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Start by confirming your retirement system and asking LAUSD Benefits Administration to verify your retiree health eligibility and effective dates. LAUSD retirement planning is not one application: your pension, District-sponsored retiree health coverage, Medicare enrollment, and any voluntary savings accounts follow separate rules. Begin at least three months before your intended retirement date, and do not choose a date until LAUSD and your retirement system have reviewed it.
First, identify your retirement system
LAUSD employees may participate in CalSTRS, CalPERS, or the Part-time, Seasonal, and Temporary Employees Retirement Program (PARS). Job category is a useful clue, not proof of membership; confirm your system and account record with LAUSD and the retirement system itself.
| System | Who generally participates | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| CalSTRS | Most certificated employees | Verify your membership, service credit, compensation record, and retirement options with CalSTRS and LAUSD. |
| CalPERS | Most classified employees | Verify your membership, service credit, compensation record, and retirement options with CalPERS and LAUSD. |
| PARS | Part-time, seasonal, temporary, and other employees who are not members of CalSTRS or CalPERS | Ask LAUSD which arrangement applies to your appointment and what retirement benefits it provides. |
These are general groupings, not a way to determine an individual’s system from a title alone. LAUSD’s audited financial statements describe these arrangements; your membership and account record are the practical confirmation.
Get a personal pension estimate
Your pension is not determined by a single LAUSD-wide estimate. The amount depends on individual factors such as service, compensation, membership, and retirement choices. Request a personalized estimate from CalSTRS or CalPERS, as applicable, and check that your employment and service records with LAUSD are accurate before making a decision. The district information cited here does not establish an individual pension amount.
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Check retiree health eligibility separately
Qualifying for a pension does not by itself establish eligibility for LAUSD-sponsored retiree health benefits. LAUSD says an employee must be eligible for or enrolled in District-sponsored health benefits and be in paid status on the selected retirement date, and must retire from District service under the applicable retirement-system rules. Qualifying disability retirement may also apply. Teacher Assistants and Playground Aides are listed as ineligible for these District-sponsored retirement benefits.
LAUSD’s eligibility information also distinguishes retirement from leaving funds on deposit for a later retirement (deferred retirement) or taking a lump-sum distribution: neither qualifies for the District-sponsored retiree health benefits described there. The District states that if monthly retirement payments stop, District-sponsored benefits are lost.
Ask for an eligibility review if your service history is not clear
Qualifying-service rules depend in part on hire date, so a single service threshold should not be assumed to apply to everyone. If you expect to retire within 24 months, you can ask LAUSD to review your eligibility using the HBA1 Retirement Eligibility Verification Form. Confirm the result with Benefits Administration before relying on it or setting a retirement date.
Coordinate your District resignation and retirement dates
LAUSD’s HI-22, Application for Continuation of Health Benefits, warns that a gap between the District resignation date and the CalSTRS or CalPERS retirement date makes the employee ineligible for retirement health benefits. The dates must be consecutive; weekend days may fall between the calendar dates. The form also requires receipt of a monthly retirement payment for retiree health coverage.
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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallThese timing rules make the effective date a benefits decision, not just an administrative detail. Ask LAUSD Benefits Administration and your retirement system to review your specific resignation and retirement dates, including how the dates interact with your appointment and separation, before submitting final paperwork. Use the current HI-22 form, since form versions and plan rules can change.
Complete the retirement and benefits steps in sequence
LAUSD directs employees to contact Benefits Administration and CalSTRS or CalPERS at least three months before the intended retirement date. Use this sequence, while checking the current LAUSD retiree checklist and instructions for the correct forms and submission methods.
- Confirm eligibility and dates. Ask Benefits Administration to review your health-benefit eligibility, paid status, required dates, and any service-history questions. Ask your retirement system to confirm its application timing and effective-date requirements.
- Apply through your retirement system. Submit the retirement application to CalSTRS or CalPERS, as applicable, and request a personalized estimate before choosing among retirement options.
- Complete HI-22. Submit the Application for Continuation of Health Benefits according to LAUSD’s instructions.
