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 the Form 6 (Claiming Your Monthly Retirement Benefit) also available in your ORBIT account. 

If you work in a position that requires contributions to TSERS during the six months before your effective date of retirement (or you are currently out of service, but your last day of service with your last participating TSERS employer is within five years before your effective date of retirement, and you had unused sick leave), your employer should complete the employer certification section online or (Section H) on your Form 6 (Claiming Your Monthly Retirement Benefit) before the form is sent to us. 

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. 

Later, we will send you an estimate of the maximum allowance and the other payment options, if applicable. Along with the estimate, you will receive: Form 6E (Choosing Your Retirement Payment Option), Form 333BEN (Designating Beneficiary(ies) for the Contributory Death Benefit for Retired Members). We will also send you information about enrollment in the State Health Plan under the Retirement Systems, if applicable.