FAQs

A: The error message “no known record” indicates that our system is unable to identify you as a current SFERS member. If you are a new member, please wait 30 days after enrollment to register for mySFERS. If you are an active or retired member, or a survivor of a deceased member who is receiving a continuation benefit, please check that you have entered your personal information correctly. You must enter your name exactly as it appears in the City’s payroll/pension records. Include surname with your last name (e.g. Jones Jr.) and hyphen or apostrophe (e.g. Williams-Smith or O’Brien)

A:  From the top navigation menu on the Home page, select Resources. Under the dropdown navigation on the left side of the page, select Member-Only Portal. On the left side of the screen, look inside of the blue Log In box and click on “Forgot your password?” An email will be sent to you with instructions on how to reset your password.

A:  From the top navigation menu on the Home page, select Resources. Under the dropdown navigation on the left side of the page, select Member-Only Portal.  On the left side of the screen, look inside of the blue Log In box and click on “Forgot your username?”  An email will be sent to you with instructions on how to retrieve your username.

A: A record of your email address is located on the Dashboard screen of your mySFERS account. You can update it anytime.

A: As long as you have access to the internet, you should be able to access your mySFERS account. Please make sure to update your address with the Retirement System.

A:  When calculating service credit, keep these factors in mind:
You begin earning service credit as of your membership date (located on the dashboard screen.)

Service is credited to you according to the number of hours worked and paid on a fiscal year basis (July 1 – June 30.)

See your “Summary of Key Plan Provisions” (SPP) for SFERS’ service credit formula.  If you have additional questions concerning service credit, email us at [email protected].

A: We are providing member documents for the most current year only including annual statements for active members, and 1099R forms and advice notices for retired members. Each member will accumulate an archive of documents as they are generated going forward.

A:   The SFERS website is built to work best in the latest desktop browsers. Older browsers might display differently, but should offer full functionality for most components. We support the latest versions of the following browsers: Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari. Chromium and Chrome for Linux, Firefox for Linux, and Internet Explorer may work, but are not officially supported.

A: If you are experiencing a printing issue from mySFERS, it may be related to your browser settings.

A: If you are having trouble registering for mySFERS, try the following:
– Check the spelling of your name. Your name must be entered into mySFERS exactly as it is in your official payroll record (see your check stub)
– Confirm that you are currently an active or retired SFERS member.
– If the problem persists, you can contact SFERS at [email protected]

A:  Yes. You must certify that you agree with the SFERS disclaimers and privacy disclosures related to the member-only portal before you are allowed access.

A:  If you are an active member, you must update your address with the City’s Human Resources Department (DHR) or your department Payroll Officer. The address information SFERS collects for member communications comes directly from each department’s payroll division.
If you are a retired member, log in to mySFERS secure member portal.  On the Dashboard page, scroll to “Member’s Address” and select the “Change Address” link.  If you are an Attorney in Fact or Conservator for a retired member, download, complete and submit the Change of Address Form. Vested members may also submit a Change of Address Form.

A: When you retire from SFERS, there is a period of about 4 – 6 weeks during which you transition from an active member to a retired member. During this transition period (from “active” status to “retired” status), you will either remain in the system as an active member, or you will not have access to mySFERS. Once you attain retired status (receive your first retirement allowance) you will be able to register for mySFERS as a retired member.

A: Your annual compensation for the current year is the amount you have earned as of the fiscal year-to-date. Annual compensation is updated bi-weekly according to payroll records. Please note that your compensation displayed in mySFERS is lagged by one pay period, so it does not reflect earnings from the pay period immediately prior to the “as of” date. If you have questions concerning annual compensation, email us at [email protected].

Generally, yes. Retired members may receive a Basic COLA—an automatic adjustment to your monthly retirement allowance—effective July 1st of each year and payable to eligible members on the check dated July 31st. You may find additional information about COLA provisions here.

To notify SFERS of a member’s death, you can contact us at 415-487-7044.

Yes, but members must allow for delays and SFERS cannot guarantee prompt delivery of your check.

