Welcome to the retirement planning resources for RSCCD employees.
Faculty and academic administrators are enrolled in the California State Teachers' Retirement System (CalSTRS), while classified staff and management are covered by the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS).
Both CalSTRS and CalPERS offer retirement workshops, counseling, and online calculators to assist you with your retirement planning. Visit their websites to learn more, create online accounts, and schedule appointments with retirement specialists.
Retirement System Contact Information
Thinking of Retiring?
Starting the retirement process involves several key steps to ensure a smooth transition from working life to retirement.
Throughout Your Career
Make sure your CalSTRS/CalPERS service credit is correct. Please review your service credit each time you check your statement online. If you think there is an error, send a copy of the service credit statement (with an explanation of what you think is incorrect) to Human Resources – Retirement Reporting.
5 Years Prior to Retiring
Attend CalSTRS/CalPERS retirement seminar.
6 Months Prior to Retiring
Confirm your creditable years of service with the District to determine eligibility for health benefits after retirement. Contact the Benefits Office 714-480-7567.
Make your individual CalSTRS/CalPERS counselor appointment to discuss options.
- CalSTRS Benefits Counseling at 1-800-228-5453
- CalPERS (Regional Call Center-Sacramento) 1-888-225-7377, or on the web at www.calpers.ca.gov.
3 Months Prior to Retiring
- Notify your site supervisor of your intent to retire.
- If you have not previously done so, confirm your creditable years of service with the Benefits Office to determine eligibility for health benefits after retirement.
- The date of retirement is decided by the employee. Your District retirement date must be on or after the last date that you were in paid status (e.g., work, vacation, sick leave, etc.) Your District date of retirement must be before your selected STRS/PERS retirement date. (For example, on the District's form you would indicate 6-16-XX as your last day in paid status and your first date of retirement would be 6-17-XX.)
STRS MEMBERS: Complete Section 1 of the CalSTRS Express Benefit Report (EBR) form in order for the District to report your unused sick leave days. This is a required form. Submit this form to Retirement Reporting at the District Office and attach a note stating your CalSTRS Retirement Date. Sections 2-4 will be completed and certified by Retirement Reporting within 30 days of your CalSTRS retirement date.
PERS MEMBERS: The District will certify your retirement date and report your unused sick leave balance (for service credit) to CalPERS upon receipt of a Notice of Placement on Retirement Roll from CalPERS requesting verification of this information.
NOTE: Your retirement date must be within 120 days of your CalPERS retirement date; otherwise, you will not be entitled to convert your unused sick leave for any service credit.
4. Turn in completed forms from the packet to CalSTRS/CalPERS and make a copy for your records.
Resignation or Retirement
- If you have 15 years of full time service with RSCCD and are eligible to retire from PERS (age 55) or STRS (age 55), you are eligible to retire from RSCCD.
- You must retire from your pension system to retire from RSCCD.
- Anything less than 15 years of full time service is considered a resignation.
- You can still retire from your pension system during a RSCCD resignation and notify HR that you will be retiring from CalPERS or CalSTRS.
Resignation Benefit Information:
- When you resign from RSCCD your medical, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits will terminate at the end of the month in which you resign.
- You can choose to continue your medical, dental, or vision benefits for up to 18 months under Federal COBRA, and additional 18 months under California COBRA. These COBRA benefits are paid 100% by the former employee on a monthly basis, and continued coverage is contingent on the timely payment of premiums. Rates are based upon District group rates, which are calculated annually, plus 2%.
Retirement Benefit Information:
- Depending on the year you were hired and the terms of your Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), District medical, dental, and vision benefits continue for the majority of retirees and all of their eligible dependents through the end of the month prior to the month in which the retiree turns 70 (they would no longer be available as of the first of the month in which retiree turns 70), or the time at which the dependents are no longer eligible.
- If a retiree is under the age of 65 and meets the qualifications to continue district medical, dental, and vision coverage, they will continue on the same plans they had as an active employee, unless a qualifying event is completed for retirement.
- All other employee paid optional benefits will terminate at the end of the month in which the employee retires. Some policies can be converted into an individual policy that is paid directly to the carrier. Reach out to the District Benefits team for information on transferring these plans.
Medicare Coordination
- Retirees and dependent spouses age 65 or older are required to enroll in and pay for Medicare Part B in order to remain on the District's insurance plan.
- It is the responsibility of the Retiree/spouse to contact the social security Administration regarding Medicare benefits, typically at least three months in advance or the 1st of the month in which the Retiree/Spouse turns 65, so that primary coverage is not interrupted.
- Once the retiree or spouse turns 65, they will be transitioned into one of the Medicare Advantage plans offered by the District.
- For those employees who defer Part B coverage because they continue to work beyond age 65, the Social Security Administration (SSA) requires the employer to verify the final date of employment. The SSA will provide a form necessary for the District to complete. Submit form to HR/Benefits.
Open Enrollment: The purpose of Open Enrollment is to allow employees/retirees the opportunity to switch health plans, add dependents, or drop dependents. An annual open enrollment period occurs every year. Enrollments/changes completed during this period are effective on January 1 of the following year. Retirees will be notified of the annual open enrollment period.
If You Move: HMO plans are available to you as long as you reside within the local service area. If you move out of state or to an area outside the service area of your health plan, you may no longer be eligible for that plan and may need to switch to a PPO plan.
Insurance Carrier Changes: it is important to note that the health plans available to Retirees are directly related to plans negotiated for Active Employees. Therefore, if the Active group experiences a change in insurance carriers (i.e. Kaiser or Anthem), Retirees will also be required to enroll in a new health plan under new carrier(s).
Family Status Changes: it is the responsibility of the retiree to notify the benefits office regarding any changes in family status (marriage, divorce, death, dependents no longer eligible for coverage) within 31 days of the event date.
Once you have made a decision on your retirement date, notify your supervisor in writing of your upcoming retirement. HR will then be notified and your retirement will be placed on Docket for approval by the Board. Once on Docket the Employee Benefits Department will be notified and will you the retiree health packet.
Frequently asked questions about CalPERS retirement
