Retirement Online is fast and convenient

embers and retirees of the state Employees’ Retirement System can use Retirement Online to avoid making phone calls or mailing in forms. Sign in for instant access to information about your benefits and convenient tools to make changes to your account.

Estimate your pension. Most members can estimate their retirement benefit based on up-to-date account information. Enter different dates and beneficiaries to see how different options affect your potential benefit.

Apply for a loan. See how much you can borrow, what your repayment amount would be and whether your loan would be taxable — all before you apply. And, if you are eligible, apply online, too.

Apply for retirement. When you are ready to retire, you can apply for a service retirement benefit, choose your pension payment option, sign up for direct deposit and upload paperwork.

Change direct deposit info. Update existing direct deposit account info or switch banks. If you make your changes online, they will generally be applied within one or two payments more quickly than if you sent in a paper form.

View pension “pay stubs.” Click the date for the payment you want to view to see your monthly benefit amount, any deductions and year-to-date totals.

Print a pension verification letter. Save or print a letter if you need to verify your pension income for housing or as part of an application for the Home Energy Assistance Program.

Update federal tax withholding. If you submit changes to your withholding by the middle of the month, they will generally be applied to that month’s pension payment.

View and update beneficiaries. Retirement Online is the fastest way to add or remove your death benefit beneficiaries or update contact info.

Update contact info. Keep your mailing address, phone number and email address current to make sure you receive important news and benefit information that we send you.

Sign up on our Retirement Online Sign In page (bit.ly/RO-sign-in) to get started. Need help? You can find step-by-step instructions on registering for your account and signing in for the first time in the Tools and Tips section of the Retirement Online page (web.osc.state.ny.us/retire/retirement_online/customers.php).