State and federal laws limit the annual benefit that a member can receive or the annual compensation that may be used to calculate a member’s benefits.
LACERA plans are subject to federal 415(b) benefit limits, federal 401(a)(17) compensation limits, and compensation limits mandated by the California Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA), as shown in the graphic below. Limits are applied depending on your plan and date of LACERA membership.
Compensation and Benefits Limits by Plan
| Plan | Type of Limit | Exemptions to Limit |
|---|---|---|
| All General and Safety Plans | 415(b) benefit limit set by the Internal Revenue Code; legacy plan members subject to limits are eligible for the County Replacement Benefit Plan to receive the balance of their full benefit* | Plan A members** |
| All General and Safety Plans | 401(a)(17) compensation limit for calculating benefits, set by the Internal Revenue Code*** | LACERA members who joined prior to July 1, 1996 |
| General Plan G and Safety C | Compensation limit for calculating benefits under PEPRA | None |
*Members of General Plan G and Safety C are subject to this limit, but its application is unlikely due to compensation limits for calculating benefits. PEPRA members are not eligible for the Replacement Benefits Plan.
**Except some instances where a domestic partner is treated as a spouse.
***Members of General Plan G and Safety C are subject to this limit, but the compensation limit for calculating benefits under PEPRA is lower than the federal limit.
Visit your plan center page to see your plan’s applicable benefit and compensation limits and how they are applied.