The Retired Members Spring 2025 Newsletter is now available on the LACERS website! In this issue, you’ll learn the benefits of establishing a Power of Attorney, receive tips on maintaining financial health in retirement, and much more. Check it out today! 

MEDICARE PART B PREMIUMS FOR 2025

As a reminder, all Retired Members and their dependents who are eligible for Medicare and enrolled in a LACERS plan are required to enroll in Medicare Part B.  Retired Members enrolled in Medicare Parts A & B with at least 10 years of Service who are enrolled in a LACERS Senior medical plan or participate in the Medical Premium Reimbursement Program (MPRP) are eligible for a reimbursement of their standard (basic) Medicare Part B premium.

OFFERING ENHANCED READABILITY IN THIS ISSUE.

The Retired Members Summer 2024 Newsletter is now available on the LACERS website! It covers valuable information, from Medicare to worthwhile warm-weather activities, so be sure to check it out. 

Summer fun often brings summer heat waves. If you need to cool off, the City of LA offers cooling centers where you can take a break from the sun. These cooling centers are in LA City facilities where you can enjoy recreational activities, chat with friends, or read a good book while escaping the day’s peak heat. Cooling centers are open and available during regular hours of operation unless otherwise noted. You can call 3-1-1 from within LA City or 2-1-1 within LA County to learn more about cooling center locations and hours of operation.

LACERS is no longer accepting applications for health plan changes, the addition of eligible dependents, and new enrollments for the 2024 plan year. Any changes made during the open enrollment period will become effective on January 1, 2024. If you did not make changes to your plans or add dependents, your current LACERS health coverage will continue for the 2024 plan year. 

HOW DOES DIVORCE AFFECT YOUR RETIREMENT?

Members may not realize that a dissolution of their marriage or domestic partnership can impact their LACERS retirement benefits. If you and your spouse or state-registered domestic partner are considering this course of action, you should consider the potential effects.

The LACERS Front Desk at 977 N. Broadway will begin operating Monday – Friday, 7:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., beginning this Monday, October 16, 2023. No appointment is needed.

IN-PERSON PLANNING FOR RETIREMENT SEMINAR OCTOBER 19

Many retirees comment that their City career flew by. As an Active LACERS Member, are you ready for what tomorrow may bring (including retirement)? Now’s your chance to take a proactive approach toward retirement and attend an upcoming in-person Planning for Retirement Seminar at The California Endowment on Thursday, October 19 at 9:00 a.m. Complimentary parking and light snacks will be provided.

Space is limited. Register via MyLACERS. Looking for other options? Access our calendar for a full schedule of upcoming seminars. 

ANNOUNCEMENT

Upcoming Office Closure: LACERS offices will be closed on Friday, August 25, 2023, phone and email assistance will be available during the office closure.

Upcoming City Holiday: LACERS will be closed on Monday, September 4, 2023, in observance of Labor Day. 

Now’s the perfect time to do a mid-year check-up on your LACERS benefits. Here are some things to check off your list:

Keep Your Beneficiaries Current

Make it a habit to review your designated beneficiaries on file with LACERS annually so that your benefits are paid out as intended if you pass away.

ANNOUNCEMENT

LACERS welcomes our newest Commissioner to our Board of Administration, Mr. Gaylord “Rusty” Roten. Commissioner Roten will attend his first LACERS Board meeting on Tuesday, July 25, 2023. Join us in welcoming him to the LACERS Board!

To learn more about Commissioner Roten and the other members of the Board, please visit our Board Members webpage. 

ANNOUNCEMENT

Upcoming City Holiday: LACERS will be closed on Monday, June 19, 2023, in observance of Juneteenth. 

On April 14, 2023, the LACERS Board introduced a request to the City Council to consider a Discretionary Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) for Retired Members and Beneficiaries (Council File # 23-0418) to help combat the high inflation experienced during the most recent fiscal year. 

ANNOUNCEMENT

Upcoming City Holiday: LACERS will be closed on Monday, May 29, 2023, in observance of Memorial Day. 

GETTING IN-PERSON ASSISTANCE JUST GOT EASIER

Appointments are no longer needed when visiting LACERS at our new location at 977 N. Broadway in Downtown Los Angeles’ Chinatown. We are open Monday – Friday, 7:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.*

All online services and virtual counseling remain available for our Members. Please contact LACERS at (800) 779-8328 for assistance.

*Please note a current government-issued photo identification or City employee badge is required to enter our building except when attending public meetings of the LACERS Board of Administration. Also, parking is not available at the building. Paid parking lots, public transit, and street parking are available nearby.

We are open and able to assist you with your retirement needs in person at our new headquarters! The LACERS Front Desk at 977 N. Broadway operates Monday – Friday, 7:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. No appointment is needed.

REOPENING APRIL 3 AT NEW LOCATION

Starting April 3, LACERS Front Desk at our new location on the first floor of 977 N. Broadway in Downtown Los Angeles’ Chinatown will be open Monday – Friday, 7:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., for general inquiries and document drop-off. Appointments are also available through our online booking system. 

All online services and virtual counseling remain available for our Members.

*Please note a current government-issued photo identification or City employee badge is required to enter our building. Also, parking is NOT available at the building. Paid parking lots, public transit, and street parking are available nearby.

