Pension Benefits report
Retirement application overview
One of the many questions I have been asked during my tenure as your pension consultant with the NJ State PBA is,“ how do I put my papers in?” Well, the Division of Pensions does not accept paper retirement applications anymore. The division now requires all pension members to complete and submit their application for retirement online through an MBOS account.
If you don’ t know what MBOS is, it is the online version of documents and applications that allows pension members internet access to their pension account information. With your MBOS account, you can apply for retirement in a secure, fast and efficient manner. Members can apply for all types of retirement, including disability retirements. When applying for disability retirements, make sure you follow the directions of the application carefully. If you need to send any documents to the
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Division of Pensions, make sure you write your name and PFRS number in the margins of the documents you send.
If for some reason you believe you may not have set up your MBOS account, you will need to register immediately. Go to the Division of Pensions website and click on the link that takes you to the registration page for MBOS. Once there, you will complete all of the information requested and then select if you are an Active Member or Retired Member.
When you are on the registration page, be sure to have your PFRS number available, along with your Social Security number, because that information is needed when you register for the first time. If you don’ t have your PFRS number, you can obtain it from your employer or by contacting the Division of Pensions.
Once you have provided all of the required information, click the“ submit” button. Once that is done, you will need to create another online account: the myNewJersey account. If you have not created a myNewJersey, you’ ll need to create one with all of the requested information, then link your myNewJersey account with your MBOS account.
Once you’ ve done that successfully, you have registered and created an account for MBOS. The one obvious suggestion is to make sure that your user ID and passwords are easy to remember. If you can’ t remember your user ID and password, you must contact the MBOS help desk at 609-777- 0534.
You’ ll now have access to all of your pension account information. When you’ re ready, you can complete and submit your retirement application. When you get to the retirement application, make sure that your address and pedigree information are correct in MBOS. If the information is wrong, you can edit and change it. Next, check that your beneficiary’ s information correct. Our retirement application requires the name, date of birth and Social Security number for any people that you want to list as your beneficiaries.
When completing your application, be aware that all retirements take effect on the first of every month. The earliest that you can file your application is one year from the date that you become eligible for retirement, and the latest that you can file your application is the day before your eligible date for retirement. We suggest that you submit your application three to four months before the date that you become eligible for retirement( or the date that you choose).
I can always be reached at the PBA office if you need help with the MBOS registration or the retirement process. Call or email me with any questions you may have. d