Refunds
If you are a NYCERS member who resigned or separated from City Service and have less than 10 years of Credited Service, you can terminate your NYCERS membership and forfeit your rights to all current and future benefits by voluntarily applying for a refund of your accumulated salary deductions.
To apply for a refund of your accumulated salary deductions:
- Wait until you are off the payroll of your employing agency for 30 or more days. If records show you are on leave of absence at the time you file, you will not be eligible for refund.
- Log in to your MyNYCERS account at mynycers.org.
New to MyNYCERS? Register - Click Apply for: Refund in the navigation menu then follow the instructions to submit your refund request and, if you have more than five years of Credited service, waive your right to a Vested Retirement Benefit.
Alternatively, you can print and complete an Application for Refund of Member’s Accumulated Salary Deductions Form #331 and Waiver of Right to a Vested Retirement Benefit Form #341, available below.
Please note: If you have less than five years of service and do not file for a refund within five years of separating from City service, your membership will be terminated automatically but a refund will not be issued until you submit a refund application.
Other refund options may be available if you remain in City service but are no longer in a Special Plan requiring Additional Member Contributions, or if you are a Tier 1 or 2 member who has Excess Contributions. These transactions are not currently available via MyNYCERS so please print and complete the appropriate application below and submit it to NYCERS by mail or drop it off at NYCERS’ Walk-in Center.
To learn more about the types of refunds that may be available to you, please refer to your Tier’s Plan Description.
What happens after I submit a refund application?
Once an application for a refund of Additional Member Contributions is received, NYCERS will:
- Verify your title, plan and membership information to confirm you are eligible for a refund.
- Calculate your refund amount.
- Send you an Election of Payment Notice which provides you with options regarding tax withholding and/or rollovers to tax deferred accounts.
You must return your Election of Payment Notice to NYCERS within 30 days, either by mail or in person at NYCERS’ Walk-in Center. If you do not return your Election of Payment Notice to NYCERS within 30 days from the date on the notice, we will process your full refund, less 20% Federal income tax withholding on the taxable portion of your distribution.
NYCERS will issue your refund within 15 business days after receiving your Election of Payment Notice. If you fail to return your Election of Payment Notice to NYCERS within 30 days, payment is issued 15 business days after the deadline has passed.
