3 to 5 Years Before

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    About LACERA
    1. Who We Are

      1. News
      2. Mission, Vision, and Values
      3. Careers
      4. Business Opportunities
      5. Contact Us
    2. Leadership

      1. Board of Retirement
      2. Board of Investments
      3. Board Meetings
      4. Executive Team
      5. Divisions
    3. Accountability

      1. Retirement Law
      2. Governing Documents
      3. Investments
      4. Annual Reports
      5. Public Records
  2. Active Members

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    Member Info
      1. General Plans

      2. Plans A/B/C
      3. Plan D
      4. Plan E
      5. Plan G
      6. Safety Plans

      7. Plans A/B
      8. Plan C
    1. Active Service

      1. Contributions
      2. Service Credit
      3. Compensation
      4. Reciprocity
      5. Terminating Service
      6. Felony Forfeiture
      7. Pre-Retirement Divorce
      8. Disability Retirement
    2. Retirement Planning

      1. Benefit Estimates
      2. Workshops
      3. Steps to Prepare
      4. Ready to Retire
      5. Retirement Options
      6. Beneficiaries
      7. Power of Attorney
  3. Retirees and Families

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    Families Info
    1. Retirement Payments

      1. Your Paystub
      2. Cost of Living
      3. Direct Deposit
      4. Tax Requirements
      5. Returning to Work
      6. Divorce
      7. Admin Appeals
    2. Families and Survivors

      1. Benefits Process
      2. Eligible Beneficiaries
      3. Survivor Benefits
      4. Survivor Healthcare
      5. Taxability of Benefits
  4. Retiree Healthcare

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    Healthcare Info
    1. Program Basics

      1. Healthcare Eligibility
      2. Paying for Coverage
      3. Manage Your Enrollment
      4. Medicare
      5. Healthcare Resources
      6. Healthcare Legislation
    2. Healthcare Plans

      1. Anthem Blue Cross of CA
      2. Cigna
      3. Kaiser Permanente
      4. SCAN
      5. United Healthcare
      6. Dental/Vision Plans

Retirement Planning

  1. Benefit Estimates
  2. Workshops
  3. Steps to Prepare
    1. Early to Mid-Career
    2. 3 to 5 Years Before
    3. 6 to 3 Months Before
    4. Choosing a Date to Retire
  4. Ready to Retire
  5. Retirement Options
  6. Beneficiaries
  7. Power of Attorney
Begin content

Following are the steps you will want to take three to five years before your planned retirement date, and links to help you get started. 

Create a Retirement Benefit Estimate

Log in to your account at My LACERA and click on the Estimates tab at the top of the page. Follow the prompts to create numerous allowance estimates by entering different retirement ages, salaries, and/or years of service credit under the six different options. If you prefer, you can contact us to request a retirement benefit estimate.

Attend a Pre-Retirement Workshop

LACERA and Empower subject matter experts will present information about the retirement process, retiree healthcare, and maximizing your retirement benefit. It is the perfect opportunity to speak with a LACERA Retirement Benefits Specialist, receive a retirement benefit estimate with your most recent information, and target a possible retirement date. Check the Workshops page for more details.

Maximize your contributions

Boost your retirement income by maximizing contributions to your deferred compensation and savings plans and/or maximizing your pensionable earnings.

  • Contact Empower at 800-947-0845 or visit their website for more details about increasing contributions to your 401(k) and 457(b) plans.
  • Attend a Pre-Retirement Workshop or contact LACERA to learn more about how to maximize your final compensation.

Purchase service credit before retiring

Service credit is one of the factors that affects your retirement allowance. Review our Service Credit section or use the retirement benefit estimate tool on My LACERA to see how purchasing service credit will affect your retirement allowance. When you are ready, you can initiate a service credit purchase on My LACERA.

Los Angeles County Employees Retirement Association

Appointment Reservations
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Los Angeles County Employees Retirement Association

Member Service Center

M – F, 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. PT

Available by appointment only;
no walk-ins accepted.

Holiday Schedule

300 N. Lake Ave.
Pasadena, CA 91101

Contact Us

Member Services Call Center

M – F, 7 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. PT

800-786-6464

Retiree Healthcare

800-786-6464

Business

M – F, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. PT

PO Box 7060
Pasadena, CA 91109-7060

Phone 626-564-6000

Fax 626-564-6155

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