Retirement Section

400 Washington Avenue, Room 169
Towson Maryland 21204
Phone: 410-887-8246
Fax: 410-887-5788
Email: ers@baltimorecountymd.gov

The mission of the Retirement Section is to ensure effective benefits administration and delivery of member services in accordance with Article 5, Title 1 of the Baltimore County Code. The Employees Retirement System (ERS) is a qualified plan under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code. Services include timely and accurate payment of benefits, benefits counseling, communicating with participants and maintaining the pension system database.  

To stay up to date on issues affecting retirees, contact your union (if applicable) or the Baltimore County Retired Employees Association at 410-663-3341. You may also check your monthly pay stub for important information.

Planning for Retirement

County employees may want to attend one of the Pre-Retirement Seminars sponsored by the Office of Human Resources Training Division. These semi-annual seminars are listed in the spring and fall schedule of courses, available on BCnet. There will be speakers from different offices, including:

• Retirement
• Insurance
• Deferred Compensation
• Social Security
• The Credit Union

For more information, call the Training Division at 410-887-8713. The Board of Education and the Community College conduct pre-retirement seminars for their employees.

Initiating the Process

1. Call the Retirement Office about two months in advance of your projected retirement date.
2. The Office will schedule you for a signing session, provide an estimate of your projected monthly retirement allowance and answer any other questions.
3. At the signing session, you will elect your retirement option, sign tax withholding forms and receive other pertinent information. Insurance representatives will also be available to assist County employees.

Payment

The first payment you receive will be in the form of a check. After the first month, you will receive your payment by direct deposit. You will still receive a pay stub in the mail. Direct deposits are dated and payable on the last banking day of each month. To find out the current month's pay date, look for the check messages printed on each month's pay stubs for future pay dates and other important information.

More Information

Your former employer administers insurance benefits. Use the contact information below to learn more:

• Baltimore County Government Benefits Division—Call 410-887-2568 or 1-800-274-4302 (toll free) or email bcbenefits@baltimorecountymd.gov.
• Board of Education Benefits Office—Call 443-809-8943 or email benefits@bcps.org.
• Community College of Baltimore County—Call 443-840-4398 or email benefits@ccbcmd.edu.
• Revenue Authority—Call 410-887-3127.
• Baltimore County Public Library—Call 410-887-6177.

Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports (CAFR)

• CAFR 2019 (PDF)
• CAFR 2018 (PDF)
• CAFR 2017 (PDF)
• CAFR 2016 (PDF)
• CAFR 2015 (PDF)
• CAFR 2014 (PDF)
• CAFR 2013 (PDF)
• CAFR 2012 (PDF)
• CAFR 2011 (PDF)
• CAFR 2010 (PDF)
• CAFR 2009 (PDF)
• CAFR 2008 (PDF)