Use the Member Portal to do things like view and update your beneficiaries, estimate your future pension benefit, and (if you're at least six months away from being eligible to retire) begin the retirement application process.
Welcome to the San Diego City Employees' Retirement System, where our mission is to deliver accurate and timely benefits to our participants and ensure the Trust Fund's safety, integrity, and growth.
Use the Member Portal to do things like view and update your beneficiaries, estimate your future pension benefit, and (if you're at least six months away from being eligible to retire) begin the retirement application process.
Our Call Center is open on regular business days from 9:00 a.m. to noon, and 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., at (619) 525-3600. Don't feel like calling? Send us an electronic inquiry via our Contact Us page!
Use the Member Portal to do things like view and update your beneficiaries, estimate your future pension benefit, and (if you're at least six months away from being eligible to retire) begin the retirement application process.
Meet Sam Diego, the bushy-tailed star of our educational videos! Watch a basic overview of how SDCERS and your pension works, learn about the Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP), hear about the effect a divorce may have on your pension benefits, and more.
Welcome to the San Diego City Employees' Retirement System, where our mission is to deliver accurate and timely benefits to our participants and ensure the Trust Fund's safety, integrity, and growth.
Welcome to the San Diego City Employees' Retirement System, where our mission is to deliver accurate and timely benefits to our participants and ensure the Trust Fund's safety, integrity, and growth.
Use the Member Portal to do things like view and update your beneficiaries, estimate your future pension benefit, and (if you're at least six months away from being eligible to retire) begin the retirement application process.
Welcome to the San Diego City Employees' Retirement System, where our mission is to deliver accurate and timely benefits to our participants and ensure the Trust Fund's safety, integrity, and growth.
Use the Member Portal to do things like view and update your beneficiaries, estimate your future pension benefit, and (if you're at least six months away from being eligible to retire) begin the retirement application process.
Our Call Center is open on regular business days from 9:00 a.m. to noon, and 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., at (619) 525-3600. Don't feel like calling? Send us an electronic inquiry via our Contact Us page!
Use the Member Portal to do things like view and update your beneficiaries, estimate your future pension benefit, and (if you're at least six months away from being eligible to retire) begin the retirement application process.
Meet Sam Diego, the bushy-tailed star of our educational videos! Watch a basic overview of how SDCERS and your pension works, learn about the Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP), hear about the effect a divorce may have on your pension benefits, and more.
Welcome to the San Diego City Employees' Retirement System, where our mission is to deliver accurate and timely benefits to our participants and ensure the Trust Fund's safety, integrity, and growth.
Welcome to the San Diego City Employees' Retirement System, where our mission is to deliver accurate and timely benefits to our participants and ensure the Trust Fund's safety, integrity, and growth.
Use the Member Portal to do things like view and update your beneficiaries, estimate your future pension benefit, and (if you're at least six months away from being eligible to retire) begin the retirement application process.
SDCERS is transitioning its website from sdcers.org to sdcers.gov, starting today, May 15th. This URL change reflects both enhanced security practices and compliance with legal requirements governing public-sector organizations. Users visiting our website or accessing old links to sdcers.org will automatically be redirected to the new sdcers.gov website, ensuring uninterrupted access to SDCERS’ services and information.
In addition to the website change, all email communications from SDCERS will now originate from emails with the extension @sdcers.gov. We want Members to be aware of these changes and know that these emails are valid SDCERS communications. To ensure a smooth transition, any emails sent to an @sdcers.org address will automatically be forwarded to the corresponding @sdcers.gov account.
The move to a .gov domain strengthens cybersecurity by ensuring that users can easily verify they are accessing an official government website. Domains ending in .gov are restricted and monitored, reducing the risk of phishing or impersonation and helping protect sensitive member information. This transition supports SDCERS’ commitment to safeguarding data, maintaining transparency, and aligning with regulatory standards for government entities.
Cost of Living Adjustment (“COLA”) for Fiscal Year 2027
May 8, 2026
At today’s meeting, SDCERS’ Board of Administration approved the annual Cost of Living Adjustment (“COLA”) for Fiscal Year 2027. This COLA will be applied to eligible retirees’ monthly pension payments—including those actively participating in DROP—starting with their July 2026 payment. To qualify for this COLA, your retirement or DROP entry date must be on or before June 30, 2026.
How is the COLA Calculated?
According to San Diego Municipal Code §24.1505 and §1301 of the Port and Airport Plans, the COLA is based on the increase in the Consumer Price Index (“CPI”) between the two previous Decembers, as published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Even if the CPI increase is higher, the maximum COLA that can be applied to your pension in any given year is 2.0%.
When the CPI increase exceeds 2.0% (as it does this year), the excess amount is added to a retiree’s “COLA bank.” This is a reserve that can be used in future years when the CPI increase is less than 2.0%.
COLA for Fiscal Year 2027
The CPI increase from December 31, 2024, to December 31, 2025 was 2.7% (rounded to the nearest 0.1%). Therefore:
Eligible members will receive the maximum 2.0% COLA in July 2026.
The excess 0.7% will be added to eligible members’ COLA banks.
Having this 0.7% in your bank may help ensure that you receive the full 2.0% COLA in future years, even if the CPI increase is below that threshold.
How the COLA Bank Works
Let’s say Sam Diego retires or enters DROP in June 2026, with a monthly pension benefit of $5,000. Here’s how his COLA could be applied over the next several years:
Fiscal Year
Published CPI Increase
Applied COLA
Increased Monthly Pension Benefit
Remaining COLA Bank
2027
2.7%
2.0%
$5,100
0.7%
2028
1.6%
2.0%
$5,202
0.3%
2029
2.5%
2.0%
$5,306
0.8%
2030
1.2%
2.0%
$5,412
0.0%
2031
2.1%
2.0%
$5,520
0.1%
Even when the CPI increase is less than 2.0%, Sam can still receive the full 2.0% increase by drawing from his COLA bank. When the CPI increase is higher than 2.0%, the extra is again added to his bank.
Please note that this is just a hypothetical illustration and remember that we have no way to predict what the changes in CPI will be in future years.
Important Reminders
This article is not advising you to retire or enter DROP before July 1, 2026. There are many personal and financial factors to consider, such as age, projected raises, etc.
If you are considering entering DROP before July 1, 2026, remember that your entry date must be the first day of a pay period. That means the last possible date to enter DROP before FY 2027 begins is June 20, 2026 for City members and June 26, 2026 for Port and Airport members.
Apply early! SDCERS recommends submitting your electronic application via your Member Portal account 3–4 months in advance of your desired retirement or DROP entry date. After you apply, SDCERS will contact you to schedule a counseling appointment, which should take place 1–2 months before your retirement/DROP entry date.
Appointments are filling up quickly, so don’t delay—submitting your application early helps ensure you get your preferred appointment date and time.
If you are eligible to receive the Fiscal Year 2027 COLA, the applicable increase will be reflected starting with your July 2026 pension payment.
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