New York Retirement News

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Change Your Mind, or Plans? Here’s How to Withdraw a NYSLRS Retirement Application

Even though you’ve been preparing for retirement, sometimes certain life events happen and you may find yourself in a position where you just aren’t ready to retire. In some cases, this can happen right after you’ve already filed your NYSLRS retirement application. Don’t panic – you can pull your retirement application at any time before your retirement date.

How Can I Stop a Retirement Application I’ve Already Submitted?

To withdraw your application, you can either submit the Withdrawal of Application for Service Retirement (RS6354) form or send us a signed letter indicating you wish to withdraw your retirement application. Please include your name, address and registration number and/or the last four digits of your Social Security number in your letter.

Filing Forms with the Comptroller

Filing a form to withdraw your service retirement application is just like filing a form to apply for a service retirement. For any form to be considered “filed with the Comptroller,” it must be received by:

We will consider a form filed on the day you deliver it personally or when the Post Office delivers it to us. If you are concerned about meeting a deadline, you can mail the document via “Certified Mail – Return Receipt Requested” and we will consider it filed on the date it was mailed. You can also send the document to us via fax, but you must still mail us the original to meet the filing requirement. Please see our Contact Us page for more information.

Please keep in mind that if your retirement withdrawal is filed on or after your effective date of retirement, it is invalid and you will be officially retired.

When We Receive Your Retirement Withdrawal

Once we receive your request to withdraw your retirement application, we’ll send you an acknowledgment letter and also notify your employer, but we strongly encourage you to let your employer know immediately of your decision. That will help you and your employer avoid any unnecessary termination processing.

When Your Circumstances Change

When you’re ready to retire, you’ll need to file a new Application for Service Retirement (RS6037) form. Your application must be on file with us at least 15 days, but not more than 90 days, before your new retirement date.

Contact us if you have any questions about withdrawing your retirement application or any other retirement-related topic you might have.

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Content last revised October 3, 2017.

15 thoughts on “ Change Your Mind, or Plans? Here’s How to Withdraw a NYSLRS Retirement Application ”

  1. Angela ConcepcionSeptember 17, 2021 at 10:40 am If i apply to withdrawal and receive my funds, how long is the processing time?
  1. NYSLRSSeptember 20, 2021 at 1:21 pm For current processing times, please email our customer service representatives using the secure email form on our website (http://www.emailNYSLRS.com). One of them will review your account and respond to your questions. Filling out the secure form allows them to safely contact you about your personal account information. You can visit our website to find general information about withdrawing your NYSLRS membership and receiving a refund of your contributions.
  1. NYSLRSMay 14, 2020 at 8:57 am If you applied for retirement using Retirement Online, you can change your retirement date online. On your Retirement Online account homepage, scroll down to the My Account Summary section and click the button titled Update My Retirement Application to get started. NYSLRS must receive your amended application before your current retirement date.
  1. NYSLRSMay 12, 2020 at 2:53 pm You can’t apply for a NYSLRS pension more than 90 days before your retirement date. If you wish to change a proposed retirement date you gave to your employer, please speak to your employer. When you are ready to retire, you can apply using Retirement Online. You may also wish to read our booklet How Do I Prepare to Retire?
  1. NYSLRSJune 24, 2019 at 2:38 pm For an answer to your question, please email our customer service representatives using the secure form on our website (http://www.emailNYSLRS.com).
  1. NYSLRSOctober 2, 2018 at 4:00 pm You have up to 30 days after your pension benefit becomes payable to change your selection. We recommend that you speak to a customer service representative about your specific situation before you apply to retire. A representative can walk you through the process and send you a pension projection so that you can get an idea of what your distribution options are before you apply. Please email them using our secure email form. One of our representatives will review your account and respond to your questions. Filling out the secure form allows us to safely contact you about your personal account information.
  1. NYSLRS Post author January 17, 2018 at 4:24 pm In cases like yours, where your employer’s records are unavailable, we will also accept documents such as W-2 forms from your tax returns, or Social Security earnings records. You can request a “non-certified detailed (itemized) earnings statement” directly from the Social Security Administration (SSA) by completing form SSA-7050-F4. The form is also available from your local SSA office or by calling 1-800-772-1213. (We cannot request the information for you.) Your detailed (itemized) earnings records include the names of your employers and your quarterly earnings for each year requested. There is, however, a charge to receive this information from SSA. We recommend that you first email our customer service representatives using our secure email form (http://www.emailNYSLRS.com), and one of our representatives can review the status of your service credit request and address your questions. Filling out the secure form allows us to safely contact you about your personal account information. Please allow five to seven business days for a response.
  1. NYSLRSJune 8, 2015 at 8:29 am Than, You can change your address by completing the Change of Address Notification form provided on Page 7 of your Member Annual Statement. Otherwise, if you’re an active member, you can also complete our Change of Address Form (RS5512) and return it to us. If you are retired, you may change your address using our automated phone system, by calling us toll-free at 1-866-805-0990 (or 518-474-7736 within the Albany, New York area). Once connected, press 2, then 6, then 1. If your new address includes a PO Box or a location outside of the United States, you must send a signed letter to:
    NYSLRS
    110 State Street
    Albany, NY 12244 We hope this information helps, NYSLRS