Direct deposit is an electronic payment deposited directly to your checking or savings account. Receiving your benefit payments automatically with direct deposit is safe, fast and convenient.

Your benefit payment is deposited into your account by electronic fund transfer based on the information you provide in the direct deposit enrollment process. By enrolling in direct deposit, CalSTRS is authorized to transfer your benefit payments to your designated bank account.

Direct deposit is offered to CalSTRS members receiving regular ongoing monthly payment benefits.

Yes, direct deposit is a safe and secure automated process between CalSTRS and your financial institution. Once you have authorized the electronic deposit of your benefits, the automated transaction is confidential and involves multiple levels of security safeguards to protect your direct deposit between CalSTRS and your financial institution.

CalSTRS processes benefit payments monthly. You should expect your benefit payment to be received by your bank on the direct deposit date listed on CalSTRS.com .

All benefit payment information is stored electronically on myCalSTRS for your private and secure access. You can view all payments posted to your account through direct deposit monthly. Problems with direct deposit are rare because electronic payments are standard automated transactions. If there is a problem, it can be easily corrected. If you do find an error or do not receive your benefit payment, contact CalSTRS immediately.

Your benefit payment is available as soon as CalSTRS makes the electronic fund transfer into your account. CalSTRS processes benefit payments monthly. You should expect your benefit payment to be received by your bank on the direct deposit date listed on CalSTRS.com .

CalSTRS will provide an electronic version of your benefit payment statement (also known as a stub or a direct deposit advice). When you choose to enroll in direct deposit, you may receive your benefit payment statements in electronic format, along with other options as noted on the form. You can change your mailing preferences anytime by going to Update a Direct Deposit Account under the Account then Direct Deposit menus in myCalSTRS.

You can verify your deposits on your personal bank statements or through your bank's web or telephone system. Contact your bank to determine your options.

Log in to myCalSTRS to access all of your personal CalSTRS benefit information, including all benefit payment statements from your direct deposit account.

According to PayItGreen , every year, mailing paper checks or stubs uses over 674 million gallons of fuel and adds 3.6 million tons of CO2 to the environment. Signing up for direct deposit is only half the solution. In order to have a positive impact on our environment, CalSTRS strongly encourages all members to view their benefit payment statements in electronic format only.

You can sign up for direct deposit once you are eligible to receive an ongoing benefit payment from CalSTRS.

Select Direct Deposit from the Account menu in myCalSTRS. You will be guided through a simple process to collect your bank account information and then authorize CalSTRS to send your payments electronically.

There are no costs associated with direct deposit from CalSTRS. It is recommended that you check with your bank to see if any cost or savings may apply. Some banks even provide free checking with direct deposit accounts.

You must identify the bank account you wish to direct your funds. This will require your account type (checking or savings), and the bank routing and account numbers. If you are directing your benefit payment to your savings account, contact your bank to verify the correct routing number. The number on your deposit slip is not always the correct number for direct deposit transactions.

You can select either your checking or savings account to set up your direct deposit with CalSTRS.

The routing number is found between the transit characters on the bottom of your check and is typically found on the lower left of a personal check.

Your checking account number is found on the bottom of your check and is typically located just to the right of the routing number on a personal check. Check to make sure it’s not the same, or does not included the check number in the upper right corner.

You can select only one bank account to direct your full benefit payment for direct deposit.

Once you have completed direct deposit enrollment, your financial institution must validate your bank account information to receive electronic transfers. This process takes approximately 7 - 10 business days. An email will be sent to you confirming when your direct deposit account has been activated.

TIP: If you have chosen to continue to receive payments at your existing account while your new account is in "Pending" status, any payments issued will be sent to your existing bank account. If you have chosen to continue to receive payments by check while your new account is in "Pending" status, any payments issued will be sent to your payment address on file. To minimize the possibility of receiving a paper check when canceling an existing account before adding a new account, the ideal time to change your direct deposit information is immediately after the receipt of your last monthly benefit payment.

You can quickly and easily cancel your direct deposit on myCalSTRS. Select Direct Deposit from the Account menu to be guided through a simple process to discontinue direct deposit.

Once an account has been canceled, you will receive an email confirming the direct deposit has been canceled and future payments will be mailed to your payment address on record.

At the end of the cancelation process you are provided a confirmation page that you can save or print for your records. You will also receive an email confirming the direct deposit has been canceled.

CalSTRS Defined Benefit is a benefit program within the State Teachers' Retirement Plan that provides retirement benefits based on a formula using age, service credit and final compensation, as well as ancillary benefits, for California's public school educators who are members of the program.

