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How Do I…

…Apply for Service Retirement?

When you are ready and eligible to retire for service with the City and County of San Francisco, a counseling session is required to complete the retirement application process. Log in to the secure member portal mySFERS to schedule an appointment with a Retirement Counselor using our online Retirement Appointment Scheduler. Schedule your counseling session to take place within six months of your desired retirement date. Counseling appointments last approximately two hours, so please plan accordingly.

Gather the following materials for your counseling session:

Your effective retirement date cannot be earlier than the first day of the month in which you file your retirement application with SFERS.

…File for Disability Retirement?

If you are considering a disability retirement with the City and County of San Francisco, a counseling session is required to complete the application process. Log in to the secure member portal mySFERS to schedule an appointment with a Retirement Counselor using our online Retirement Appointment Scheduler. Counseling appointments last approximately two hours, so please plan accordingly.

Gather the following materials for your counseling session:

Your effective retirement date cannot be earlier than the first day of the month in which you file your retirement application with SFERS.

…Elect a Vesting Allowance?

If you terminate employment with CCSF with five years or more of credited service, and you are not eligible for service retirement as of your termination date, you may be eligible to elect Vesting. You may elect to “Vest” and leave your contributions with SFERS until you reach an age at which you become eligible to claim a vesting allowance.

…Apply for a Vesting Allowance?

When you are eligible and ready to claim your vesting benefit with the City and County of San Francisco, a counseling session is required to complete the application process. Log in to the secure member portal mySFERS to schedule a Vesting appointment using our online Retirement Appointment Scheduler.

Gather the following materials for your counseling session:

…Elect Reciprocity?

If you terminated employment from CalPERS or a reciprocal retirement system within six (6) months of being hired with the City and County of San Francisco, you can make an election for reciprocity during the SFERS new member enrollment process.

If you are leaving City employment and considering employment with another public agency, log in to the secure member portal mySFERS, and select “Refund Request” under the Profile tab to access the SFERS Termination Options Form. You have 90 days from your separation date (your last day of employment) to make an election for reciprocity.

To discuss your options and potential impacts to your retirement benefits should you join a reciprocal agency, call the SFERS office at (415) 487-7000, or email us at [email protected]. An appointment is not required to make an election for reciprocity.

…Request a Refund of Contributions 

If you have less than five years of credited service you may receive a full refund of your contributions. To request a refund, follow the steps below:

  1. Log in to the secure member portal mySFERS, and select the “Profile” tab, then “Termination Option Request” to access the SFERS Termination Options Form.
  2. You have 90 days from your separation date (your last day of employment) to complete and submit the form (by mail or in person at the SFERS office) to request a refund of contributions.
  3. We require proof of separation by confirmed “terminated” employment status in Emerge or department issued Separation Report before we can start the refund process. An appointment is not required to request a refund of contributions.

Refunds are processed within eight (8) weeks from the latter of the refund request date, your separation date, or the date of your last paycheck.

Refunded contributions are subject to federal and/or state taxes. To defer paying taxes, you may elect to directly rollover your refunded contributions to another qualified plan or individual retirement account (401(k) or IRA).

Accepting a refund of your retirement contributions terminates your claim to any future benefit from the San Francisco Employees’ Retirement System.  A refund may also impact your claim to CCSF retiree health benefits. Contact the Health Service System directly at (658) 652-4700 prior to electing a refund.

…Obtain an estimate of my retirement benefit?

You have two ways to get an estimate of your benefit:

Online Benefits Calculator – 24/7 access to the online benefit calculator via the secure member portal mySFERS. Select the “Calculator” tab.

Prepared Benefits Estimate – If you are currently qualified to retire for service or will qualify within 12 months, you can request a prepared estimate of your benefits. Download, complete and submit a Request for Estimate Form. Please allow six (6) to eight (8) weeks to receive your estimate.

…Purchase service?

SFERS will allow you to voluntarily purchase service for time previously worked or lost under certain conditions (see SFERS Service Purchase Fact Sheet). If you believe you have an opportunity to purchase service, log in to mySFERS and select the “Service Purchase” tab.

…Obtain my account balance?

You can access individual account information including the balance of contributions in your SFERS account, via the secure member portal mySFERS. To view and print a verification of your account balance, log in to mySFERS and select “Account Balance Verification” under the “Profile” tab.

… Update my beneficiary?

To designate or update a beneficiary, log in to mySFERS member portal and submit a Designation of Beneficiary Form. Or you can download and submit a paper SFERS Designation of Beneficiary Form. Please have the form notarized, before mailing it to our office.

… Notify SFERS of a member’s death?

To notify SFERS of a member’s death, please contact SFERS’ Member Services at (415) 487-7044.

… Change my address?

If you are an active member, contact the Payroll Officer in your department or the City’s Human Resources Department to update your address. Retired members can log in to the secure member portal mySFERS and edit your address on the Dashboard. If you are an Attorney-in-Fact or a Conservator, request to change a member’s address by completing and submitting a Change of Address Form.

… Start automatic deposit?

As a retired member, you or your beneficiary(ies) may have monthly retirement allowances directly deposited into a bank account by electing an Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). To start direct deposit, download and submit an EFT Form according to the instructions provided on the form.

… Verify my pension benefit?

To view and print a verification of your pension, log in to mySFERS and select “Monthly Pension” under the “Profile” tab.

… Change tax withholding for my pension?

You can change tax withholding from your monthly pension benefit by completing and submitting a Tax Withholding Election Form. by mail

…Report a missing check/deposit?

If you do not receive your monthly benefit check by the tenth day of the month following the issue date (e.g. August 10th if it is your July 31st check), contact the Retirement System by email at [email protected] to report the check lost or stolen.

… Request a duplicate 1099-R Tax Form?

Log in to the secure member portal mySFERS to access a duplicate copy of your 1099-R Tax Form under “my Last 1099-R”. You can also contact the Retirement System by email at [email protected] to request a duplicate form.