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​For questions about your pension, contact the New York State Teachers Retirement System: 518-447-2900

For questions about benefits offered by the district in retirement, please call Annette Sicuranza: 516-441-4037

For questions about what retirees receive from GNTA’s Benefit Trust Fund, contact Kevin Chavarria at the Dickinson Group: 516-829-9086.

If you are a "newer" teacher and would  like to preview Stacey Braun's webinar geared for your financial planning, check out: From Hire to Retire – Financial Planning for Newer Teachers (Years 1-10)

GNTA Benefit Trust Fund & Stacey Braun “From Hired to Retired 2022 Webinar

GNTA/GNPS BENEFITS IN RETIREMENT WORKSHOP 2022

GNTA & Stacey Braun’s 2022 “Retirement Planning" webinar 

resources for retirees 

 DID YOU KNOW?

For Tier 2-5 members, your FAS is generally the average of your highest three consecutive school years of salary earned, whenever they occurred in the salary history.  Tier 6 members must use a five-year FAS with restrictions on includable salaries.

2021 ANNUAL MEETING OF NYSTRS DELEGATES

Nearly 600 delegates participated in NYSTRS' 2021 Annual Delegates Meeting held virtually on Friday, Oct. 29. They voted to elect Bayport-Blue Point teacher Eric J. Iberger and Schenectady teacher Juliet C. Benaquisto to the NYSTRS Board of Trustees. The meeting also featured educational presentations and the Delegate-Board/Staff discussion.

The following are videos and slides from the presentations and sessions conducted at the Delegates Meeting.
The NYSTRS Year in Review and the Long-Term Stability of the System: In this presentation, we updated delegates on our customer service initiatives in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, explained how recently passed NYS legislation may impact our membership, reviewed the new features we have introduced to our online portals for members and employers and explored the System’s continued financial strength and stability, commemorated the System’s 100th anniversary and shared the sentiments members have shared with us during our centennial celebration. (Download presentation slides)

Delegate-Board/Staff Discussion: NYSTRS Board members and staff answered a wide range of questions submitted by delegates prior to the 2021 Delegates Meeting.

Election of Board Member: Votes were cast and teachers Eric J. Iberger and Juliet C. Benaquisto were elected to NYSTRS’ 10-member Board.
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As delegates, we had the opportunity to attend various educational breakout sessions. Following are the presentations from each:
  • The NYSTRS Year in Review: In this presentation, we examine the challenges of the past year and show how NYSTRS has continued to achieve our mission during these difficult times. This session covers topics like our COVID-19 response, implementation of laws and executive orders from this past year, new MyNYSTRS functionality, and our System’s financial strength. (Download presentation slides)
  • Delegate-Board/Staff Discussion: NYSTRS Board members and staff answer a wide range of questions submitted by delegates prior to the 2021 Delegates Meeting.  
  • Benefits Consultations at Your Convenience: NYSTRS is introducing a new feature for our benefit consultations program. You will now be able to meet with a System representative from your own computer, laptop or device. This provides you with more flexibility while you review the retirement process and receive personalized benefit estimates. In this session, we walk you through this new type of consultation in real time, and you may learn some important benefits tips along the way. ​​


Remember, the GNTA is your local union -- we are NOT retirement experts.  Develop your own NYSTRS account by using the link below. It's easy; you just need your NYSTRS Employee ID number!

https://secure.nystrs.org/sma/security/RegisterAccount.aspx

Best,

Jen, Frank, Luci and Patti

EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTION RATE (ECR)
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The Employer Contribution Rate (ECR) is the percentage of member payroll employers contribute to NYSTRS.  This rate is determined annually through an actuarial valuation of NYSTRS' assets and liabilities. These contributions have been collected without fail throughout the System's history, keeping NYSTRS among the most secure plans in the country.

The 2020-21 rate charged to districts is 9.53 percent of school year salaries; the ESTIMATED 2018-19 rate will fall between 9.5 and 10 percent.  An Administrative Bulletin will be provided in February 2021 with a more precise estimate of this ECR.

