Terms to Know
Active Member:
A member of LACERA who is currently employed by the County.
Accumulated Contributions:
Member contributions plus credited interest.
CERL:
Abbreviation for the County Employees Retirement Law of 1937, one of the laws governing LACERA and 19 other county retirement systems in California.
Continuing Benefit:
A monthly benefit paid to a survivor or beneficiary following the death of a retired member. In some cases, a continuing benefit may be paid following the death of an active member.
Credited Interest:
Interest credited on member contributions. Interest is accrued on June 30 and December 31 on all member contributions that have been in the retirement fund for at least six months immediately prior to the date of credit.
Deferred Reciprocal Member:
A contributory member who terminates County service with less than five years of service credit, leaves his or her Plan contributions on deposit with LACERA, becomes employed by a reciprocal system within six months of termination, and establishes reciprocity.
Disability Retirement:
Retirement granted when the Board of Retirement determines a member is permanently incapacitated due to a physical and/or mental condition that prevents the member from performing his or her regular job duties.
Employer Reserve Account:
An account representing the balance of employer contributions toward future retirement benefit payments.
Final Compensation:
An average of the member’s highest monthly pensionable compensation earned during any 36-consecutive-month period, it is one determining factor in establishing a member’s monthly retirement allowance.
General Member:
A permanent employee of Los Angeles County or an outside District working three-quarter time or more in a position other than firefighting, forestry, lifeguarding, or law enforcement (including District Attorney investigators).*
Member Reserve Account:
Refers to the total combined balance of all member contributions and related earnings.
Nonservice-Connected:
A disabling condition unrelated to the member’s County employment.
Pensionable Compensation:
The amount of income used in determining a member’s Plan contributions and in calculating a member’s final compensation. Pensionable compensation includes the member’s base pay and certain other items of compensation. It is subject to the limitations set forth in Government Code § 7522.32 and Internal Revenue Code §§ 401(a) and 415(b).
PEPRA:
Abbreviation for the Public Employees Pension Reform Act of 2013, one of the laws governing LACERA and other public retirement systems in California.
Retired Member:
A LACERA member who has been granted retirement from County service by the Board of Retirement.
Retirement Option:
A format for determining how retirement and continuing benefits are paid. Plan C offers a choice of six Retirement Options.
Reciprocity:
A special relationship between LACERA and certain other California public retirement systems that protects retirement benefits earned under more than one retirement system.
Safety Member:
A permanent employee of Los Angeles County working three-quarter time or more in firefighting, forestry, lifeguarding, or law enforcement (including District Attorney investigators).*
*Certain lifeguard positions may be classified as general member positions.
Service Credit:
One of the components used to calculate a member’s retirement allowance. Plan C members earn service credit for each payroll period in which a retirement contribution is made.
Service-Connected:
A disabling condition resulting from the member’s County employment.
Service Retirement:
Retirement from County service granted by the Board of Retirement to a member who has met the minimum age and service requirements.