Primary Retirement Plans
(with Employer Contributions)*
Eligibility for New York State and SUNY retirement plans with employer contributions depend upon your employee affiliation. You may elect to become a member of one primary retirement plan at a time and in most cases, your chosen plan is irrevocable.
- See Benefits at a Glance for your employee group for eligibility details.
- Also visit the SUNY Retirement Plan Options & Eligibility page for plan details.
New York State Employees' Retirement System (ERS)
Any employee who receives a W-2 form from SUNY is eligible to join ERS, a defined benefit plan.
- ERS Membership Enrollment Form
- ERS Beneficiary Designation Form
- NYSLRS "Your Retirement Benefit" Booklet
- Did You Know? The New York State and Local Retirement System (NYSLRS) has added new ERS and PFRS member features to Retirement Online. Members can now estimate their pension benefit, apply for retirement, purchase service credit, manage loan and service credit payments, submit beneficiary changes and more. Visit the Retirement Online website to learn more.
New York State Teachers' Retirement System (TRS)
TRS membership is open to employees in a select group of titles, including: all faculty titles, librarian or coach titles, or in the titles of chancellor, president, vice-president, provost, dean, associate dean or assistant dean.
New York State Police & Fire Retirement System (PFRS)
All employees in University Police titles (e.g., PBANYS, MC-13 police titles) are eligible to join PFRS.
*NOTE: Employer contributions are deposited into ERS, PFRS & TRS pension funds as a whole, not directly into a member's account.
SUNY Optional Retirement Program (ORP)
The ORP is a defined 401(a) contribution plan including options to invest with Corebridge, Fidelity, TIAA and Voya. Eligibility is limited to employees in the Unclassifed (UUP & MC-13) service who are full-time, part-time UUP employees with Term appointment & M/C employees who are at least half-time. Click the ORP link above for more plan information.
Financial & Retirement Planning Resources
This takes you to a page containing a list of links to external websites monitored by SUNY that offer retirement planning resources.
Retirement Plan Beneficiary Designation
It is very important to keep your retirement plan beneficiary information up to date. Use the flowchart below for assistance with updating your information:
How do I view or update my Retirement Plan beneficiary information?
Voluntary Retirement Savings Programs
(Employee Contribution Only)
In addition to your primary employer-contribution retirement plan, you may contribute to a supplemental plan. Click this heading for information on setting up an SRA, TDA or NYS Deferred Compensation.