- Address Medicare enrollment if eligible. Follow Medicare’s enrollment rules and LAUSD’s requirements for you and any eligible dependents.
- Send the retirement-system notice to LAUSD. Benefits Administration asks for the CalPERS acknowledgment letter or the CalSTRS award letter.
- Submit the District resignation form. Use the appropriate form and include the retirement effective date that has been coordinated with LAUSD and the retirement system.
Plan for the end of active-employee coverage
LAUSD says active-employee coverage ends at the end of the month of retirement. It also says a COBRA packet will be generated automatically. If you are eligible for and intend to enroll in District retiree health coverage, LAUSD instructs you not to enroll in COBRA. Confirm your individual coverage transition with Benefits Administration so you know what applies to you and any covered dependents.
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LAUSD’s current retirees page links to its retirement checklist, retirement reminders, and retiree guide. The 2025 Retiree Health Benefits Guide is a summary, not the controlling plan document; it says official plan documents govern in the event of a conflict. The guide also states that District-sponsored active and retiree benefits may be amended or changed at any time, so confirm current terms with LAUSD.
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Medicare eligibility affects which LAUSD retiree medical options may be available. LAUSD requires eligible retirees and dependents to enroll in Medicare where applicable. Its guidance says an eligible person who fails to enroll in, or stops paying for, Medicare Part B can lose District-sponsored medical benefits until proof of enrollment is submitted. Do not assume Medicare enrollment or a transition to a retiree plan happens automatically; confirm timing with Medicare and LAUSD for every eligible person on the coverage.
When comparing the options available to you, use the current LAUSD retiree plans page and evaluate:
- Whether each enrollee has Medicare Parts A and B, where applicable.
- Whether the plan is available at the enrollee’s home address or in the relevant service area.
- Whether the provider network includes the doctors and facilities the household uses.
- How prescription coverage fits the household’s needs.
- Whether each covered dependent meets the plan’s eligibility and enrollment requirements.
Plan availability varies by state or service area, and the available choices can depend on age and Medicare status. Do not select a plan based only on another retiree’s experience; compare the current options for your own location and household.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Consider voluntary savings alongside the pension
LAUSD offers voluntary traditional and Roth 403(b) and 457(b) deferred compensation plans. These accounts can supplement pension income; they are not a substitute for a pension estimate or individualized financial planning.
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|---|---|---|
| Traditional 403(b) | Contributions are made from pre-tax earnings. | TSACG |
| Roth 403(b) | Contributions use after-tax earnings; qualified withdrawals may be tax-free subject to applicable rules. | TSACG |
| Traditional 457(b) | Contributions are made from pre-tax earnings. | Voya |
| Roth 457(b) | Contributions use after-tax earnings; qualified withdrawals may be tax-free subject to applicable rules. | Voya |
For the 2026 plan year, LAUSD lists a basic contribution limit of $24,500 and age-50 catch-up provisions. The catch-up rules include conditions involving prior-year earnings and Roth contributions, so the basic limit should not be treated as a universal maximum for every participant. Contribution limits and eligibility rules are time-sensitive; check the current IRS rules and LAUSD plan materials before contributing.
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To assess an account’s role in your retirement plan, review its fees, investment choices, distribution rules, and tax treatment, alongside your own time horizon and risk tolerance. Consult qualified tax or financial advice if you need help assessing how these choices fit your circumstances.
Ask about disability retirement if illness or injury affects your work
LAUSD describes disability retirement income protection through CalPERS for classified employees and CalSTRS for certificated employees. The retirement system—not a broad description of the rules—decides an individual claim.
- CalPERS: LAUSD says disability retirement requires an illness or injury that prevents the employee from performing typical job duties.
- CalSTRS: LAUSD describes a medically determinable physical or mental impairment that is permanent or expected to last at least 12 continuous months and prevents the employee from performing typical or comparable duties.
If disability retirement may apply, contact the relevant retirement system and LAUSD to establish which rules, application steps, and evidence apply to your case.
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