​Take a look below for the history of the Employer Contribution Rate (ECR) in New York State (NYS):
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NYSTRS RETIREMENT
-RELATED FORMS

Download and print NYSTRS forms. Call our Hotline at (800) 782-0289 to request forms be mailed to you.
Service Retirement Application (RET-54)

You can file a service retirement application up until your effective date of retirement, but no sooner than 90 days before your retirement date.
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Proof of Date of Birth (RET-45)

Distribution Election for ASF – Tier 1 and 2 (REF-30)

Direct Rollover of Taxable ASF (REF-30.2)
If filed, must submit with Distribution Election for ASF (REF-30).

Direct Rollover of After-Tax ASF (REF-30.3)
If filed, must submit with Distribution Election for ASF (REF-30).

Disability Retirement Application Package (RET-54.1; RET-54.3A; RET-54.5; RET-54.1B; RET-54.3).
Please refer to NYSTRS' pamphlet If You Are No Longer Able to Work, which offers guidelines for making disability retirement decisions.

Additional Medical Report for Disability Retirement Applicants (RET-54.3)
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Election of Retirement Benefit (RET-54.6).
To change the benefit payment choice you made on your retirement application, you may file this form within 30 days of your retirement date.

SERVICE CREDIT

1 Year of Credit

  • You will be covered by an in-service death benefit.
  • If you are a Tier 3-6 member who dies as the result of an accident sustained while teaching, an accidental death benefit may be payable to your beneficiary instead of the in-service death benefit.
  • If you are a Tier 3-6 member and the balance of your member contributions and interest is at least $1,334, you can take a loan from your funds. If you are a Tier 1 or 2 member, you must have a minimum of $400 in your Annuity Savings Fund to be eligible for a loan. For more information about loans, see our publication Borrowing From Your NYSTRS Contributions.
2 Years of Credit
​You will be eligible to purchase credit for prior service. For more information, see our publication You Deserve the Credit.

5 Years of Credit
If you are a Tier 3 or 4 member, your pension will be vested, and you will be eligible for a NYSTRS service retirement benefit at age 55.

10 Years of Credit
  • If you are a Tier 4 member, you will stop making 3% required contributions when you attain 10 years of credit or membership, whichever occurs first.
  • If you are a Tier 5 or 6 member, your pension is vested (earlier tiers vest at five years) and you likely will be eligible for a service retirement benefit at age 55. (Tier 6 members with an inactive membership must be at least 63 to retire.)
  • You may be eligible for a disability retirement benefit if you cannot continue to work because of an illness or injury.
  • If you leave teaching with at least 10 years of service credit and die before retirement, you will be covered by a vested death benefit of half the in-service death benefit that would have been paid on the last day of working.

20 Years of Credit
  • If you are a Tier 1 or 2 member, the pension factor used in your benefit calculation will no longer include a service-related reduction.
  • If you are a Tier 3 or 4 member, the pension factor used in your benefit calculation will increase from 1.67% per year to 2% per year.
  • If you are a Tier 6 member, the pension factor used in your benefit calculation will increase from 1.67% per year to 1.75% per year (i.e., 35% for your first 20 years) plus 2% for each year beyond 20.

25 Years of Credit
  • If you are a Tier 5 member, the pension factor used in your benefit calculation will increase from 1.67% per year to 2% per year.

30 Years of Credit
  • If you are a Tier 2, 3 or 4 member, you can retire without an age-related reduction to your pension factor when you attain 30 years of credit or reach age 62.
  • If you retire under Tier 4, you will receive an additional 1.5% per year toward your pension factor for each year of credit beyond 30 years.
  • If you are a Tier 5 member, you can retire without an age-related reduction to your pension factor when you retire either at: age 62 or later; or, at age 57 or later with at least 30 years of service credit.
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35 Years of Credit
  • If you are a Tier 1 member, you can retire at any age.

​It is important to HAVE ALL THE CREDIT FOR WHICH YOU ARE ELIGIBLE because your total service credit impacts your eligibility for NYSTRS benefits — and often the amount of those benefits. The following types of service can build your credit and help you reach important service milestones:

This information is meant to serve as a guideline. As always, go to NYSTRS.org for the most current information.

SB Financial REVIEW MARCH 2021

​NYSTRS presentation given by Trustee Ron Gross to GNTA & SAGES