Where can I find the online retirement application?
Log in and select the Menu in the top left corner of the screen. Select E-Forms from the Menu and scroll down to the Service Retirement section to find your application.
I do not have retirement application on my E-Forms page. Why not?
If you are not old enough to file for retirement (3 months before your 55th birthday), you will not see an online retirement application. In the meantime, you can consult the resources on this page and attend a TRS educational program to learn about the retirement process.
Can I get a copy of the new retirement application?
The retirement application is only available in the secure section of our website. But our guide Completing the Online Retirement Application: A Step-by-Step Guide is a comprehensive overview of what’s included in the application.
Can I file my retirement application if I don’t have the Social Security number for my beneficiary?
TRS’ online retirement application requires members to enter the Social Security number (or ITIN, the alternative individual taxpayer ID number) for all beneficiaries so that it is easier to locate those individuals when benefits become payable. If you do not have the numbers available when you are completing the application, you can enter zeroes instead. However, you need to provide the actual numbers to TRS within a reasonable amount of time after submitting your retirement application.
What documentation can I use as proof of my date of birth?
The following items are considered acceptable date-of-birth documentation:
- Birth certificate;
- Passport (book or card);
- Naturalization document; OR
- Driver’s license or non-driver ID card from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida.
If none of the above is available, you can submit two of the following:
- Driver's license or non-driver ID card from other states not listed above, or any learner’s permit;
- Certificate of military record;
- Report of Confidential Social Security Benefit Information (Form SSA2458); or
- Other government-issued identification
Documentation must not be expired. Photocopies of all documents are acceptable.
Please note that any date-of-birth documentation in a language other than English must be accompanied by a translation. Birth certificates from Puerto Rico are only valid with issue dates from July 1, 2010, or after.
You may upload your date-of-birth documentation in the secure area of our website or mail it to TRS.
Please submit your documentation as early in your membership as possible. TRS cannot process any withdrawal-related requests (e.g., loans) or calculate your retirement benefits if we do not have proof of your date of birth.
Can I leave my effective retirement date blank for now and contact TRS later with the date? Can I select any retirement date that I want?
You must enter a retirement date in the online retirement application. The date you pick must be between 1 and 90 days after the date you submit your application, and it must also be no earlier than your 55th birthday.
I am a vested Tier III/IV member and qualify for a retroactive retirement. What retirement date should I enter in the online retirement application?
If you believe you qualify for a retroactive retirement, enter the earliest date allowed (the next day) as your effective retirement date. If you qualify, TRS will adjust your effective retirement date to the later of your 62nd birthday or one day after you separated from active service (due to resignation, layoff, or termination).
After submitting the online retirement application, can I go back and change some information?
Only applications in progress can be updated. Once you submit your retirement application, you cannot change it. Instead, you must cancel your application (before your effective retirement date) and resubmit a new one.
After submitting the online retirement application, can I change my Payment Option?
You may change your Payment Option election up to 30 days after your effective retirement date. Currently, the best way to do this is to submit a notarized letter to TRS stating what option you would like to choose. If you choose Option 1, 2, 5-1, or 5-2, which provide continuing payments to one beneficiary, you must also enclose proof of your beneficiary’s date of birth with your letter.
As an alternative, if you have not yet reached your retirement date, you can cancel your retirement application and submit a new online application with the payment option you prefer.
How can I cancel my online retirement application after submitting it?
Up until one day before your retirement date, you can cancel your online application in the secure section of our website. On or after your retirement date, the application cannot be canceled.
I submitted my online retirement application. When can I expect to receive payments?
Generally, TRS issues advance payments within one to two months after your effective retirement date and begins paying the finalized retirement benefit within three to five months after your effective retirement date. You can check the status of your retirement application in the secure section of our website.
I need to upload bank supporting documents along with my online retirement application. What documentation do you need?
You may need to provide documentation of your bank account to set up the electronic payment of your retirement allowance. In this case, the following documentation is acceptable:
- An Authorization Letter on bank letterhead signed by a bank officer, including all of the following: The names of all account owners, the type of account, the complete account and routing numbers, the bank branch location, and the contact information of the bank officer;
OR
- A preprinted, voided check or direct deposit authorization form, accompanied by a copy of a valid (unexpired) photo identification issued by a U.S. federal or state government agency, which includes your date of birth.