Before you begin the retirement process, we encourage you to discuss your retirement plans with your family and your employer’s benefits coordinator and contact the Retirement System to schedule an appointment with a retirement counselor to discuss your options.

About 120 days before your planned retirement date, we recommend you begin the online retirement process in ORBIT or Form 6 (Claiming Your Monthly Retirement Benefit) also available in your ORBIT account.

If you want an estimate of your benefit under Option 4, you must also send us an estimate from the Social Security Administration (SSA) of your age 62 Social Security benefit. Request this estimate from SSA within two years before your effective retirement date.

Monthly retirement benefits are effective the first day of any month. You must complete your online application, or you must sign, date and file your retirement application (Form 6) at least one day and not more than 120 days before your effective date of retirement.

Once we receive your online application or Form 6, we will send you an acknowledgment email or letter that includes instructions on your next steps in the retirement process. Online retirement allows for steps to be completed and confirmed online.

If you have submitted a paper form, we will send you: Form 170 (Authorizing Direct Deposit), Form 290 (Income Tax Withholding Preferences), Form 333 (Choosing the Contributory Death Benefit for Retired Members), which includes information about the cost and coverage provisions of the optional $10,000 Contributory Death Benefit for Retired Members. To enroll, you must make your election within 60 days of the effective date of your retirement.