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HomeGovernment CodeDiv. 5Pt. 3Ch. 13Art. 7§ 21480 Retirement Benefit Payment Options

§ 21480 Retirement Benefit Payment Options

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

§ 21480 Retirement Benefit Payment Options

Key Takeaways

  • •If you joined the retirement system after January 1, 2002, and you're not yet getting Social Security benefits, you can choose to split your retirement money into two parts when you retire.
  • •The first part is a temporary extra payment that stops when you reach the age you pick to start getting Social Security. This extra payment can't be more than what you expect to get from Social Security later.
  • •The second part is your regular retirement pay for life, which includes your pension plus any extra money left after setting aside the temporary payment.
  • •If you die before reaching the age you picked, the money left for the temporary payments goes to the person you chose as your beneficiary in one lump sum.

Example

Imagine you retire at 62 but plan to start Social Security at 67. You can get extra money every month until you turn 67, and then your regular retirement pay continues for life.

The law lets you get a temporary boost in your retirement pay until you start Social Security. If something happens to you before 67, the leftover temporary payments go to your family or whoever you chose.

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

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 21480 Retirement Benefit Payment Options

(a) Notwithstanding Section 21479, a member retiring for service who became a member of the system on or after January 1, 2002, and who is covered under the federal system but is not yet receiving a retirement or disability benefit under that system, may elect to have the actuarial equivalent of his or her unmodified service retirement allowance paid in two parts as follows: (1) A temporary annuity that shall not exceed the primary social security benefit that is anticipated the member shall be entitled to receive at social security retirement age, which age shall be designated by the member. (2) A life income consisting of the member’s service retirement annuity plus the pension provided by the actuarial value of the member’s current and prior service pensions remaining after providing the temporary annuity in paragraph (1). (b) The temporary annuity under paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) shall not be subject to further optional settlement under this article and shall be payable monthly as an addition to the member’s monthly life income beginning on the member’s effective date of retirement and continuing until the retired member attains the age designated by the member under subdivision (a). If the member dies prior to the designated age, the commuted value of any installments payable for the period remaining until the member would have attained that age shall be paid to the member’s designated beneficiary in a lump sum. (c) This section shall apply to any member who retires on or after January 1, 2018. (Added by Stats. 2016, Ch. 199, Sec. 22. (AB 2404) Effective January 1, 2017.)

Last verified: January 22, 2026

Key Terms

unmodified service retirement allowancetemporary annuitylife incomeprimary social security benefit

Related Statutes

  • § 21479 Retirement Annuity Payment Options
  • § 21461 Retirement Annuity Payment Options
  • § 21461.5 Retirement Benefit Payment Options
  • § 21368 Safety Member Pension Calculation
  • § 21470 Retirement Benefit Decision Effects

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Government Code. Section 21480.
View Official Source