Retirement
Understanding your 401(k), 457(b), and 403(b) Plans
Thinking of retiring in the next 12 months?
If you have been contacted by an investment firm offering to meet with you and review your PERA pension, etc., you may want to verify whether they are affiliated with DCSD. Please be advised that DCSD’s current affiliated retirement vendors are:
- MetLife (manages our 403(b), 457, and 401(a) accounts); contact is Elena Cumberbatch-Lynch,
- PERA 401(k) accounts
- PERA (Colorado Public Employees Retirement Association provides retirement and other benefits; takes the place of Social Security for DCSD employees).
Any other investment firms do not represent or are affiliated with DCSD. Contact Benefits with any questions you may have: benefits@dcsdk12.org.
Colorado PERA
Colorado Public Employees' Retirement Association (PERA) provides retirement and other benefits to the employees of more than 500 government agencies and public entities in the state of Colorado. Established by state law in 1931, PERA operates by the authority of the Colorado General Assembly and is administered under Title 24, Article 51 of the Colorado Revised Statutes. In accordance with its duty to administer PERA, the Board of Trustees has the authority to adopt and revise Rules in accordance with state statutes.
PERA is a substitute for Social Security for most of these public employees. Benefits are pre-funded, which means that while a member is working, he or she is required to contribute a fixed percentage of their salary to the retirement trust funds.
As a PERA member, you contribute a percentage of every paycheck to PERA. In exchange, you’ll receive a lifetime defined benefit payment, sometimes called a pension, at retirement. Beyond that monthly benefit check, PERA also provides built-in benefits like survivor and disability benefit programs. And you have options for additional financial security, by enrolling in life insurance and PERA's 401(k) and Roth 401(k) Plans or purchasing service credit.
Don’t know where to start with retirement savings?
We’ve got you covered with this webinar that makes it easy to select and enroll in the right PERAPlus savings plan for you. Saving is simpler than you think!
If you want to learn when you’ll be eligible to retire and how much income you can expect, watch our Benefits Information webinar.
Contact PERA
1-800-759-7372
Monday–Thursday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Email
Customer Service–for general questions
Secure correspondence system–for account-specific questions
Mail
PO Box 5800, Denver, CO 80217-5800
Other PERA Resources