Your Statement provides a year-end summary of your NYSLRS pension payments, including your total benefit amount and a breakdown of your credits, deductions and taxes, for the last calendar year.
We distribute Statements annually based on your delivery preference:
- Mail: We mail printed Statements by the end of February. (Note: The default delivery preference is mail.)
- Email: We make Statements available in Retirement Online sooner than printed copies are mailed—we will notify you by email at the beginning of February when your Statement is available. (Note: You will not receive a printed Statement in the mail.)
Changes to Your Statement
Beginning with Statements for 2025, you will receive an Annual Benefit Statement (instead of a Retiree Annual Statement) if you are:
- A beneficiary receiving a monthly pension payment from a deceased retiree; and/or
- An ex-spouse receiving a monthly pension payment per the terms of a Domestic Relations Order (DRO).
Retirees will continue to receive a Retiree Annual Statement.
If you receive more than one pension payment from NYSLRS, it’s possible to receive both types of Statements.
Use Retirement Online to Get Your Statement
To view, save or print your Statement:
- Sign in to Retirement Online.
- Look under My Account Summary.
- Click View My Retiree Annual Statement button.
(Note for beneficiaries and ex-spouses: Use this button to access your Annual Benefit Statement.) - If Retirement System is blank, click Look Up icon and select ERS or PFRS from dialog box.
- Click Look Up icon next to Calendar Year field and select an option from dialog box. (Note: 2025, 2024 and 2023 are currently available online.)
- Click Generate Statement button.
The document will download on to your computer.
Retirement Online Tools and Tips
If you don’t have an account or for help signing in to an existing account, check out our Retirement Online tools and tips for step-by-step instructions to register, reset your password, unlock your account and more.
Get an Email Notification When Your Statement is Available Online
You can get your Statement online sooner than printed copies are mailed. Update your delivery preference to email and when your Statement is available in Retirement Online, we’ll send an email notifying you.
- Sign in to Retirement Online.
- Look under My Profile Information.
- Click update next to ‘Retiree Annual Statement by.’
(Note for beneficiaries and ex-spouses: Use this link to update your delivery preference for your Annual Benefit Statement.) - Choose Email from dropdown.
- Click Save button.
Be sure the email address listed in your Retirement Online profile is current.
Update Your Contact Information to Make Sure You Receive Your Statement
We distribute Statements based on your delivery preference and the address or email we have on file for you, so it’s important to make sure your information is current. Retirement Online is the fastest and most convenient way to review your contact information and update it if needed.
- Sign in to Retirement Online.
- Look under My Profile Information.
- Click update next to address, email or phone number.
- Enter your updated information (overwrite any outdated information that prepopulates).
- Click Save button.
A Guide to Your Statement
This guide explains the information and terms used in your Statement.
Important:
- If a credit or deduction does not apply to you, it will not appear in your Statement.
- The dollar amounts are year-end totals for the previous calendar year.
NYSLRS ID
An alphanumeric unique identifier, which is assigned by NYSLRS to protect your privacy and ensure your personal information is secure. Use it when you call or write NYSLRS.
Retirement Date
The date you retired and left the public payroll.
Only applicable to retirees receiving a Retiree Annual Statement.
Benefit Amount (Base Benefit and Credits)
Base Benefit
Your pension benefit amount before credits, deductions and taxes.
COLA/Supplementation
A permanent annual increase to your pension based on the cost-of-living index and a formula set by State law. For information about COLA eligibility and how it’s calculated, visit our Cost-of-Living Adjustment page.
Escalation
An annual change to your pension based on the cost-of-living index and a formula set by State law. If you are eligible for both COLA and Escalation, you receive whichever adjustment is greater.
Only applicable to retirees covered under certain retirement plans (for example, the State Correction Officers and Security Hospital Treatment Assistants plan or the Article 14 for PFRS Tier 3 members plan) and their beneficiaries.
Medicare Credits
The amount reimbursed for Medicare Part B. If you were reimbursed by another source, this amount will be $0.00.
Only applicable to retirees who retired from a New York State agency and are covered under the New York State Health Insurance Program (NYSHIP). If you have questions, contact the New York State Department of Civil Service.
Positive Adjustments
The amount credited for a Social Security Offset.
Deductions
Negative Adjustments
The amount deducted to recover an overpayment of your pension benefit or to repay a Monthly Service Annuity.
Alternate Payee Deductions
The amount deducted for payment to your ex-spouse(s) per the terms of your Domestic Relations Order (DRO). For more information, visit our Divorce and Your Benefits page.
Health Insurance
The amount deducted for your health insurance premium. If you pay for health insurance in another way, this amount will be $0.00.
Please note, NYSLRS does not administer health insurance programs; therefore, we cannot answer questions about your benefits or changes to your premiums. If you are covered under the New York State Health Insurance Program (NYSHIP) for State and local government retirees, call 800-833-4344 to speak with a representative from the New York State Department of Civil Service. Otherwise, contact your former employer’s benefit administrator.
Other Deductions
The amount you’ve authorized to have deducted for dues or fees (for example, union dues or deductions for workers’ compensation, tax liens, alimony or child support).
Tax Withholding
Total Federal Taxes Withheld
The amount withheld for federal income tax and paid to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) on your behalf. For information about your federal tax withholding and how to update your withholding online, visit our Taxes and Your Pension page. Do not use your Statement for tax purposes.
Net Benefit Payment
The total amount you received after credits, deductions and taxes.
Pension Payment Option
An explanation of the pension payment option you chose at retirement.
Only applicable to retirees receiving a Retiree Annual Statement.
Do Not Use Your Statement for Tax Purposes
Your Annual Statement is not for tax purposes. If NYSLRS is required to report the distribution of your retirement benefits to the IRS, we provide a 1099-R tax form annually for filing your taxes. If you haven’t received your 1099-R, you can get it online.
- Sign in to Retirement Online.
- Look under My Account Summary.
- Click Manage My 1099-R Tax Forms button.
- Select an option from Year dropdown. (Note: 2025, 2024 and 2023 are currently available online.)
- Click Generate button.
View Your Pension Pay Stub for Year-to-Date Information
For a breakdown of credits and deductions and to see year-to-date totals throughout the year, you can view your pension pay stub online.
- Sign in to Retirement Online.
- Look under I want to… (located at the top right).
- Click View Pension Check link.
- Select date of the pension payment to view.
Rev. 2/26