Retirement Eligible

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Congratulations — you could be nearing retirement eligibility! Now’s a good time to learn more. Start thinking about your retirement date and make sure you have all the information you need to enjoy your well-earned retirement.

Update your beneficiaries:

Log on to your myOCERS portal to see if your beneficiary designations are up-to-date. Once your retirement is processed, you won’t be able to change this information. We suggest listing alternate beneficiaries if you have them.

Attend a Pre-Retirement Seminar:

By now, you should be well-informed about the retirement process. But if you want a last-minute refresher, attend an OCERS Pre-Retirement Seminar. We will cover your retirement benefits and beneficiary payment options. Plus, you will receive a presentation from the Social Security Administration, Empower, and the County Retiree Medical Benefits. 

Submit your documents:

Before you begin the retirement application process, make sure you have these ready:

  • Your date of retirement, retirement benefit option, marital status and marriage date (if applicable)
  • Beneficiary information: date of birth, Social Security number, address, and phone number for each listed beneficiary
  • Tax withholding information such as filing status and desired number of exemptions
  • Direct deposit information including bank name, bank address and phone number, routing number, and account number

In order to process your retirement, OCERS needs:

  • An original birth certificate or valid US passport (for you)
  • An original birth certificate or valid US passport (for your spouse/domestic partner)
    • An original marriage certificate or license
  • If applicable: divorce documents, beneficiary birth certificates, etc. Your Retirement Program Specialist will review this information with you as applies.

Pick a date:

Once you feel confident about retiring, it’s time to pick a date. On your myOCERS portal, you can initiate your retirement no more than 60 days in advance. Only you know the best date for your retirement, but there are some things to consider when choosing: 

  • Your age and years of service impact your overall benefit amount. Review your plan type to better understand how your benefit is affected.
  • Do you know how much service credit you’ve already earned? If you’re visiting this page, it is likely that you have already earned enough service credit to retire, but everyone has a different goal. Check your myOCERS portal to see the exact amount of service credit you have earned.
  • Your retirement benefit may increase if you retire on or before April 1, if the Board of Retirement approves a positive Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA). If you retire after April 1, you will not be eligible for a COLA until the following year.

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