Fresno
  • Oakland (Non-Safety only)
  • City of San Diego
  • City of San Francisco
  • San Jose
  • City of Los Angeles
  • Pasadena (Fire and Police)
  • City of Sacramento
  • San Clemente (Non-Safety only)
 
  • California Administrative Services Authority
  • CCCWD (Contra Costa County Water District)
  • County of San Francisco
  • County of San Luis Obispo
  • EBMUD (East Bay Municipal Water District)
  • EBRPD (East Bay Regional Park District -Safety only)
  • Long Beach Schools Business Management Authority
  • Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Non-contract employee Retirement Income Plan)

If reciprocity is a consideration for you, please check with CCCERA about specific rules, regulations, and agency agreements.

Reciprocal retirement agreements between public agencies can change, or terminate.

Likewise, plan policies may change by the adoption of benefit changes or legislation.  CCCERA's administrative authority under the 1937 Act only extends to your membership with Contra Costa County and Special District employers. Membership rules vary from plan to plan; as a reciprocal member your benefits are subject to the laws and policies of each individual system. You must contact each reciprocal employer to verify plan rules and obligations.

Special Notes:
1. When you retire, you will receive separate pension payments from each system in which you maintain reciprocal memberships.
2. In some circumstances (if you are in active law enforcement or fire suppression) you may be able to "redeposit" refunded contributions in one system, thereby establishing limited reciprocity.
3. It's a good idea to explore your reciprocity options:
 
  • before changing employment from one public agency to another
  • before you choose to take a refund on your contributions and interest when terminating from a public employer.
4. There is no minimum amount of service credit required with any public employer to establish reciprocity.
How and When to Establish Reciprocity with CCCERA
  1. When you accept a position for permanent employment with Contra Costa County or Special District employers, you will fill out an Enrollment Affidavit. If you are entering service as a reciprocal member, you will submit your previous public service information on this form.
  2. All service and funds remain with each employer.
  3. CCCERA will verify your information with previous employers, and receive certifications of service credit accrued and age at entry into the system, thus establishing the link between your previous and your current employment.
  4. This information will be accessible in your file to streamline the research and calculations required when you choose to retire, defer, or change employment.
The accuracy of this information is crucial, since your contribution rate in all systems depends, in part, on your age at first entry into a reciprocal system.
For more information or to establish your eligibility for reciprocity, contact CCCERA.
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