Resigning from your employer and filing for a NYSTRS retirement are two separate processes. Your retirement benefits will not automatically begin by resigning from your employer. You must also file for retirement from NYSTRS and the effective date of retirement you enter on your application must be at least one day beyond the last date you earned salary under contract.
The easiest way to file your application, provided you are at least age 55, is online through your MyNYSTRS account. Log in to your account and navigate to My Retirement > Application for Retirement. You can save and store data as you go, so you don’t need to complete the application in one sitting. When you return you’ll see which sections are complete and which you still need to finish. You’ll also have the ability to modify previously completed sections. The online application has built-in logic that ensures you don’t inadvertently miss a step or make a mistake that would cause the application to be rejected.
Or you can complete an Application for Retirement (RET-54), available on the Retirement-Related Forms page of this website. If the application is sent to NYSTRS by registered or certified mail, it will be considered received on the date it was postmarked. Please call us at (800) 348-7298, Ext. 6250 if you need help completing your retirement application.
You can file your retirement application as late as your date of retirement, but no sooner than 90 days before your retirement date. If you file for service retirement, you may withdraw your retirement application – or change your retirement date – by notifying NYSTRS with a signed request within 14 days from your date of retirement. If you have a MyNYSTRS account, you may use the Secure Messaging feature to notify us you wish to withdraw your application or change your date of retirement. All others should use certified or registered mail, as the postmarked date will be considered the date received by NYSTRS.
KEY CONSIDERATION: If you are retiring close to a key service milestone, such as 30 years of service for a Tier 4 member, working beyond the date you believe you will reach that milestone is advised. If you miscalculated or included in your calculations work that was not actually creditable, your benefit could be negatively impacted – for life. Always discuss your unique situation with a NYSTRS representative before filing for retirement.