Yes. Once you have retired from the City you can work for any employer other than the City with limited restrictions. You can return to work for the City in a non-benefited position, however, you are limited to working no more than 960 hours in any fiscal year without affecting your pension benefit. Certain employment restrictions apply to disability retirees. For additional information about “work after retirement” provisions, refer to your Summary of Key Plan Provisions.

There may be several reasons why your monthly benefit amount would have changed. If the change occurred to your July 31st allowance, you may have received a Basic COLA. If the change occurred to your February 28th (or 29th) allowance, you may have received a Supplemental COLA (click here for information about COLA provisions). Adjustments to tax withholding or deductions for health premiums may also affect the amount of your monthly allowance. To verify any changes to your monthly benefit, contact the Retirement System at 415-487-7000.

Your entitlement to health benefits is administered under the City’s Health Services System (HSS). Visit the HSS website at www.sfhss.org, or contact HSS at (628) 652-4700 to inquire about health benefits.

Your pension allowance is payable on the last day of each month. The payment covers the period from the first day of the month to the last day of the month. If you sign up for direct deposit, your monthly allowance will generally post to your bank account no later than the evening of the payment authorization date (last day of the month). If you receive your benefit by physical check, your check will be delivered through the mail.

A: The SFERS pension is a defined benefit plan. Under the law that governs defined benefit plans, there are no loan or withdrawal provisions.  If you participate in a defined contribution plan such as the City’s 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan (SFDCP), provisions for loans, emergency and/or hardship withdrawals may be included. Check with your plan provider for details.

A: Most City employees who held a temporary position (not members of SFERS during the period of temporary appointment) prior to July 2, 1991, were not eligible for FICA coverage. Prior to July 2, 1991, most City employees became eligible for FICA upon becoming a member of SFERS. Since July 2, 1991, most City employees are covered under FICA regardless of whether or not they are SFERS members. You may contact the City’s Payroll and Personnel Services Department’s Tax Unit (with the Controller’s Office) to verify your FICA earnings/contributions for any period of City employment that does not appear on your Social Security Statement.

A: Purchasing prior City service does not give you retroactive membership. Therefore, your membership date will not change.

A: SFERS provides a monthly retirement allowance first payable on or after age 50 (age 53 for A8.603 Miscellaneous Plan  members) for members  1) with five or more years of service credit (as of date of separation); 2) not qualified for service retirement; and 3) who elect vesting within 90 days of termination of City employment.

A: The most convenient way to get an estimate of your retirement benefit is to register for and log in to mySFERS secure member portal and utilize the benefits estimate calculator to calculate an estimate of your benefit…it takes just minutes. However, if you are currently qualified for service retirement or, are otherwise eligible to retire for service within one year of the date of your request, you can request an estimate of your SFERS benefit by completing and returning to SFERS a Retirement Estimate Request Form (refer to your Summary of Key Plan Provisions for service retirement qualifications). Normally, you will receive the estimate within eight (8) weeks of SFERS receipt of your request.

A: You can initiate the application process for service retirement by scheduling a counseling session with a SFERS Retirement Counselor. Schedule your session to take place at least three months prior to your desired retirement date. To schedule a counseling appointment, log in to mySFERS to access the online Retirement Appointment Scheduler, or contact us by email at [email protected] at least six (6) months prior to your desired appointment date. According to Retirement Board policy, your retirement date may be on or after the first day of the month in which you file your application with SFERS.

A: Your first retirement check will be issued 30-45 days after the latter of 1) your application date, 2) your retirement date, or 3) the date of your last payroll check. SFERS must receive all earnings and contributions data though your last day of work to begin the calculation of your retirement benefit.

A: Pension payments are always issued on the last day of each month.  The allowance covers the period from the first day of the month to the last day of the month.

A: For information about eligibility for health benefits during retirement contact the City’s Health Services System (HSS) directly at (628) 652-4700 or visit the HSS website at www.sfhss.org.  HSS administers health and dental benefits for active and retired SFERS members.

A: SFERS does not calculate service credit for retirement purposes for any periods of employment during which you are on “unpaid leave” status and/or are not receiving a salary from the City.

