In the News
LACERS Retired Members November Update
LACERS Holiday Hours
Thanksgiving is quickly approaching, and this year the LACERS 800 phone number will not be in service from November 23 through November 25. Members can still reach LACERS for urgent matters by email at lacers.services@lacers.org. LACERS will be closed on November 26 and 27. Please keep these dates in mind and plan ahead if you would like to speak with a LACERS representative via phone. We look forward to continuing to assist our Members and hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving!
LACERS Active Members November Update
LACERS Holiday Hours
Thanksgiving is quickly approaching, and this year the LACERS 800 phone number will not be in service from November 23 through November 25. Members can still reach LACERS for urgent matters by email at lacers.services@lacers.org. LACERS will be closed on November 26 and 27. Please keep these dates in mind and plan ahead if you would like to speak with a LACERS representative via phone. We look forward to continuing to assist our Members and hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving!
LACERS Retired Members Update
Combat the “Holiday Blues” with an Upcoming Zoom Meeting
Please join us for our LACERS Zoom Meeting – Holiday Wellness Workshop: Understanding Holiday Blues. This Zoom meeting will feature Dr. Haydeh Fakhrabadi, Psy.D., CPII Clinical Psychologist with the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health.
LACERS Active Members October Update
LACERS and Your Benefits Quiz
To celebrate National Retirement Security Month, we have put together a quiz that will help you learn about LACERS and your benefits, and also showcases the great resources available on our recently revamped website, www.lacers.org! Out of the Members who take the quiz,100 will be randomly selected to receive some LACERS’ swag. Please take the quiz by October 31, 2020 to be considered.
Retiree October 2020 Paycheck Flyer
There’s Still Time: Virtual Open Enrollment Meetings
Don’t miss your chance to attend any of the three remaining virtual Open Enrollment meetings available for you to learn about changes for 2021 and your health plan options. The virtual meetings are health carrier specific and will be held on the following dates:
Building the Future of LACERS Today
Enhancing our Member and Employee Experience During a Global Pandemic
The global COVID-19 pandemic has suddenly accelerated the need for many organizations to transform and respond to unprecedented change in operations and societal behavior.
As a different world takes shape, LACERS has responded by
modernizing our operations in transformative ways. From enabling
remote work to opening new channels of communication with our
Members, we are on a journey of digital transformation to enhance
the Member and employee experience offered by LACERS.
Open Enrollment: October 15 – March 31, 2021
NOT YOUR TYPICAL OPEN ENROLLMENT YEAR
Open Enrollment for the 2021 plan year will be from October 15, 2020 to March 31, 2021. Due to different City-sponsored programs competing for LACERS health staff’s availability, the typical Open Enrollment period will be extended to allow Members and staff more time to process health plan enrollments and changes.
If you decide to enroll in a plan or make changes to your existing plan during this Open Enrollment, please be aware that:
LACERS Retired Members October Update
Coming Soon: Open Enrollment Virtual Meetings
Due to the threat of COVID-19, LACERS will conduct Open Enrollment meetings via Zoom this year, with the option to call-in via phone. LACERS will offer these virtual meetings with each health carrier, and each meeting will include LACERS updates for the coming plan year, a presentation by the carrier, and a question and answer session.
Please see the schedule below:
LACERS Retired Members September Update
Quick Links:
- From the General Manager’s Desk: LACERS Reports Preliminary 1.1% Investment Return for Fiscal Year 2019-20
- Open Enrollment Update
- Wildfire Impact on Members
- Escape the Weather with City of Los Angeles Relief Centers
- Now Available: Pension Verification form and Change of Email form
- COVID-19 Resources
- Flu Prevention Tips
LACERS Active Members September Update
Quick Links:
COVID-19 Resources
As we continue to navigate COVID-19, the Mayor’s office has put together the following information with ways to protect yourself and your loved ones. Click here to access the information, available in a variety of languages.
