Smart deductions now, peace of mind later — even in retirement
f you’re like so many of us, our lives have never felt busier — from responsibilities at work to taking care of our families to (maybe) finding a little time for ourselves. NYSUT Member Benefits can help members with getting a little of that free time back, reducing stress and saving money.
With payroll or pension deduction for our endorsed programs, you can forget about potentially missing important due dates for bills; instead, enjoy the convenience of automated payments, reduced fees, and/or the elimination of service fees. Approximately 88 percent of NYSUT members have these payment options available to them. If your local association has arranged for payroll deduction with its employer, you are eligible to use this payment option.
Meanwhile, pension deduction is available to those retirees collecting a monthly pension benefit from the New York State Teachers’ Retirement System, Teachers’ Retirement System of the City of New York, New York State and Local Retirement System, New York City Board of Education Retirement System, or receiving a monthly lifetime annuity from TIAA.
Important: You must have an active NYSUT membership as an in-service or retiree member to participate in payroll or pension deduction of our endorsed programs. If you are interested in switching from payroll to pension deduction upon retirement, please use the checklist below for a smooth transition.
- Contact Member Benefits at 800-626-8101 with your definite retirement date so we can communicate that information to each plan administrator of programs you participate in.
- Call each plan administrator of programs you participate in to verify your mailing address so you can be billed directly once payroll deductions stop.
- If you do not receive a bill for each program you had on payroll deduction, contact the applicable program administrator to verify a bill was mailed to your correct address. All discounts provided through payroll deduction will continue for up to one year with direct billing.
- Make sure to pay each bill you receive. You must be on direct billing for at least one billing cycle to allow time for your pension system to put your permanent monthly pension benefit in place (this can take up to six months). Deductions can only be taken from the permanent benefit.
- When you receive your next bill, complete the Pension Deduction Authorization Form enclosed with it and send the form back with the bill to the plan administrator (without payment). If you do not receive a pension deduction form, contact Member Benefits.
- Upon receiving your pension deduction form, the plan administrator will send the details to Member Benefits to submit to your pension system and start the deductions with your next monthly benefit. This process must be done for each program you participate in.
Please note the following information if you are currently enrolled in one or more Member Benefits-endorsed program(s) or would like to do so in retirement:
- If your local has a retiree chapter: You are encouraged to maintain membership and pay chapter dues to that local (if necessary) to continue membership in NYSUT and our national affiliates, the American Federation of Teachers and National Education Association.
- If your local does not have a retiree chapter: You will continue your membership with NYSUT, AFT and NEA through the Retiree Council in your geographic area.
If you have questions about retiree membership, please contact the membership department that corresponds to you:
- United Federation of Teachers members: 212-598-6855
- United University Professions members: 800-342-4206
- Professional Staff Congress/CUNY members: 212-354-1252
- All other NYSUT members: 800-342-9810
Learn more about continuing participation in Member Benefits-endorsed programs or the payroll/pension deduction process by visiting memberbenefits.nysut.org or calling 800-626-8101.
For information about contractual endorsement arrangements with providers of endorsed programs, please contact NYSUT Member Benefits.