Obtain your Letter of Intent (LOI) to Retire. 

At least six weeks before your desired retirement date, schedule an appointment with your department’s counselor to begin the application process. At your appointment, your counselor will help you prepare your LOI and:

• Provide information regarding unused sick, vacation and overtime balances;
• Help you select a pension effective date that will be advantageous to you; and
• Make your retirement appointment with LAFPP DROP/Service Pensions Section

Submit Required Documents to LAFPP.

Next, you will meet with the LAFPP Benefits Specialist to apply for service retirement. Please bring your LOI to Retire (signed by you and your employing department)to your appointment. In addition, please bring any of the following personal documents and certificates that are not on file, including:

• Your marriage certificate or proof of dissolution of prior marriage(s), such as final dissolution of marriage decree(s) or death certificate(s),
• Birth certificate(s) for your minor or dependent children, and/or
• Letter from the Department confirming filing of a Declaration of Domestic Partnership.

At your appointment, you will complete the following forms and receive information on non-taxable contributions and retaining current voluntary deductions. Click here to view the various Service Retirement Forms.

Receive First Pension Check.

The LAFPP Benefits Specialist will process your completed application and forms. You will receive your first pension check at the end of the following month after your retirement effective date.

You have until one day prior to your service pension effective date to change your mind and revoke your application. Afterwards, your decision to retire becomes irrevocable. You must notify your counselor at DROP/Service Pensions Section and complete the Service Pension Rescission Notice.

Purchase(s) of Service Credit. 

You must complete all purchases of service credit prior to entering DROP. A purchase is considered completed when LAFPP has received payment in full. Please contact the LAFPP Active Member Services Section regarding purchases of service credit.

Service credit should be purchased no less than six months prior to your anticipated retirement or DROP entry date.

Obtain a Letter of Intent (LOI) to Enroll in DROP.

LAPD/LAFD Members: Your LOI will be prepared by the LAFPP Benefits Specialist.

Harbor Port Police members: Please obtain your LOI by contacting Harbor Department Human Resources.

Airport Police members: Please obtain your LOI by contacting Airport Department Human Resources.

Schedule a DROP Entry appointment.

• Call the LAFPP DROP/Service Pensions Section to schedule an appointment no more than 60 days and no less than 3 days prior to your intended DROP entry effective date.
• Appointments are required and must be scheduled with the LAFPP Benefits Specialist assigned to process your entry.
• Once an appointment has been scheduled, your DROP Entry packet will be emailed to you. Prior to your scheduled appointment, complete the entry packet forms, but do not sign them.

You must submit your application to enroll in DROP by appointment only.

Bring the following to your DROP Entry appointment:

• Your California Drivers License or department picture ID card,
• Social Security numbers and birth certificates for your spouse/domestic partner and any minor/dependent children,
• Marriage certificate or state-registered domestic partnership documents (if not already on file with LAFPP), and
• Dissolution of marriage documents for all prior marriages.
• Harbor Port and Airport Police members: You must also bring the LOI prepared by your department.

Consider the following before entering DROP:

• You have until one day prior to your DROP entry effective date to change your mind and revoke your DROP application. Afterwards, your decision to participate in DROP becomes irrevocable.
• Per the Los Angeles Administrative Code, Section 4.2101(c)(1), your DROP entry date may not be backdated.
• You must be on active duty status on your DROP entry date. In the event you are sick, on vacation or on any other non-working status on this day, your DROP entry date will automatically be advanced to the next qualifying date.