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CalPERS Letters

Letter Description Action Item

First or Second Tier Election Form

 Determination Letter from CalPERS approving the member to be placed in Second Tier.  
  1. Update the member's membership information in the Personnel Information Management System (PIMS) to reflect state Second Tier membership by keying a 505 transaction (505 PAR Transaction Process Guide).
  2. Check if the changes were reported correctly in my|calPERS the following day. If changes not successfully reported in my|calPERS, call the Statewide Customer Contact Center (916) 372-7200 and follow the prompts for the CS Audits Unit.
Arrears Determination - 30 Day Letter - Retirement Determination Letter from CalPERS stating that employee is eligible for CalPERS membership.
  1. Notify CalPERS at MemberElectionTeam@calpers.ca.gov to ensure financials post to the correct enrollment level and rate plan. Work with the member to resolve any refunds or balances due that may have arisen as a result of these adjustments.
  2. Update PIMS employment history information.
  3. Check if the changes were reported correctly in my|calPERS the following day.  If changes not successfully reported in my|calPERS, call the Statewide Customer Contact Center (916) 372-7200 and follow the prompts for the Retirement Unit.
Changes Made with No 801 Form CSU - Reciprocity Issue - Retirement Determination Letter from CalPERS stating that a CSU employee’s Enrollment Level has been changed. The employer must ensure all adjustments are applied correctly to the employee’s payroll and that the contributions are reflected.
  1. Ensure to make any necessary corrections to the member’s account code in the Personnel Information Management System (PIMS) to reflect the determined Enrollment Level by keying a 505 transaction.
  2. Work with the member to resolve any refunds or balances owing that may have arisen as a result of these adjustments.
  3. These changes will result in the member’s appointment reflecting different information than what the member self-certified on the Reciprocal Self-Certification Form (PERS-EAMD 801). Ensure you keep this document in the member’s file to account for any discrepancies between your documentation and the appointment in my|CalPERS.
  4. Check if the changes were reported correctly in my|calPERS the following day.  If changes not successfully reported in my|calPERS, call the Statewide Customer Contact Center (916) 372-7200 and follow the prompts for the Retirement Unit.
Changes Made with No 801 Form State - Reciprocity Issue - Retirement Determination Letter from CalPERS stating that a Civil Service employee’s Enrollment Level has been changed. The employer must ensure all adjustments are applied correctly to the employee’s payroll and that the contributions are reflected.
  1. Ensure to make any necessary corrections to the member’s account code in the Personnel Information Management System (PIMS) to reflect the determined Enrollment Level.
  2. Work with the member to resolve any refunds or balances owing that may have arisen as a result of these adjustments.
  3. These changes will result in the member’s appointment reflecting different information than what the member self-certified on the Reciprocal Self-Certification Form (PERS-EAMD 801). Ensure you keep this document in the member’s file to account for any discrepancies between your documentation and the appointment in my|CalPERS.
  4. Check if the changes were reported correctly in my|calPERS the following day.  If changes not successfully reported in my|calPERS, call the Statewide Customer Contact Center (916) 372-7200 and follow the prompts for the Retirement Unit.
Election of Optional Membership Legislative Employee Determination Letter from CalPERS stating that the Optional Member’s election to CalPERS membership has been approved. The employer must ensure all adjustments are applied correctly to the employee’s payroll and that the contributions are reflected following the effective date set forth in the letter.
  1. Complete any necessary corrections in the Personnel Information Management System (PIMS) within 30 days from the date of this letter to ensure the member’s enrollment eligibility date and payroll re being reported for the effective date determined in the letter by keying a 505 transaction (505 PAR Transaction Process Guide).
  2. Check if the changes were reported correctly in my|calPERS the following day.
  3. Work with the member to resolve any member contribution refund or balance owed due to these adjustments. If changes not successfully reported in my|calPERS, call the Statewide Customer Contact Center (916) 372-7200 and follow the prompts for the CS Audits Unit.
Retirement System Election (ES372) Approval Letter from CalPERS to the member stating that the election to CALSTRS membership has been approved.
  1. As the employer, you should be receiving a Determination letter following the decision stated in this letter sent to the member. Update the member’s membership information in the Personnel Information Management System (PIMS) to reflect CalSTRS membership by keying a 505 transaction (505 PAR Transaction Process Guide).
  2. Check if the changes were reported correctly in my|calPERS the following day. If changes not successfully reported in my|calPERS, call the Statewide Customer Contact Center (916) 372-7200 and follow the prompts for the CS Audits Unit.
Election to Remain Subject to Miscellaneous Retirement Benefit Formula Approval Letter from CalPERS stating that the Safety member’s election to remain in the Miscellaneous/Industrial Retirement Formula has been approved.
  1. Update the member’s membership information in the Personnel Information Management System (PIMS) to reflect the appropriate benefit provisions by keying a 505 transaction (505 PAR Transaction Process Guide).
  2. Check if the changes were reported correctly in my|calPERS the following day. If changes not successfully reported in my|calPERS, call the Statewide Customer Contact Center (916) 372-7200 and follow the prompts for the CS Audits Unit.
State First Notification Letter - Reciprocity Issue - Retirement Notification Letter from CalPERS stating that information was received indicating reciprocal membership, thus a Reciprocal Self-Certification Form must be sent to SCO to change the Enrollment Level.
  1. CalPERS has sent correspondence to the member requesting they complete and return a Reciprocal Self-Certification Form (PERS-EAMD-801) to your personnel office within 10 business days of the date of this letter. If your agency does not receive the form within 10 business days, contact the member to request they complete and return the form promptly.
  2. Upon receipt of the Reciprocal Self-Certification Form, ensure that the form is processed properly within 30 days of the date of this letter.
  3. Retain the original form in the member’s employment records. A copy of the form must be forwarded to the State Controller’s Office (SCO) for processing at PPSDreciprocity@SCO.CA.GOV. For further direction regarding forwarding the form to SCO, refer to SCO PERSONNEL LETTER 17-001 (ca.gov).  Do not send this form to CalPERS.
  4. Ensure that members are enrolled in CalPERS membership correctly.
State Second Notification Letter 08/2019 - Reciprocity Issue - Retirement When no action was initiated from the first letter, a second notification letter will be sent stating that Reciprocal Self-Certification Form has to be sent to SCO to change the Enrollment Level.
  1. If the Reciprocal Self-Certification Form was already sent to the State Controller’s Office (SCO) for processing, please notify CalPERS via email at MemberElectionTeam@calpers.ca.gov so they can monitor the account for adjustments.
  2. If the Reciprocal Self-Certification Form has not been sent to SCO, please ensure that the form is processed properly within 15 days of the date of this letter by forwarding a copy of the form the State Controller’s Office (SCO) at PPSDreciprocity@sco.ca.gov for processing.  For further direction regarding forwarding the form to SCO, refer to SCO PERSONNEL LETTER 17-001 (ca.gov). Retain the original form in the member’s employment records. Do not send this form to CalPERS.  If you do not have a completed Reciprocal Self-Certification Form in the member’s file, please obtain a new form from the member.
  3. Ensure that the Reciprocal Self-Certification Form is completed and processed accurately so CalPERS can determine the applicable retirement enrollment level for the member.