Power of Attorney

Under normal circumstances, NYSLRS won’t release your benefit information – even to close family members­ – without your permission. However, if we have an approved copy of your power of attorney (POA) form on record, we can discuss your information with the person you named as your agent in your POA.

For example, your agent could ask for details about your pension payments, get help completing a loan application or call us for clarification if you don’t understand a letter you received.

father and son discuss power of attorney

Your agent could be your spouse, another family member or a trusted friend. You may designate more than one person as your agent, and you may authorize those agents to act together or separately. You may also designate “successor agents” to act on your behalf if the primary agent is unable or unwilling to serve.

A POA form may be filed with NYSLRS at any time, so there’s no need to wait until a “life event” happens to file. With a POA already on record, the designated agent can act immediately in case of emergency, hospitalization or unexpected illness.

What Can Agents Do?

The agent named in your POA is authorized to act on your behalf and conduct business with NYSLRS for you.

Agents can file applications and forms, such as service or disability retirement applications. They can get account-specific benefit information, request copies of retirement documents, update addresses and phone numbers, and take out loans. For retirees, agents can change the amount withheld from your pension for taxes.

The NYSLRS POA Form

NYSLRS provides a Special Durable Power of Attorney form that is specific to retirement transactions and meets all New York State legal requirements.

If you use the NYSLRS POA form, and your agent or successor agent is your spouse, domestic partner, parent or child, they have “self-gifting authority.” That means they can designate themselves as a beneficiary of your pension benefits or, if you are not yet retired, choose a retirement payment option that provides for a beneficiary after your death and designate themselves as a beneficiary for that benefit.

If your agent or successor agent is not your spouse, domestic partner, parent or child, they do not automatically have self-gifting authority. If you want them to be able to designate themselves as beneficiaries, you should indicate that in the Modifications section of the POA. You should identify your agent by name and specify the authority you want granted to them.

It’s important to note that the NYSLRS POA form only covers Retirement System transactions. It does not authorize an agent to make health care decisions or changes to a Deferred Compensation plan.

Changes to the POA Law

The law governing POA requirements was changed effective June 13, 2021. Any POA executed on or after that date must comply with the following requirements (the NYSLRS form complies with the requirements):

  • All POAs must be signed by two disinterested witnesses (witnesses who are not listed as an agent in the POA or named in the POA as a person who can receive gifts).
  • The use of a Statutory Gift Rider to grant gifting authority has been eliminated. If you do not use the NYSLRS POA form and instead submit a separately prepared Statutory POA form, gifting authority, even for a close family member, must be granted in the Modifications section of the POA. (See our Power of Attorney page for details.)

If you have an approved POA on file with NYSLRS, you do not need to send a new one. POAs executed before June 13, 2021, will be reviewed in accordance with the laws in effect at the time. POAs executed on or after June 13, 2021, that use an old POA form or do not comply with other requirements of the new law will not be valid.

How to Submit a POA Form

You can scan and email a copy of your POA to NYSLRS using our secure email form.

You can also mail your POA (original or photocopy). You may wish to mail it certified mail, return-receipt requested, so you know when NYSLRS receives it. Mail it to:

NYSLRS
110 State Street
Albany, NY 12244-0001.

Find Out More

A power of attorney is a powerful document. Once you appoint someone, that person may act on your behalf with or without your consent. We strongly urge you to consult an attorney before you execute this document.

You may revoke your POA at any time by sending us a signed, notarized statement.

Please read the Power of Attorney page on our website for additional information.

9 thoughts on “Power of Attorney

  1. Daniel Dutton

    Why does it take 6 months for NYSLRS to approve its own POA form?

    How long is the wait for NYSLRS to review the POA form that was created by an attorney and signed by me?

    Reply
    1. NYSLRS Post author

      For questions about the status of your Power of Attorney form, please message our customer service representatives using our secure contact form. Filling out the secure form allows them to safely contact you about your personal account information.

      Reply
    1. NYSLRS

      Under normal circumstances, NYSLRS won’t release benefit information without your permission — even to close family members such as your spouse. If she was designated as your agent in a POA, however, we would be able to discuss your information with her.

      As a reminder, a POA is a powerful document. Once you appoint someone, that person may act on your behalf with or without your consent. We strongly urge you to consult an attorney before you choose to execute this document.

      Reply
      1. Mark Peltz

        So if I’m interpreting your response correctly(?) if I die before my wife she would have no access to manage or view her now solely owned NYS retirement benefit without a POA – that IMHO is ludicrous and needs to be revised.

        Reply
        1. NYSLRS Post author

          If you name your wife as your agent in a POA, she would be able to access your benefit information and act on your behalf in NYSLRS transactions while you are still alive.

          The access that your wife would have if you were to pass away depends on your eligibility for death benefits and your pension payment option election. For specific information, please email our customer service representatives using our secure email form. Filling out the secure form allows them to safely contact you about your personal account information.

          Reply
  2. Sev

    I have executed a living will and a separate POA specifying my wife as POA, through my lawyer as part of. Estate planning. Will this be accepted by NYSLRS in case I become disabled.

    – SC

    Reply
    1. NYSLRS Post author

      A Power of Attorney form is not effective until it has been reviewed by NYSLRS for legal soundness.

      As a convenience, NYSLRS provides a Public Retirement System Special Power of Attorney Form on its website. This form is limited to retirement benefit transactions. Our review process is simplified for submissions using the NYSLRS form, so we can complete our review faster if you use it.

      For more information, visit the Power of Attorney page on our website.

      Reply

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