Congratulations! After years of hard work and planning, the big day is almost here. It’s time to file for retirement.
You must submit your service retirement application 15 to 90 days before your retirement date.
Filing Online
Online filing offers a secure and convenient way to apply for a service retirement benefit. You can upload needed documents instead of having applications notarized and taking them to the post office. You can also check on the status of your application once you submit it through Retirement Online. To get started, sign in to your Retirement Online account, scroll to the ‘My Account Summary’ section and click the “Apply for Retirement” button.
From there, you’ll go through a series of screens where you’ll be able to:
- Choose your retirement date;
- Get an estimate of the pension payment options available to you;
- Select a pension payment option and beneficiary;
- Have federal taxes withheld;
- Sign up for direct deposit; and
- Upload required documents, such as proof of date of birth.
After you click the “Submit” button, do not close your browser until you receive a confirmation message saying your application has been successfully submitted.
Once you submit your application, you will see a summary page that will include all the information that you have submitted through Retirement Online. Review this information to be sure that your online application is complete and your chosen option benefit and beneficiary information are accurate. This is very important since there are specific deadlines for selecting or changing a pension option and beneficiary.
If you don’t have a Retirement Online account, you can sign up today.
Filing by Mail
If you prefer, you can submit a paper retirement application. Complete an Application for Service Retirement (RS6037) and mail it to NYSLRS. (Do not give your retirement application to your employer.) Your application must be signed, notarized, and received by NYSLRS. We recommend that you mail your application “certified mail, return receipt requested.”
If you have received a recent pension estimate and you know which pension payment option you want, you should include your pension payment option form when you mail your retirement application. If you have not received an estimate, we will send you one, along with an option form, after we receive your application, but you must select an option within the deadlines required by law.
If you file by mail, you must also send us the following documents:
- Proof of your date of birth (required);
- A direct deposit application; and
- A W-4P Withholding Certificate.
We cannot start paying benefits until we receive proof of your date of birth.
If you have questions about filing for your retirement benefits, you can schedule a pre-retirement telephone consultation. To make an appointment, call 1-866-805-0990 (or 518-474-7736 in the Albany, NY area), press 2, then follow the prompts.
Read the Rest of Our Countdown to Retirement Series
This is the final installment of our Countdown to Retirement series. Missed our earlier posts? Catch up with them here:
