Latest News
Congratulations to Ms. Adele Lopez Tagaloa: New SACRS Board President
July 3, 2025
We would like to congratulate Ms. Adele Lopez Tagaloa on her appointment as President of the Board of Directors for the State Association of County Retirement Systems (SACRS).
Ms. Lopez Tagaloa brings a wealth of experience to SACRS from her various roles at the County of Orange Registrar of Voters, the Orange County Employees Association, and several other non-profit organizations.
OCERS Appoints Darren Dang as its Chief Technology Officer
May 2, 2025
Santa Ana, CA (May 2, 2025) – The Orange County Employees Retirement System (OCERS) is pleased to announce the appointment of Darren Dang as Chief Technology Officer (CTO), effective May 16, 2025. Mr. Dang brings over 25 years of leadership in technology, finance, and public-sector governance, with a distinguished track record of driving Artificial Intelligence (AI) innovation, cybersecurity modernization, and digital transformation.
Bring A Kid to Work Day 2025
April 22, 2025
Attention OCERS members: On Thursday, April 24, OCERS will be participating in Bring a Kid to Work Day!
If you’re visiting our headquarters, please be extra mindful—children and large equipment will be present throughout the building and parking lot.
Thanks for helping make this a fun and safe event!
Understanding Stock Market Volatility and Your Pension
April 18, 2025
What Stock Market Changes Mean for Your OCERS Pension Benefits
With recent headlines highlighting stock market ups and downs, it’s understandable to feel a little concerned. At OCERS, our message is simple: your pension is safe—just as it has been for the past 80 years.
Update: Social Security Fairness Act
February 27, 2025
On February 25, 2025, the Social Security Administration announced its plans to begin applying the repeal of the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) to eligible recipients.
For eligibility and payment timelines, visit SSA Social Security Fairness Act.
Please note that this change does not impact your OCERS retirement benefit.
OCERS receives recognition from GFOA
February 26, 2025
The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) has awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting to Orange County Employees
Retirement System for its annual comprehensive financial report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.
The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management.
Board Approves 3% COLA for 2025
February 19, 2025
This morning, the OCERS Board of Retirement approved a 3% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for all retirees and eligible beneficiaries, with an extra 0.5% credited to a “COLA Bank” for future use.
Under Government Code section 31870, COLAs are applied each April 1 based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) as of January 1, with adjustments capped at 3.0% per year. For the LA Basin area, the CPI was reported at 3.3 and rounded to 3.5%, so the Board approved a 3% COLA, with the additional 0.5% credited to each payee’s COLA bank.
Update: Social Security Fairness Act
February 4, 2025
On February 3, 2025, the Social Security Administration (SSA) posted updated details on the Social Security Fairness Act on their website. Discover the measures being implemented to enforce this new law by visiting their site: SSA Social Security Fairness Act.
Mary-Joy Coburn honored as Public Pension Communicator of the Year – Rising Star!
January 29, 2025
The National Conference on Public Employee Retirement Systems (NCPERS) has recognized Mary-Joy Coburn, Director of Communications at the Orange County Employees Retirement System (OCERS), with the 2024 Public Pension Communicator of the Year – Rising Star award. Ms. Coburn is the inaugural recipient of this newly established award category, which recognizes an individual, across all funding categories, and has demonstrated exceptional potential and growth in public pension communications.
Social Security Fairness Act and Your Pension
January 24, 2025
Document:
As an OCERS member, you do not contribute to Social Security, so you are not earning Social Security benefits while working for an OCERS employer.
The Social Security Fairness Act (H.R. 82) was signed into law on January 5, 2025. This legislation repeals the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO), which reduced Social Security benefits for people who also receive public pensions from jobs that did not pay into Social Security.