Watch Our Video Honoring Women LACERS Staff Past and Present

Women’s History Month started locally in California as “Women’s History Week.”  The Education Task Force of the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women planned and executed a “Women’s History Week” celebration in 1978. The organizers selected the week of March 8 to correspond with International Women’s Day. The movement spread nationwide as other communities initiated their Women’s History Week celebrations the following year.

LACERS’ MOVE TO 977 N. BROADWAY IS NEARLY COMPLETE

LACERS reopens Monday, April 3rd, at our new location, 977 N. Broadway in Downtown Los Angeles’ Chinatown.  We will be open M-F 7:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

SAVE THE DATE! LACERS PENSION SYMPOSIUM FEBRUARY 22

Join us for our first virtual Pension Symposium on Wednesday, February 22, from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. via Zoom. The 2023 LACERS Pension Symposium will feature a range of speakers presenting on the national perspective of public pensions, risks to public pension funds, aspects of investments, retirement, and LACERS operations and innovations. For more information on this event, click here. 

WISHING YOU HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND A SAFE, PROSPEROUS 2023

Season’s greetings from all of us at LACERS. As the year draws to a close, we can’t help but express our sincere appreciation for you. Best wishes in 2023!

LACERS THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY HOURS

The Thanksgiving holiday is quickly approaching, and the LACERS 800 phone number will not be in service from November 21 through November 23. Members can still reach LACERS for urgent matters by leaving a voicemail at (800) 779-8328 or by sending an email to lacers.services@lacers.org. LACERS will be closed on November 24 and 25 for the Thanksgiving Holiday.

Please keep these dates in mind and plan ahead if you want to speak with a LACERS representative by phone. We look forward to continuing to assist our Members and wish everyone a wonderful holiday!

APPLYING FOR RETIREMENT ONLINE

The online Retirement Application Portal (RAP) is an efficient and convenient way to apply for retirement. If you will be retiring in the near future, here are key steps to take before accessing the RAP:

• Contact LACERS 90 days prior to your anticipated retirement date to request a retirement benefit estimate.
• Download a Decision Sheet and start to review the decisions you will be making.
• Register for a Retirement Counseling session and a Health Counseling session. 

Please visit the Applying for Retirement Online webpage for more information.

2023 OPEN ENROLLMENT IS COMING

This year LACERS Health Benefits’ Open Enrollment period will be held from October 17 – November 17, 2022, with Open Enrollment packets being mailed in early October. Open Enrollment will be your opportunity to enroll in a plan, change your plan or add dependents with changes taking effect on January 1, 2023. 

Members 65 and over will receive a full packet with an Open Enrollment statement, an Open Enrollment overview, and a copy of the 2023 Health Benefits Guide. Members under 65 will receive an Open Enrollment statement, overview, and instructions on accessing the 2023 Health Benefits Guide online.

If you desire a physical copy of the Health Benefits Guide after receiving your packet, you may email lacers.health@lacers.org with the subject line “Requesting 2023 Open Enrollment Health Benefits Guide,” include your name and mailing address in the body, and one will be mailed to you. 

LACERS BOARD OF ADMINISTRATION OFFICER ELECTIONS

Commissioner Nilza Serrano and Commissioner Elizabeth Lee were elected President and Vice President, respectively, at the August 9, 2022 meeting, to lead the LACERS Board of Administration for the term ending in July 2023. For more information on the new Board officers, please read their biographies here.

LACERS TURNS 85

In 1937, the Los Angeles City Charter established the Los Angeles City Employees’ Retirement System (LACERS) as a retirement trust fund for the purpose of providing the civilian employees of the City of Los Angeles, a defined benefit retirement plan inclusive of service retirements, disability retirements, and survivor benefits.

As we celebrate 85 years in existence, we are proud that service to our Members remains first and foremost. We also remain committed to our mission of establishing trusting and lifelong relationships with all of our Members.

2022 COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT EFFECTIVE JULY 1

The LACERS Board of Administration approved the maximum allowable Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for eligible LACERS Retired Members and Beneficiaries effective July 1. For Tier 1 and Tier 1 Enhanced Members the COLA increase is 3.0%, with 2.0% for Tier 3 Members. For Tier 1 and Tier 1 Enhanced Members, the COLAs in excess of 3% will be banked for use during future years.

The COLA is a reflection of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the Los Angeles Area, which has been determined to be 3.8% for 2022. Find more information on the COLA webpage today.

Summer months bring fun, sun, and heat! Sometimes, the heat can become dangerous, especially for children, pets, people who work outside, and people with certain health conditions. Staying safe in high heat is important. Follow these simple tips to stay cool: 

FAMILY DEATH BENEFIT PLAN RATE DECREASE

Beginning on July 1, 2022, the Family Death Benefit Plan (FDBP) premium will be reduced from $2.40 per month to $1.90 per month ($0.95 per pay period). To learn more about the plan, visit the Family Death Benefit Plan webpage.

Mayor Eric Garcetti has proclaimed Juneteenth an official City holiday. This year, LACERS will be closed on Monday, June 20, 2022 in observance of Juneteenth. Please plan accordingly if you need to contact LACERS staff for assistance. Although LACERS will be closed, Members can always access our website, the LACERS FAQs webpage, and the LACERS YouTube channel for helpful information. Regular operations will resume on Tuesday, June 21.