A: Under SFERS’ Reciprocity provisions you must terminate membership/employment with the current reciprocal plan, and within six (6) months after your termination date, become a member of the new reciprocal plan. Concurrent membership (whether on paid or unpaid status from any of the reciprocal plans through your termination date) will disqualify your eligibility for reciprocity. See “Reciprocity” on the SFERS website for additional information about qualifying for reciprocity.

A: You may designate any person or persons, your estate or a trust as your beneficiary. You can find additional information on beneficiaries in your Summary of Key Plan Provisions.

A: To change your address, contact the Payroll Officer in your department or the City’s Human Resources Department. The address information SFERS collects is for member communications and comes directly from each department’s payroll division.

A: The difference between these two dates can have a big effect on your retirement benefits over time. Members who retire on July 1st are eligible for Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA) to their pension, when payable, effective on July 1st. Members who retire on July 2nd are not eligible to receive the COLA that was effective on the preceding July 1st because they were not retired on July 1st. These members will have to wait until July 1st of the following year to receive any COLA that may be payable.

A: Your pension benefit can only be deposited electronically in a U.S. financial institution. You will need to verify with the bank in the country where you plan to reside whether it has affiliation with a U.S. financial institution where your benefit can be deposited and accessed by you from the country in which you will reside.

A: Yes. Once you have retired from the City you can work for any employer other than the City with limited restrictions. If you return to work for the City, you are limited to working no more than 960 hours in any fiscal year without affecting your pension benefit. If you are under age 62 on your effective retirement date, you must wait a minimum of 60 days after your retirement date before you can begin employment with the City as a retired employee. Certain employment restrictions apply to disability retirees. For additional information about “work after retirement” provisions, refer to your Summary of Key Plan Provisions and the Normal Retirement Age and Bona-Fide Separation Retirement Board Policies.

A: To view and print a verification of your account balance, log in to mySFERS and select “Account Balance Verification” under the Profile tab. You may also request a verification of your account balance by email at [email protected]. To protect the privacy of our members, we do not provide account information to third parties (such as a mortgage company or financial institution) and we do not accept requests by fax, e-mail or telephone.

A: SFERS credits service to you as it is purchased.  The service you are purchasing will be reflected on your Annual Member Statement as “Credited Service (purchased)” once the purchase is complete.

A: Your City personnel file follows you from department to department whenever you change jobs. Therefore, the department with which you are currently employed can certify the period of leave as unpaid parental leave. If your department does not have a record of your leave or cannot determine the nature of the leave, they can contact SFERS and make arrangements to access timerolls/timesheets for the period of interest.

A: You can find the formula to calculate an estimate of your retirement benefit in the Summary of Plan Provisions corresponding to the SFERS Plan to which you belong. Or, register and log in to mySFERS to calculate an estimate of your benefit utilizing the benefits estimate calculator.

A: The earliest you can retire voluntarily for service is on or after attaining age 50 (age 53 for Miscellaneous Plan A8.603) and upon meeting the years of credited service qualifications for service retirement. You may apply for disability retirement regardless of age if you have at least 10 years of service credit. Refer to your Summary of Key Plan Provisions for detailed retirement qualifications.

A: You can initiate a disability retirement by scheduling a counseling session with a SFERS Retirement Counselor. To schedule a counseling appointment, log in to mySFERS to access the online Retirement Appointment Scheduler, or contact us by email at [email protected]. The length of time it takes to approve your application depends on how quickly the supporting documents are received, the evidence and facts reviewed, and all issues pertaining to your disability are resolved.

A: Your pensioan will be paid to you throughout your lifetime.

A: SFERS does not pay your lump-sum entitlements. SFERS will notify your department once you have applied for retirement. Your department will process your lump-sum entitlements according to department procedure.

A: Since each case concerning community property is unique, you will need to contact SFERS at (415) 487-7065 to discuss your individual situation.

A: If you are a miscellaneous member who is convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude committed in connection with your duties as an officer or employee of CCSF or member employer, you will forfeit your right to receive a monthly pension. Your contributions in the plan will be refunded to you.

