Service Retirement

Retiring from your City job is an important step and the beginning of an exciting time in your life! On a practical note, it’s a process that will take at least a few months to complete and can go more smoothly if you fully understand what to do and what to expect.

6 Steps on the Road to Your Retirement

90-180 days before your target retirement date, contact your Agency’s Benefits Coordinator

Your Benefits Coordinator will work with your payroll department to determine your leave balances and last day on payroll. The day after your last day on payroll will be your retirement date – that is the date you should put on your NYCERS service retirement application.

The usage of leave balances can also affect your retirement date. Most non-managerial employees remain on payroll until they have exhausted all unused leave time. Therefore, it is important to contact your employer’s Benefits Coordinator to determine your correct retirement date.

Many agencies will give you a letter with this information, which you should then provide to NYCERS when you file for retirement.

Note: Managerial employees receive unused leave in a lump sum, so they can stop working and retire the next day if they wish.

Medical Benefits
Retiree medical benefits are administered by the Office of Labor Relations (OLR), not NYCERS. To start the process, NYCERS will provide your retirement date to your agency and to OLR. Please direct any questions regarding Retiree Health Benefits to your employer. OLR no longer requires a retirement receipt from NYCERS.

If you haven’t already, register your MyNYCERS account and manage the entire retirement process from your desktop or smart device. You can file your retirement application, upload supporting documents, add a direct deposit account, and more.

Register anytime at www.mynycers.org

Need help creating your MyNYCERS account? Visit nycers.org/forms-publications/how-to-register

30-90 days before your last day on payroll

Certain retirement plans require that you submit your application at least 30 days before your desired retirement date. Other plans allow later submissions, even as late as the day before your retirement date. After you have consulted with your Benefits Coordinator and established a “last day paid,” it is suggested that you submit your service retirement application online. If you prefer to meet with a NYCERS Retirement Counselor, log in to your MyNYCERS account to schedule a phone, video or in-person consultation.

If you visit in person, make sure you have the following items:

  1. Birth documentation, such as a passport or birth certificate, for yourself (and your beneficiary, if you have one); and
  2. Photo identification, such as your work identification or driver’s license; and
  3. The address, date of birth, and Social Security number of your beneficiary for your temporary option election.

If you retire on the 1st or 2nd day of the month, your first advance payment will be at the end of the month you retire.

If you retire on the 3rd day or later, your first advance payment will be at the end of the following month.

Advance payments are reduced pension benefits paid to you until NYCERS can calculate your final pension based on the retirement option you select. See Advance Payment for Service Retirees Brochure #892 for more information.

As a registered MyNYCERS user, you can view your option letter online in your MyNYCERS account once it is ready. A paper copy will also be mailed to your address on file. The timeframe for the issuance of the option letter varies on a case-by-case basis. After reviewing your option letter, log in to your MyNYCERS account and click “Option Election” in the menu to file your Final Option Election or return the completed forms. Your election must be made within 60 days of the date on your option letter. The sooner you file your election, the sooner your final allowance can be calculated.

Your final pension payment is determined based on your Final Option Election. It includes any retroactive monies that might be payable, because the final option you elected may pay you more than the advance payments you’ve been receiving since your retirement date.

This is the final step in the retirement process!

Apply for Service Retirement