Combined Allowances
Transferring to Plan E
A Plan D member may transfer to non-contributory Plan E and retain all accrued Plan D service credit via a Prospective Plan Transfer PPT. PPT transferees begin earning Plan E service credit and stop paying retirement contributions on their effective date of transfer. Plan E provisions become effective on the date of transfer; Plan D benefits cease at that time.
At retirement, the member receives a combined Plan D and Plan E retirement allowance. To be eligible to receive retirement benefits under Plan E, you must have accrued a minimum aggregate of 10 years of service credit.
A member who transfers to Plan E may not transfer back to Plan D for three years.
Double Account
A member who has earned service credit in a contributory plan and in Plan E maintains a double account with LACERA. Double accounts are established when a member has earned both:
- Service credit in a contributory plan
- A minimum of 10 years of service credit in Plan E
Eligibility to retire from each Plan is determined independently, based on the requirements of each Plan. Service credit earned in one Plan cannot be used to meet the requirements of the other Plan. However, if the double account was created through a PPT, service credit earned under each Plan will be combined and applied toward vesting requirements.
If a member with a double account is eligible to retire for service from Plan D, but has not met the minimum age requirement for Plan E, he or she may retire from Plan D.* Plan E retirement benefits automatically become effective on the date of the member’s 55th birthday.
*The total amount of service credit accrued under all LACERA Plans counts toward the County retiree healthcare subsidy; certain eligibility rules apply. See Paying for Coverage.
Dual Status
Dual status refers to a member who has accrued service credit both as a general member and a safety member. This occurs when a safety member changes job classifications and becomes eligible for general membership, or vice versa.
At retirement, members with dual status receive a combined retirement allowance based on service credit earned in each category of membership. Separate general and safety benefit amounts are calculated and added together to determine the member’s total retirement allowance.