Steps to Retiring from Western Suffolk BOCES

Contact the retirement system (TRS or ERS) to verify your years of service, final average salary, and your monthly benefit amount.

• NYS Teacher’s Retirement System (800) 356-3128
• NYS Employees’ Retirement System (800) 805-0990

Make an appointment for a telephone consultation or an appointment at a local retirement site. .

Once you’ve decided the date of your retirement, notify your Principal/Supervisor.

Complete and submit the required, official resignation form required from the Personnel Office.

Review the notification requirements for your bargaining unit, which are outlined in Board Policy, carefully to ensure you are complying with those requirements.

Health Insurance premium responsibility for Western Suffolk BOCES employees are based on date of hire, benefit group, medical plan and medicare eligibility. 

• Employees hired prior to 7/1/1990 will pay the same health insurance premiums as active staff in your group. 
• Employees hired after 7/1/1990 will have the same base premiums as active staff in your group, but the premium is adjusted based on your years of full-time service.
• Teachers hired prior to July 1, 1990 will be entitled to the same benefit level in retirement as they were entitled to in their contract year of retirement.
• Teachers hired after July 1, 1990 will be entitled to the same benefit level in retirement as they were entitled to in their contract year of retirement. The actual cost is adjusted based on their full-time years of service.
• Employees enrolled in the Health Waiver are eligible to take their waiver into retirement.
  • Eligibility is based on the same hire date and years of service rules as for medical plans.
  • Cash waiver is pro-rated based on full-time years of service and is directly deposited on the second payroll of each month
  • For any changes to your bank a new direct deposit form must be completed and sent to the Payroll Office.
  • Change from cash waiver to a health plan requires a three-month waiting period from the date of signature. The three-month waiting period may be waived with proof of termination of other coverage.

Employees and/or their spouses 65 years of age or older at the time of retirement are required to be enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B.

Contact your local social security office for more information.

When the Benefits Office receives notification of your upcoming retirement from Personnel, they will automatically continue all benefits that you currently have as long as you meet the service requirements.

There is no need to contact Benefits unless you need to make a change to your benefits (i.e., changing from receiving the Waiver to enrolling in a Health Insurance Plan).

• Retirees will have the option to receive invoices by mail or email.
  • Invoices are sent monthly on or about the 15^th of each month and are due by the 10^th of the following month. For example, your February 2025 invoice would be sent by January 15^th and would be due on February 10^th.
  • Western Suffolk BOCES offers two methods to pay your invoice. Retiree’s can sign up for automatic payments or mail a check each month. Automatic payments will be pulled directly designated checking account each month on the 10^th. You will make your designation by completing and returning to the Business Office a Retiree Contact Form.
• Excess Major Medical/Enhanced Vision and Life Insurance will be billed directly from JJ Stanis. 
• Dental Insurance can by continued for 18 months under COBRA, bills will be sent directly from JJ Stanis
• All communications with retirees are done through email to the retiree. Please make sure that the Benefits Office has your updated email address on file. If you change your email address please notify the Benefits Office immediately. If you have any specific questions concerning your benefits into retirement, please contact the Benefits Office at (631) 549-4900, ext. 248.

Are you entitled to separation pay for unused sick or vacation days? Payment for unused leave bank time is determined by the terms of your specific bargaining agreement. Please review the agreement to determine if you are entitled to a payout. Some of the factors that determine eligibility for payment are:

• Notice of Retirement (contract guidelines range from one month of official notice to one year of official notice). Make sure you are aware of your notice requirement. 
• Eligibility/Intent to apply for retirement from either the NYS Teachers’ Retirement System or the NYS Employees’ Retirement System 
• Years of Service/Full-Time Service 

Key Facts on Separation Pay

• All payments at the time of separation more than $10,000 must be Board-approved prior to the payment being made to the employee.
• For certain groups any payment for unused sick/vacation time must be done as a non-elective 403b to the annual maximum less any elective contributions made by the employee during the year.
• If you are a member of Unit 1-Faculty Assn, 2-Administrative & Supervisory Staff, 3-Central Office Administrators, 6-Unrepresented or 7-Health Alliance, you are required to have your time paid as a non-elective 403b contribution. Please complete the Authorization for Contribution to Non-Elective 403b Plan which will automatically be sent to Payroll upon completion. If there is a balance remaining after the non-elective 403b contribution, payment will be directly deposited to the bank account on file.
• If you are not required to be paid as a non-elective 403b contribution, you may still opt to have some of your separation pay deposited into your 403b account as an elective contribution or you may choose to have the payment directly deposited to the bank account we have on file. In order to make a one-time elective 403b contribution you will need to complete a SRA (Salary Reduction Agreement) form on the omni403b.com website.
• Please note that both non-elective and elective contributions can only be made through one of the approved providers listed on the WSB page on the omni403b.com website.