Are you ready to begin receiving your pension?  If you are vested in the Retirement Plan and have not yet commenced your pension payment, it's easy to begin.  You can begin the process at least 90 days before your planned retirement date. 

Request a Pension Projection for multiple retirement dates (but no more than four) to understand your options. Requesting a projection is a required first step before requesting a pension application. 

 If you have an AFTRA Retirement portal account, you can complete, upload and submit your Pension Projection and required documentation directly through the portal.

 If you do not have a portal account, you can go to aftraretirement.org and click the  pension projection button on the right rail of any page and complete your request; or simply call Participant Services at (800) 562-4690.

 Once you receive your pension projection, you should:

• Review the Earnings and Contributions statements provided with your  pension projection.
• Reconfirm your beneficiary on file at the AFTRA Retirement Fund. It is important to note that the beneficiary information included on your pension projection form is used for purposes of calculating your projected benefits.

• Review the various annuities options.
• Consult with your professional advisors (accountant, financial planner, retirement advisor).
• Review your social security statements and contact Social Security Administration (to ensure you understand your SSA benefits).

 And always confirm that the Fund has your current mailing address. If you moved or are planning to move.  Complete the performer address change form to update or verify your address.

The final step is to submit the completed Pension application, which a Notary Public must physically notarize.  

 Your application cannot be submitted less than 30 days before the anticipated effective date of your retirement (but no more than 180 days before the anticipated effective date of your retirement).

 Your completed and notarized pension application must be returned to the AFTRA Retirement Fund at:

AFTRA Retirement Fund
Attention: Retirement Services
261 Madison Avenue, 7^th floor
New York, NY 10016

For other helpful information visit the following related pages:   

Retirement Plan at-a-glance main page
Retirement Fund section intro page