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New York State and Local Retirement System

Preparing for Retirement

Part Six: Filing Your Retirement Application

Speaker one:
Once you become eligible to retire and decide on a retirement date, your next step is to fill out an Application for Service Retirement.
Speaker two:
We’ll need to receive your retirement application somewhere between fifteen days and ninety days before your retirement date.
You can get the application from your employer or our Call Center, or you can download it from our website.
When completing the form, list all your public employment, including military service.
Be sure to note whether you have been a member of another public retirement system in New York State.
Speaker one:
Since your application is a legal document, you must sign it and have your signature notarized. Information Representatives at our consultation sites serve as notary publics and can assist you in completing the form.
Speaker two:
There are also other documents you must submit, either along with your retirement application or by the last day of the month in which you retire.
When we receive your application, we’ll send you a letter confirming that we're processing it. Enclosed will be the Withholding Certificate for Pension or Annuity Payments. This enables you to have federal taxes withheld from your pension. Remember, your pension is not taxed by New York State nor are deductions taken for Social Security.
Speaker one:
If you’re not sure how much federal tax you should have withheld, use the Tax Calculator on our website. By entering the requested data, the calculator can determine how much federal withholding is appropriate for your pension. You can change your withholding status at any time simply by sending us a new form.
You’ll also need proof of your birth date. The most common documents we’ll accept are your birth certificate, baptismal certificate, passport, naturalization papers or military discharge papers, commonly known as the DD214 form.
You can give us a copy of any of these documents, if you give us the original, we'll be sure to return it to you.

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