Wildfire Impact on Members
Our hearts go out to those affected by the recent wildfires. If you’re a LACERS member who’s been impacted, please keep the following information in mind to make sure that you continue to receive your LACERS benefits and have access to the help and information you need:
Beat the Heat with City of Los Angeles Cooling Centers
Temperatures are soaring this summer! To combat these extended periods of high temperatures, the City of Los Angeles provides cooling centers at facilities throughout Los Angeles where community members can go to escape the heat. Click here to see when and where cooling centers will be available, and read about heat safety tips to help you stay safe during periods of high heat.
Non-CSIP Retirement Suspended from November 1, 2020 – January 31, 2021
LACERS Deferred Vested & Reciprocal Member September Info Bulletin
The City of Los Angeles has approved a Separation Incentive Program (SIP) for it’s active employees that may affect the ability for deferred and reciprocal members to retire during the SIP period beginning November 1, 2020, and ending January 31, 2021.
If you are not currently working for the City, but are considering taking advantage of any LACERS retirement benefits you may have previously earned, please take the time to read the following information pertaining to the processing of retirements.
QUICK LINKS:
CSIP Enrollment Reopens, Non-CSIP Retirement Suspended from November 1, 2020 – January 31, 2021
LACERS Active Member September Info Bulletin
QUICK LINKS:
Furlough Status and Retirement
Understanding how furlough status affects your retirement
Will mandatory furloughs affect my retirement
benefits?
No. Taking furlough days will not impact your retirement benefits
because your benefit is determined by your Compensation Earnable,
which is the amount your classification earns for 80 hours in a
pay period.
LACERS Retired Members August Update
Making Healthy Choices in the Kitchen
Making healthy lifestyle choices will benefit you in the long-run and allow you to continue doing the activities you love. One way you can work toward a healthy lifestyle is by making healthier eating choices. Click here to read an article by the American Heart Association about ways you can be smart in the kitchen.
LACERS Active Members August Update
New Tier 1 Mini Topical Retirement Benefit Videos
We are excited to share with you 16 new mini retirement benefit videos on the official LACERS YouTube Channel! The videos are short in length and categorized by topical sections to help you better understand your retirement benefits and process. Make sure to check them out here, and subscribe for the latest updates to the channel!
Retiree August 2020 Paycheck Flyer
REVIEW AND UPDATE YOUR DESIGNATED BENEFICIARIES
Designating a beneficiary is one of the most important things you can do for your loved ones. It provides a clear roadmap of your intentions, and in most cases, can eliminate unnecessary stress and worry for those left behind. If you don’t designate a beneficiary, your loved ones may be forced to acquire legal documents, which can be costly and result in significant delays in processing any payable survivor benefits.
Election of Board Officers for Fiscal Year 2020-21
The LACERS Board of Administration conducted the election of Board Officers for Fiscal Year 2020-21 at the Board Meeting on July 28, 2020, and re-elected Commissioner Cynthia R. Ruiz as the LACERS Board President and elected Commissioner Sung Won Sohn as the LACERS Board Vice-President.
LACERS Active Members July Update: FAQs on the City SIP and more…
City Separation Incentive Program FAQs
You may have heard about the City of Los Angeles’ Separation Incentive Program (CSIP) that is currently open for applications. LACERS has compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions to help you navigate the program and determine if it is the right option for you. Please click here to view these questions. For further information about the CSIP, please visit the CAO’s website here.
LACERS Retired Members July Update
Practice Sun Safety this Summer
Summer is here, and that means sunny days are ahead! While having fun in the sun, it’s important to remember to monitor your skin’s exposure to the sun. Repeated overexposure can be a contributing factor toward skin cancer, the most common type of cancer in the United States. Here are some key tips to remember so you can enjoy the weather safely:
Retiree July 2020 Paycheck Flyer
2020 COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT EFFECTIVE JULY 1
Each year the LACERS Board of Administration determines a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for eligible LACERS Retired Members and Beneficiaries. The COLA is a reflection of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the Los Angeles Area, which has been determined to be 3.1% for 2020.
