Planning to retire soon?
Know the deadlines

Retiring from your employer does NOT automatically trigger retirement benefit payments. You must also file an application for retirement with the state Teachers’ Retirement System to receive your monthly pension payment. You can file your retirement application as late as your date of retirement, but no sooner than 90 days before your retirement date.

Your date of retirement must be at least one day beyond the last date you earned salary under contract. If you want to receive your first payment in July, file by early June.

File online through MyNYSTRS, which streamlines the application process, reduces errors and eliminates the need to fill out and mail an eight-page paper application. To file a paper form, RET-54, visit nystrs.org, and select Application for Retirement under Forms/Retirement-Related Forms.

You have 14 days from your date of retirement to withdraw your service retirement application. Send NYSTRS a request to withdraw your application either by a secure message in your MyNYSTRS account or a signed letter mailed to NYSTRS within the 14-day window.

If you want to change your benefit payment option, you have 30 days from your retirement date to make changes via the Election of Retirement Benefit page in MyNYSTRS or by filing a notarized Election of Retirement Benefit (RET-54.6) paper form. State law does not allow for exceptions. For more information, visit nystrs.org/active-members/ready-to-retire/.