CalPERS Resources

This page provides helpful links and resources for CalPERS members and individuals considering CalPERS membership.

Should I Join CalSTRS or CalPERS?

Read Join CalSTRS? Join CalPERS? to help decide which retirement system is best for you. This guide details the differences in the two public retirement systems, including changing systems and dual membership options.

Check out additional features and reasons for creating a CalPERS account:

1. • 3 Reasons to Sign Up for myCalPERS
   • 15 Fantastic Features of myCalPERS
   • New to CalPERS? Don't Wait to Take These 5 Steps

Helpful CalPERS Links

• Welcome to CalPERS: A Benefits Guide for School Members (PDF)
  This guide provides information on your CalPERS retirement system, including how to calculate your retirement; how to sign up for myCalPERS; how to purchase service credit (such as Military Service, Service Prior to Membership and more); completing a CalPERS Special Power of Attorney, adding or changing Beneficiaries, and additional information for CalPERS members.
• Benefit Factor Charts
  Find your Benefit Factor Chart – used when calculating your retirement.
• New to CalPERS
  This page provides information to links on Life Events (birth, adoption, death, marriage, divorce, etc.) processes, Resources (for members, such as, Member Education including on-line and in-person classes, Special Power of Attorney, etc.), and Forms and Publications (helpful guides and publication for members).
• Reciprocity (Linking Retirement Systems)
  This page provides information about what reciprocity is (retiring from two systems using the highest salary for both employers), how you can qualify for it and what steps are required to establish reciprocity.
  • Reciprocal Self-Certification Form (PDF)
    During your Los Rios Community College District onboarding you will be asked to complete the CalPERS Self-Certification form. If you answer "yes" to the question Are you a member of the defined benefit plan of one of the retirement systems listed on the enclosed List of Qualifying Reciprocal Retirement Systems in California? and you want to establish reciprocity, then you must log into your myCalPERS account and under Reciprocity select Submit a request to establish reciprocity. This request must be submitted through your myCalPERS account.
• Service Credit Purchase: Could you qualify for a Service Credit Purchase? (PDF)
  This guide reviews possible Service Credit Purchase options for CalPERS members. Purchasing Service Credit may increase your total years of service which is used in your retirement calculation formula. Examples include: active duty military prior to becoming a member with CalPERS, Service Prior to Membership (e.g. working as a short term temporary under a CalPERS employer, such as, Los Rios Community College District), Redeposit of Withdrawn Contributions (if you were previously a CalPERS member and took a refund of your contributions) and eligible Unpaid Leaves of Absence (several types apply).
• A Guide to Your CalPERS Special Power of Attorney (PDF)
  This guide provides information on completing a Special Power of Attorney form specifically for CalPERS. This allows you to designate a Special Power of Attorney who can make specific CalPERS decisions about retirement or survivor benefits should you become incapacitated or unable to conduct your retirement business.
• Member Education
  You can subscribe to Member Education Bulletins to be notified of upcoming educational opportunities or sign up for in-person, virtual, conferences and learn more about your CalPERS retirement. There are courses/videos for all career stages – from new to the workforce, mid-career, or nearing retirement.

Contact

You can contact CalPERS by phone, fax, email or in-person.

Contact CalPERS