Family Death Benefit Plan Rate Decrease
Attention Family Death Benefit Plan (FDBP) participants: the monthly rate for the FDBP will decrease from $3.00 per month to $2.40 per month, effective July 1, 2020. Not a participant of the FDBP program yet? Click here to find out more information about the program to see if it is right for you.
City of Los Angeles to Offer Rent Support
The City of Los Angeles’ Emergency Renter’s Assistance Program is providing $100 million in temporary rent subsidies for tenants unable to pay rent due to COVID-19.
In order to qualify for the program you must:
- Live in the City of L.A.
- Have proof of tenancy
- Meet income limits
- Be economically impacted by COVID-19
The application period opens at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, July 13 and closes at 11:59 p.m. on Friday, July 17. Please visit HCIDLA.LACity.org or call (844) 944-1868 for more information.
Retiree June 2020 Paycheck Flyer
LACERS Well is Looking for Members to Help Other Members in Need
The Coronavirus pandemic requires social distancing, but it shouldn’t mean social disconnection. The Safer at Home order requiring us to separate ourselves from others physically, may place some of us with limited social contact, in complete isolation. We are concerned that there may be some LACERS Members in this situation who need assistance, but don’t know where to turn.
Are you available to reach out to other LACERS Members by phone to check in with them and, if needed, inform them about available resources and most importantly, to hear from a friendly voice to bring them comfort and reassurance? (Don’t worry…we’ll provide you with a script and set of resources.)
Can we count on you? If so, please send an email to LACERSWell@lacers.org to learn more about how you can make a difference in someone’s life one phone call at a time.
Retro Check Adjustments for Retirement Allowances
LACERS processed most of the retroactive check adjustments, for retirees who retired before negotiated pay increases were included in their final average compensation, in the June payroll. Parts of this process were interrupted by social disturbances in the downtown area. In addition, retirements with a Domestic Relations Order (DRO) require additional analysis and calculations; therefore, they are still being processed. We hope to have the remaining adjustments processed and reflected in the July payroll.
Info Bulletin – LACERS’ Annual Review – 2nd Notice
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ANYONE CONSIDERING RETIRING THIS YEAR
The Los Angeles City Employees’ Retirement System (LACERS) undergoes review by its actuary annually. This year a change is being implemented to reflect the true cost of providing Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA) that your spouse/domestic partner, eligible for a Continuance (a member’s retirement allowance continued at 50% or greater for the spouse’s lifetime), receive upon your death. This may appropriately increase the cost to you of providing this optional benefit.
Multi-Factor Authentication Enabled for MyLACERS Portal
We have implemented a new two-step verification security feature to enhance the safety of your information in the MyLACERS member portal. This feature has been enabled and you will be asked to verify your account via your choice of a code sent via SMS text messaging or email. Once your device is verified, you will not need to repeat the verification process unless:
Important Information from LACERS
Caution! SPAM Retirement Offers from Non-LACERS Email Addresses
City employees have reported receiving numerous retirement planning offers from suspicious non-LACERS email addresses. LACERS reminds you of the following when receiving suspicious emails from non-LACERS email addresses:
Retiree May 2020 Paycheck Flyer
Cost of Living Adjustment For 2020
Each year the LACERS Board of Administration determines a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for eligible LACERS Retired Members and Beneficiaries. The COLA is a reflection of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the Los Angeles Area, which has been determined to be 3.1% for 2020.
Chief Investment Officer Message
In 2019, U.S. stocks, as reflected by the S&P 500 Index, gained 28.9%. This year we see the long-run bull market ending, much of it caused by recent global health concerns. The enormous market volatility can and probably will continue for many months. As such, you may have many concerns about its impact on LACERS.
Resources Available to Assist Seniors and Adults with Disabilities
Resources Available to Assist Seniors (65+) and Adults with Disabilities
During this difficult time, know that LACERS is here to support
you. We have created a crisis response page on our website
(lacers.org/crisis), as
well as an external resources page (lacers.org/external-resources),
to connect you with resources you or someone you know may
need.
