Partial Service Retirement

The State began offering Partial Service Retirement in 1983 as a way to retain seasoned employees who otherwise planned to retire with a full service retirement. For the employee, the advantages of a partial service retirement include reduced work hours and the opportunity to continue earning a paycheck while also drawing a partial retirement allowance.

To be eligible for partial service retirement, a State employee must be in the CalPERS miscellaneous or industrial retirement category with at least 10 years of service credit. In addition, an employee in Tier 1 of CalPERS must be at least 55 years old to be eligible; Tier 2 employees must be at least 65 years old. (The age requirements are effective Jan. 1, 2007)

An employee who wants to apply for partial service retirement must first get approval for the reduced workload from his or her employer. The new part-time schedule must be at least 20 percent of full-time but no more than 60 percent.

Once the employer has approved the employee's request, the employee must complete a Partial Service Retirement Application form (DPA-062). The application must be signed by the employee's personnel officer and submitted to CalPERS.

CalPERS will calculate the partial service retirement allowance based on the employee's age, salary, years of service as of the effective date of the partial service retirement, and the partial service retirement percent (e.g., for a person choosing a half-time schedule, the percent would be 50 percent.)

Employees continue to receive full health, dental, and vision benefits while participating in partial service retirement, and accrue leave and other benefits on a pro-rated basis. Service credit toward retirement is also pro-rated.

If you have questions about Partial Service Retirement or want to apply for it, contact your department's personnel office for a CalPERS brochure (PERS-PUB-14) and application form. You may also visit the CalPERS Web site to get a Partial Service Retirement estimate.

Updated April 27, 2010 at 1:23 PM.