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HomeGovernment CodeDiv. 5Pt. 3Ch. 11Art. 5§ 21022 Layoff Service Credit Rules

§ 21022 Layoff Service Credit Rules

Government Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 21022 Layoff Service Credit Rules

Key Takeaways

  • •If you're a full-time worker and get laid off, you can count up to 12 months of that time as 'public service' for your retirement.
  • •You must go back to work within 12 months of being laid off to get this benefit.
  • •You have 3 years after returning to work to decide if you want to buy this extra time for your retirement.
  • •If you took out your retirement money during the layoff, you must pay it back to get this benefit.

Example

John works full-time for the city and gets laid off. He finds another job but returns to the city job after 10 months.

John can count those 10 months as extra time for his retirement if he decides within 3 years of returning and pays back any retirement money he took out.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 21022 Layoff Service Credit Rules

“Public service,” with respect to a local member who is a full-time employee, also means any time on or after January 1, 1981, but not to exceed 12 months, during which the local member is laid off. In the event the member becomes subject to membership through employment in another member classification during the layoff period, any service credit accumulated through and contributions associated with the intervening employment shall be revoked upon election by the member to purchase public service credit as provided by this section. The service credit provided by this section shall not exceed one year for each layoff period and shall be provided to any person who: (1) returns within 12 months of the date of layoff to full-time employment under the procedures of the employer for returning laid-off employees to work; (2) elects to purchase the public service credit within three years of return to work or the effective date of the contract amendment to become subject to this section; and (3) redeposits any contributions which had been withdrawn at the commencement of, or during, the period of the layoff. This section shall not apply to any contracting agency nor to the employees of a contracting agency until the agency elects to be subject to this section by contract or by amendment to its contract made in the manner prescribed for approval of contracts. (Repealed and added by Stats. 1995, Ch. 379, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1996.)

Last verified: January 22, 2026

Key Terms

public servicelocal memberlayoffservice creditcontracting agency

Related Statutes

  • § 21025 Public Service Transfer Rules
  • § 21026 Firefighter Nonprofit Service Definition
  • § 21020.5 Fellowship Program Service Credit
  • § 21024 Military Service Credit Eligibility
  • § 21024.5 Federal Firefighter Service Credit

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Government Code. Section 21022.
View Official Source