A: While on Involuntary Leave status you continue to be a member of SFERS. However, you are not eligible to request a refund of your contributions, nor make any other benefit election until your status changes to Involuntary or Voluntary Lay-Off status.

A: Typically, you will receive your refund within eight (8) weeks from the latter of 1) your termination date, 2) the date of receipt of your last check, or 3) your refund request date.

Login into mySFERS and you can view your current beneficiaries on the Beneficiary Dashboard.

A: A “beneficiary” is a person or persons, trust, or estate that you designate to receive a lump-sum benefit upon your death. A “qualified survivor” is a person that your SFERS plan provisions define as eligible to receive a monthly continuation allowance upon your death. Refer to your Summary of Key Plan Provisions for more details.

A: The SFERS pension is a defined benefit plan. Under the law that governs defined benefit plans, there are no loan or withdrawal provisions.  If you participate in a defined contribution plan such as the City’s 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan (SFDCP), provisions for loans, emergency, and/or hardship withdrawals may be included. Check with your plan provider for details.

A: The service you purchased as a non-safety member is credited to you under the miscellaneous plan.  When you retire from the safety plan, the miscellaneous service will entitle you to a separate benefit calculated according to the miscellaneous provisions, but using your safety compensation. If you are not entitled to receive a miscellaneous benefit, your contributions and interest will be refunded to you.

A: SFERS does not calculate service for retirement purposes for any periods of employment during which you are on “unpaid leave” status and/or are not receiving a salary from the City.

A: Only service rendered with the City and County of San Francisco as a member in the safety (police and fire) plans is credited to you as safety service with SFERS. You may choose to either 1) leave the prior safety service with the prior plan, or 2) if your contributions were refunded to you, you may elect to purchase the service under the other plan as a “public service” with SFERS. Once the purchase is complete, the service will be credited to you as a service under the SFERS Miscellaneous Plan (provided you have other credited services under the miscellaneous plan with SFERS). Please note, if you took a refund, we recommend you inquire with the prior plan about opportunities for redeposit with that plan.

A: You can find the formula to calculate an estimate of your retirement benefit in the Summary of Key Plan Provisions corresponding to the SFERS Plan to which you belong. Or, you may register for and log in to mySFERS to calculate an estimate of your benefit utilizing the benefits estimate calculator.

A: The earliest you can retire voluntarily for service is on or after attaining age 50 and upon meeting the qualifications for service retirement.  You may apply for ordinary disability retirement for non-job-related illness or injury regardless of age if you have at least 10 years of credited service. You may apply for industrial disability retirement for job-related illness or injury regardless of age or credited service. Refer to your Summary of Key Plan Provisions for detailed retirement qualifications.

A: You can initiate a disability retirement by scheduling a counseling session with an SFERS Retirement Counselor.  To schedule a counseling appointment, log in to mySFERS to access the online Retirement Appointment Scheduler. The length of time it takes to approve your application depends on how quickly the supporting documents are received, the evidence and facts reviewed, and all issues pertaining to your disability are resolved.

A: For information about eligibility for health benefits during retirement contact the City’s Health Services System (HSS) directly at (628) 652-4700, or visit the HSS website at www.sfhss.org.  HSS administers health and dental benefits for active and retired SFERS members.

A: Your first retirement check will be issued 30-45 days after the latter of 1) your application date, 2) your retirement date, or 3) the date of your last payroll check. SFERS must receive all earnings and contributions data through your last day of work to begin the calculation of your retirement benefit.

A: Pension payments are always issued on the last day of each month.  The allowance covers the period from the first day of the month to the last day of the month.

Login to mySFERS and you can review your beneficiaries on the beneficiary dashboard.

A: A disabled child may be eligible to receive a monthly allowance upon your death if the provisions of the Retirement Board Policy Regarding Qualification for Benefits for Dependent Adult Child or Dependent Parent Continuation Benefits are met. Contact SFERS by email at [email protected] for a copy of the policy.

A: Yes, but members must allow for delays and SFERS cannot guarantee prompt delivery of your check.