Retiree April 2020 Paycheck Flyer
LACERS Services Update
Despite the disruption caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic, LACERS continues to serve its Members and beneficiaries. However, due to reduced staffing, inquiries will be received through email and voicemail only. Our goal is to respond to your questions within two business days. However, based on day-to-day staffing levels, it may take longer. We ask for your patience and understanding during this time. If your question is not urgent, we ask that you consider contacting us at a later time or finding your answer on our website, www.LACERS.org. Also, you can find most of your retirement benefit and health plan enrollment information in your MyLACERS account. LACERS will continue to provide you and your families with the best service possible during these difficult times and will deliver all important updates on the LACERS website.
Elder Care Resources
Need help finding resources? Use the ElderCare Locator hotline to locate services in your area.
Eldercare Locator is a public service of the U.S. Administration on Aging connecting seniors to services for older adults and their families. If you are a senior in need of assistance or know of one, visit the Eldercare Locator website to learn more at https://eldercare.acl.gov/Public/Index.aspx. They can also be reached at (800) 677-1116.
LACERS Offices Are Closed
Due to the Safer At Home order just announced by the Mayor and CA Governor, LACERS offices are closed.
However, we want to assure you that:
- You will continue to be paid on time
- Retirement checks will be mailed and/or deposited on the normal payment date
- Your Health Benefits are available. Contact your Health Carrier directly if you are experiencing any issues.
Please continue to check this website for updates.
Group Retirement Counseling Sessions Suspended
Due to recent precautionary measures implemented by the Mayor and as recommended by various public health agencies, LACERS is suspending group retirement counseling sessions until further notice. Effective immediately all retirement applications will be processed by mail, fax or email. If you are scheduled at attend the March 18, 2020 session, you will be contacted soon with instructions for submitting your retirement application and required ancillary documentation.
LACERS Suspends In-Person Office Visits
Mayor Garcetti has ordered City departments and agencies to take additional steps that can help slow the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), strengthening the local response to the outbreak with measures that include new limits on public gatherings in City facilities.
For this reason, LACERS has suspended public access to our offices from external visitors at this time. Please know that assistance is still available via telephone and email during our normal business hours, 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., excluding holidays.
Retiree March 2020 Paycheck Flyer
Announcing: Our Newly Redesigned Website
We are excited to share that https://www.LACERS.org now offers a fresh look along with easier navigation to serve as the one-stop destination for LACERS news, events, and membership information. If you haven’t had a chance just yet, we invite you to visit our new website today and experience the difference.
Aging Mastery Program Workshops Postponed
Coronavirus Update
The threat to the general public in the US and residents of Los Angeles County is ever changing. Please stay updated by visiting the following websites:
LA
County Department of Public Health
City of Los Angeles
Emergency Management Department
Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention
LACERS Responds to COVID-19
How LACERS Continues to Serve You and Helpful Resources for Senior Retired Members
Commissioner Ruiz PRI Signing
Board President Cynthia Ruiz attends the “PRI in Person” conference in early September to represent LACERS as we became official signatories of the Principles for Responsible Investment!
Annie Chao Swearing In
Annie Chao was elected to the LACERS Board by Active Members with
53.03% of the votes cast in her favor during the election that
was held on April 9, 2019. Annie Chao will be sworn in on
June 27, 2019 at the City Clerk’s Office for a five-year term
beginning July 1, 2019.
LACERS’ Annual Review
The Los Angeles City Employees’ Retirement System (LACERS) undergoes review by its actuary at least annually to ensure that its benefits are administered in accordance with all legal, tax and fiscal standards. This year a recommendation will be implemented requiring a minor adjustment to account for the Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA) that spouses/domestic partners, eligible for a Continuance (a member’s retirement allowance continuedat 50% or greater for the spouse’s lifetime), receive upon the member’s death.
LACERS Board Elects Officers for New Fiscal Year
Cynthia M. Ruiz was re-elected as President and Michael Wilkinson
was elected as Vice President at the Board of Administrations
July 23 meeting.