Retirement - General Information

Starting the retirement process involves several key steps to ensure a smooth transition from working life to retirement.

​Throughout Your Career

Make sure your CalSTRS/CalPERS service credit is correct. Please review your service credit each time you check your statement online. If you think there is an error, send a copy of the service credit statement (with an explanation of what you think is incorrect) to Human Resources.

• 5 Years Prior to Retiring

  • Attend CalSTRS/CalPERS retirement seminar.
• 6 Months Prior to Retiring
  • Confirm your creditable years of service with the District to determine eligibility for health benefits after retirement. Contact the Benefits Office 714-480-7567.
  • Make your individual CalSTRS/CalPERS counselor appointment to discuss options.
  • CalSTRS Benefits Counseling at 1-800-228-5453
  • CalPERS (Regional Call Center-Sacramento) 1-888-225-7377, or on the web at www.calpers.ca.gov. 
• 3 Months Prior to Retiring

1. Notify your site supervisor of your intent to retire.
2. If you have not previously done so, confirm your creditable years of service with the Benefits Office to determine eligibility for health benefits after retirement.
3. The date of retirement is decided by the employee. Your District retirement date must be on or after the last date that you were in paid status (e.g., work, vacation, sick leave, etc.) Your District date of retirement must be before your selected STRS/PERS retirement date. (For example, on the District's form you would indicate 6-16-XX as your last day in paid status and your first date of retirement would be 6-17-XX.)
4. Turn in completed forms from the packet to CalSTRS/CalPERS and make a copy for your records. 

​​STRS MEMBERS: Complete Section 1 of the CalSTRS Express Benefit Report (EBR) form in order for the District to report your unused sick leave days. This is a required form. Submit this form to Retirement Reporting at the District Office and attach a note stating your CalSTRS Retirement Date. Sections 2-4 will be completed and certified by Retirement Reporting within 30 days of your CalSTRS retirement date. 

PERS MEMBERS: The District will certify your retirement date and report your unused sick leave balance (for service credit) to CalPERS upon receipt of a Notice of Placement on Retirement Roll from CalPERS requesting verification of this information.

​NOTE: Your retirement date must be within 120 days of your CalPERS retirement date; otherwise, you will not be entitled to convert your unused sick leave for any service credit.

Is th​​ere a difference between resignation and retirement? Yes. Resignation means you are voluntarilty leaving RSCCD employment. Retirement means that you are leaving RSCCD employment AND​ you are also retiring from your pension system.

When you resign from RSCCD your medical, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits will terminate at the end of the month in which you resign.

You can choose to continue your medical, dental, or vision benefits for up to 18 months under Federal COBRA, and additional 18 months under California COBRA. These COBRA benefits are paid 100% by the former employee on a monthly basis, and continued coverage is contingent on the timely payment of premiums. Rates are based upon District group rates, which are calculated annually, plus 2%.

Depending on the year you were hired and the terms of your Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), employees with at least 15 years of full-time employment with the district will have their medical, dental, and vision benefits continue for the majority of retirees and their eligible dependents through the end of the month of the retiree's 70th birthday (they would no longer be available as of the first of the month in which retiree turns 70), or the time at which the dependents are no longer eligible.

If a retiree is under the age of 65 and meets the qualifications to continue district medical, dental, and vision coverage, they will continue on the same plans they had as an active employee, unless a qualifying event is completed for retirement.

All other employee paid optional benefits will terminate at the end of the month in which the employee retires. Some policies can be converted into an individual policy that is paid directly to the carrier. Reach out to the District Benefits team for information on transferring these plans.​​

BP 7132 Management Benefits​

Retirees and dependent spouses age 65 or older are required to enroll in and pay for Medicare Part B in order to remain on the District's insurance plan.  If you or your spouse are age 65 or older and you are still actively working and recieving benefits from the district, neither you or your spouse will need to enroll in Medicare Part B until after your retire.

It is the responsibility of the Retiree/spouse to contact the social security Administration regarding Medicare benefits, typically at  least three months in advance or the 1st of the month in which the Retiree/Spouse turns 65, so that primary coverage is not interrupted.

Once the retiree or spouse turns 65, they will be transitioned into one of the Medicare Advantage plans offered by the District.​

For those employees who defer Part B coverage because they continue to work beyond age 65, the Social Security Administration (SSA) requires the employer to verify the final date of employment. The SSA will provide a form necessary for the District to complete. Submit form to HR/Benefits. ​​

Open Enrollment: The purpose of Open Enrollment is to allow employees/retirees the opportunity to switch health plans, add dependents, or drop dependents. An annual open enrollment period occurs every year. Enrollments/changes completed during this period are effective on January 1 of the following year. Retirees will be notified of the annual open enrollment period.

If You Move:  HMO plans are available to you as long as you reside within the local service area. If you move out of state or to an area outside the service area of your health plan, you may no longer be eligible for that plan and may need to switch to a PPO plan.

Insurance Carrier Changes:  it is important to note that the health plans available to Retirees are directly related to plans negotiated for Active Employees. Therefore, if the Active group experiences a change in insurance carriers (i.e. Kaiser or Anthem), Retirees will also be required to enroll in a new health plan under new carrier(s).

​Family Status Changes: it is the responsibility of the retiree to notify the benefits office regarding any changes in family status (marriage, divorce, death, dependents no longer eligible for coverage) within 31 days of the event date.

Once you have made a decision on your retirement date, notify your supervisor in writing of your upcoming retirement.  HR will then be notified and your retirement will be placed on Docket for approval by the Board. Once on Docket the Employee Benefits Department will be notified and will you the retiree health packet.