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San Mateo County Employees' Retirement Association
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Are you getting ready to retire?
There are some important things inactive members should know about retirement

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Learn more about your COLA
Get this year's cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), plus find out how COLA is calculated

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Get an accurate retirement benefits estimate
Login to MySamCERA for the most accurate look at your future pension

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Post-Retirement Employment

Overview

Post-Retirement Employment

There are two ways retirees may return to work with a SamCERA employer (San Mateo County, San Mateo County Courts, or San Mateo County Mosquito and Vector Control District):

  1. on an approved, limited basis while still receiving their pension, or
  2. by suspending their retirement to return to full-time employment and reinstating as an active SamCERA member (this is referred to as a “reinstatement”).
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Retirees Returning to Work
Federal and State Law Restrictions

In situations where the SamCERA employer believes a SamCERA retiree possesses special skills or knowledge, the law allows the employer to hire that retiree on a temporary basis for a limited duration without suspending the retiree’s retirement allowance; however, there are restrictions.

The following are key requirements which apply, regardless if the services are being provided through a contract or as an extra help employee:

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Reinstatement to Active Service After Retirement

If a retiree returns to work in a position eligible for SamCERA membership, they may be reinstated as an active member. Reinstatement to active SamCERA membership will suspend retirement benefits, and the retiree may return to work with no earnings limitations, work hour limits or required break in service. Their retirement pension will cease, they will pay contributions for the compensation that is earned, and they will also earn retirement service credit.

For more detailed information regarding reinstatement, please contact SamCERA.

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Working for Non-SamCERA Employers

After retirement, retirees may work for any non-SamCERA employer with no impact to their SamCERA benefit.

Retirees receiving a Social Security benefit may want to contact Social Security to find out if working after retirement will have an impact on their benefits.

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