Retiring from State Service: A 12-Month Checklist

Planning your CalPERS retirement requires careful preparation. The decisions you make in the 12 months before your retirement date can have lasting financial consequences.

12 Months Out

Verify your service credit at myCalPERS.ca.gov. Look for any gaps, errors, or uncredited periods. Request a retirement estimate — run estimates for multiple retirement dates to understand how your benefit changes with each additional year of service. Review your health benefit enrollment to confirm you meet the 5-year enrollment requirement for retiree health coverage.

6 Months Out

Submit your retirement application. CalPERS recommends submitting at least 90 days before your retirement date. Notify your department. Review your unused leave balances — unused vacation and annual leave are paid out at retirement as taxable income.

30 Days Out

Confirm your retirement date with CalPERS and your department. Complete your beneficiary designations — these are separate from your will. Set up direct deposit for your pension to avoid delays in your first payment.