Your Pension Plan

Overview

Your Pension Plan

One of the most valuable benefits offered by your employer is a unique retirement program known as a defined benefit (DB) pension plan. Unlike any other employment benefit, a DB pension plan (VCERA) offers you retirement income that will last your lifetime!

Click on a section below to learn about VCERA and the valuable benefits it provides.

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Defined Benefit Plan

One of the most valuable benefits offered by your employer is a unique retirement program known as a defined benefit (DB) pension plan. Unlike any other employment benefit, a DB pension plan offers you retirement income that will last your lifetime!

VCERA is a multi-employer, defined benefit, public pension plan qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code to administer this lifelong benefit. VCERA provides its eligible members with pension payments that are calculated based on a formula “defined” by law, not on your retirement contributions. VCERA is therefore different from a defined contribution (DC) plan, where benefits are based on contributions and investment earnings that can eventually be exhausted.

Your lifetime VCERA pension will be based on your age at retirement, total years of retirement service credit and final average compensation. Generally, increasing any of these factors will increase your pension. A fourth calculation factor is benefit tier, which was assigned based on your VCERA membership date and employment classification. Some of the unique advantages of VCERA’s defined benefit plan include:

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Membership

Membership in VCERA is effective upon appointment to an eligible position with the County of Ventura or a participating special district. An eligible position includes all regular County or district employment in which an employee is scheduled to work 64 or more hours per biweekly pay period.

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Employee & Employer Contributions

VCERA is funded by investment earnings, employee/member contributions and employer contributions. Together, these funding sources enable VCERA to offer its members retirement benefits that last a lifetime.

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Confidentiality

The County Employees’ Retirement Law of 1937 requires that retirement plans like VCERA protect the confidentiality of member records and not disclose them to anyone except as may be necessary for Plan administration, upon order of a court of competent jurisdiction, or upon written authorization by the member. Therefore, VCERA has implemented several procedural and technological measures to ensure that your account information is disclosed only to individuals authorized to see it.