A: The difference between these two dates can have a big effect on your retirement benefits over time. Members who retire on July 1^st are eligible for Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA) to their pension when payable, effective on July 1^st. Members who retire on July 2^nd are not eligible to receive the COLA that was effective on the preceding July 1^st because they were not retired on July 1^st. Retiring on July 1 vs. July 2 may also impact the calculation of your lump-sum payouts from your department. You should inquire with your payroll department about this matter.

A: To view and print a verification of your account balance, log in to mySFERS and select “Account Balance Verification” under the Profile tab. You may also request a verification of your account balance by email at [email protected]. To protect the privacy of our members, we do not provide account information to third parties (such as a mortgage company or financial institution) and we do not accept requests by fax, e-mail, or telephone.

A: SFERS credits service to you as it is purchased. The service you are purchasing will be reflected on your Annual Member Statement once the purchase is complete.

A: While on suspension without pay, you do not receive credit for retirement service. You may contact SFERS at the end of the suspension to inquire about the overall effect in credited service for the particular fiscal year(s). You cannot purchase service for a suspension period.

A: Under SFERS’ Reciprocity provisions you must terminate from the current plan, and within six (6) months after your termination date, become a member of the new plan. Concurrent membership (whether on paid or unpaid status from any of the reciprocal plans through your separation date) will disqualify your eligibility for reciprocity.  Refer to “Reciprocity” on the SFERS website for additional information about qualifying for reciprocity.

A: The most convenient way to get an estimate of your retirement benefit is to register for the secure member portal mySFERS and utilize the benefits estimate calculator to calculate an estimate of your benefit…it takes just minutes. However, if you are currently qualified for service retirement or, are otherwise eligible to retire for service within one year of the date of your request, you can request an estimate of your SFERS benefit by completing and returning to SFERS a Retirement Estimate Request Form (refer to your Summary of Key Plan Provisions for service retirement qualifications). Normally, you will receive the estimate within eight weeks of SFERS’ receipt of your request.

A: You can initiate the application process for service retirement by scheduling a counseling session with an SFERS Retirement Counselor.  Schedule your session to take place at least three months prior to your desired retirement date. To schedule a counseling appointment, log in to mySFERS to access the online Retirement Appointment Scheduler, or contact us by email at [email protected] at least six (6) months prior to your desired retirement date.  According to Retirement Board policy, your retirement date may be on or after the first day of the month in which you file your application with SFERS.

A: SFERS does not pay your lump-sum entitlements.  SFERS will notify your department once you have applied for retirement.  Your department will process your lump-sum entitlements according to department procedure.

A: Since each case concerning community property is unique, you will need to contact SFERS at (415) 487-7065 to discuss your individual situation.

A: Your pension will be paid to you throughout your lifetime.

A: You may designate any person or persons, your estate or a trust as your beneficiary.  You can find additional information on beneficiaries in your Summary of Key Plan Provisions.

A: A “beneficiary” is a person or persons, trust, or estate that you designate to receive a lump-sum death benefit upon your death.  A “qualified survivor” is a person that your SFERS plan provisions define as eligible to receive a monthly continuation allowance upon your death.  Refer to “Survivor Benefits” under your membership group, or your Summary of Key Plan Provisions for more details.

A: To change your address, you must contact the Human Resources or Payroll Officer in your department. The address information SFERS collects for member communications comes directly from each department’s payroll division.

A: Your pension benefit can only be deposited electronically in a US financial institution. You will need to verify with the bank in the country where you plan to reside whether it has an affiliation with a US financial institution where your benefit can be deposited and accessed by you from the country in which you will reside.

A: Yes. Once you have retired from the City you can work for any employer other than the City with limited restrictions. If you return to work for the City, you are limited to working no more than 960 hours in any fiscal year without affecting your pension benefit. If you are under age 50 on your effective retirement date, you must wait a minimum of 60 days after your retirement date before you can begin employment with the City as a retired employee. Certain employment restrictions apply to disability retirees. For additional information about “work after retirement” provisions, refer to your Summary of Key Plan Provisions and the Normal Retirement Age and Bona-Fide Separation Retirement Board Policies.