Special Notices & Policies

Information About Social Security

The City of Mission Viejo does not participate in Social Security. Your earnings from City employment are not covered under Social Security. When you retire, or if you become disabled, you may receive a pension based on earnings from this job. If you do, and you are also entitled to a benefit from Social Security based on either your own work or the work of your spouse, or former spouse, your pension may affect the amount of the Social Security benefit you receive. Your Medicare benefits, however, will not be affected. Under the Social Security law, there are two ways your Social Security benefit amount may be affected.

Under the Windfall Elimination Provision, your Social Security retirement or disability benefit is figured using a modified formula when you are also entitled to a pension from a job where you did not pay Social Security tax. As a result, you will receive a lower Social Security benefit than if you were not entitled to a pension from this job.

Under the Government Pension Offset Provision, any Social Security spouse or widow(er) benefit to which you become entitled will be offset if you also receive a Federal, State, or local government pension based on work where you did not pay Social Security tax. The offset reduces the amount of your Social Security spouse or widow(er) benefit by two-thirds of the amount of your pension.

In accordance with the Social Security Protection Act of 2004, all City of Mission Viejo employees hired January 1, 2005 or later must sign a statement that explains the potential effects of these two provisions in the Social Security law.

Social security publications and additional information, including information about exceptions to each provision, are available at https://www.ssa.gov. You may also call toll free 1-800-772-1213, or for the deaf or hard of hearing, call the TTY number 1-800-325-0778, or contact your local Social Security office.

Special Notices

• The City of Mission Viejo requires a job related physical examination, including a drug and alcohol test and a complete background investigation, as part of our selection of regular and hourly, seasonal, and/or temporary employees. All new employees will be fingerprinted as part of the employment process, and a criminal history check will be conducted with the Department of Justice. Offers of employment are conditional upon the successful completion of these examinations.

• The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 requires that you must be a U. S. citizen or an alien lawfully authorized to work in the United States to be eligible for hire. All new hires will be required to provide documentation to verify their status.

• All new and rehired employees appointed to a regular position will serve a probationary period for the first year of continuous employment. The Department Director, manager and/or supervisor, or the employee can terminate the employment relationship at any time during the probation period for any reason.

• Hourly/seasonal/temporary employees are not part of the competitive service and are not entitled to any rights or benefits of regular employees except as expressly set forth under the City's human resources policies. A hourly/seasonal/temporary employee serves at the will of the City Manager and may be released at any time for any reason.

• The City of Mission Viejo has a smoking policy that prohibits smoking at the workstation of all employees. Smoking will be allowed in designated smoking areas only.

• The City of Mission Viejo, at its option, may payroll any position through the use of an outside employment agency.

• The provisions noted herein are intended only as general guidelines for prospective applicants and may be modified or revoked without prior notice or agreement.