STATE NEWS
CalPERS Special Power of Attorney
CalPERS Special Power of Attorney protects members’ pensions, eases loved ones’ burdens
Upcoming April 2 webinar for CSEA members
by Shannon Carr
A major benefit of being a classified employee is earning a secure pension that pays every month after retirement, but you can lose everything you have worked so hard for by failing to submit a CalPERS Special Power of Attorney (POA) form. Having a POA on file allows your agent/attorney-in-fact to initiate your retirement for you if you become ill and cannot act on your own behalf. Doing so sets up your beneficiary or beneficiaries, if you subsequently die, to receive a benefit paid every month of their life after your death. If you do not have a POA on file and pass unexpectedly, your beneficiary receives the return of your contributions plus the interest paid in one lump sum. “It’s paramount in my opinion that people have this,” said Rob Feckner, vice president of the CalPERS Board of Administration, who gives presentations to CSEA members about the form. “It’s a tough call and it’s a tough discussion because in their mind they’re not thinking mortality, but it’s inevitable for all of us.” Member George Murillo previously considered completing a POA, but it wasn’t until he attended one of Feckner’s webinars that he took it seriously.
“Rob Feckner instilled in me the importance of having this document on file, so I arranged to set up my agent and witnesses and filled out and mailed the paperwork within a few days,” said Murillo, instructional assistant special needs and site representative with Lynwood Chapter 116. “It’s a very simple form in most respects,” Feckner said of the five-page document that should take around 20 minutes to fill out. It cannot be done electronically or faxed in since it must be turned in with the actual signatures of a notary or two witnesses.
Rob Feckner, vice president, CalPERS Board of Administration
“Rob Feckner instilled in me the importance of having this document on file, so I arranged to set up my agent and witnesses and filled out and mailed the paperwork within a few days,"
- George Murillo, instructional assistant special needs and site representative with Lynwood Chapter 116.
The POA form is easy to download from the CalPERS website and complete. There is also an associated booklet that explains how to fill out the form.
Murillo said the hardest part of completing the POA is determining how much power you are willing to give to your agent, or how much power your agent is willing to have over your affairs. To alleviate stress, Murillo opted for his agent to handle his retirement affairs contingent upon his incapacitation. “Having completed this Special Power of Attorney form puts my mind more at ease. I know that I have made it easier for my agent or family to be able to handle any retirement affairs with a legal backing and knowledge that will ease the burden and stress that occur during these events,” Murillo said. Feckner said he talks about the POA regularly during CSEA’s pre-retirement seminars and is thankful that the word is spreading. Attendance has been increasing since the meetings have been held virtually. He recently held a Zoom meeting where 650 people attended and he has yet to hold one that is under 300 people. This compares to in-person meetings where a crowd of 16 people was considered well attended.
“It is vital that you submit this document because tomorrow is never guaranteed and you want to provide the most for your survivors,”
- George Murillo, instructional assistant special needs and site representative with Lynwood Chapter 116.
From 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 2, Feckner will hold a webinar specifically about the CalPERS Special Power of Attorney form, with attendance limited to 3,000 members. Simply click the link to sign up to attend. Once you sign up, you will receive an email with the Zoom link to join the webinar. If the webinar fills up quickly, Feckner said another webinar will be added. Despite the regular webinars and information being disseminated, Feckner said many members are unaware of the importance of having a POA on file. “It’s a preemptive move to be able to put these things in place,” he said. Murillo agrees, sharing that he is glad he decided to complete the form and encourages others to take a few minutes out of their day to do the same. “It is vital that you submit this document because tomorrow is never guaranteed and you want to provide the most for your survivors,” Murillo said.
For more information about the POA, watch this previously recorded CSEA pre-retirement seminar (76 minutes).