As a vested member of CalSTRS, you will receive a CalSTRS lifetime monthly benefit—or Defined Benefit pension—when you retire. Your retirement benefit is called a Defined Benefit—defined because it is based on a formula , not on how much you have contributed. Your retirement benefit is a steady source of income based on your age, final compensation and years of service credit at retirement—not on the balance of your account.

The Defined Benefit Supplement Program is a supplemental benefit program that provides additional retirement income to members based on contributions and interest credited to their individual accounts. From January 1, 2001 through 2010, funds came from 25 percent of your monthly CalSTRS contribution. As of January 1, 2011, the 25 percent is credited to your Defined Benefit account.

Funds also come from compensation earned from service in one school year in excess of one year of service credit.

Under the CalSTRS Defined Benefit Supplement Program , if your death occurs before retirement, the recipients you designate on this form may be eligible to select an ongoing annuity or a lump-sum payment. If your death occurs after retirement, the recipients you designate may be eligible for the ongoing annuity you selected at the time of your retirement.

The Recipient Designation form is completed and submitted to CalSTRS by you, a CalSTRS member. This form is used to designate recipients to receive the death benefits payable in the event of your death under the CalSTRS Defined Benefit Program.

A completed Recipient Designation form must be received and accepted by CalSTRS while you are an active CalSTRS member to be valid.

The CalSTRS Cash Balance Benefit Program is an alternative CalSTRS retirement plan designed specifically for part-time, substitute, adjunct or temporary educators. The Cash Balance Benefit Program is an alternative to Social Security, private plans or the CalSTRS Defined Benefit Program.

Under the CalSTRS Cash Balance Benefit Program, if the member/participant is receiving an annuity at the time of death, the benefit payable is determined based on the annuity chosen by the participant.

If an eligible recipient’s (other than an entity) share of the deceased participant’s account balance is at least $3,500, he or she may elect to receive an annuity in lieu of a lump-sum payment.

The Recipient Designation form for Cash Balance lump-sum payment is completed and submitted to CalSTRS by the member/participant. This form is used to designate recipients to receive the benefit in the event of the death of a Cash Balance Benefit Program participant.

A completed Recipient Designation form must be received and accepted by CalSTRS while you are an active CalSTRS member to be valid.

If you are an active member at the time of your death, any accumulated contributions in your account will be paid to your designated recipients only if you did not select an Option Beneficiary to receive a continuing benefit after your death, or you have no spouse, registered domestic partner or children eligible to receive a family or survivor benefit allowance after your death.

You may name any living person, an estate, a trust, a corporation, a charitable or parochial institution or a public entity as your recipient.

You may designate a recipient online through myCalSTRS using the Manage Your Beneficiary Selections link in the Account menu. You may also submit a completed Recipient Designation form via U.S. Postal Service, fax or in-person delivery to your local CalSTRS office .

myCalSTRS makes the process simple, guiding you through a series of instructional steps to help you designate recipient(s). Follow the step-by-step instructions to complete and submit the form to CalSTRS.

CalSTRS is currently not accepting any Recipient Designation forms by email.

Primary recipients are your preferred recipients of this benefit. You may elect one or more primary recipients.

You may also designate one or more secondary recipients to receive a death benefit should all of the elected primary recipients predecease you.

You may designate a percentage for each recipient. If you use percentages the total must equal 100 percent for your primary recipient section and/or secondary recipient section.

If you wish for all primary and/or secondary recipients to share the benefit equally, do not fill in the percentage field.

• The Member Account refers to your membership under the Defined Benefit Program.
• The CB Member Account is your Cash Balance account, if you are a Cash Balance participant.

You may change your recipient designation for one or both programs on myCalSTRS under Complete & Submit Forms. You may also access Manage Your Beneficiary Selections under the Account menu.

Submitting a valid Recipient Designation form will not protect your survivor with a lifetime benefit:

• If you are an active CalSTRS member, you must submit a completed Preretirement Election of Option form to provide your survivor with a lifetime benefit.
• If you are applying for retirement, you must complete the Modified Benefit section on your Service Retirement Application to provide a monthly lifetime benefit to someone after you die.
• If you have already retired and have not elected an option before or at the time of your retirement, contact CalSTRS for information about electing an option.

Your recipient designation will stay in effect until either a new, valid Recipient Designation form is submitted and on file with CalSTRS or your membership is terminated by a refund of your accumulated contributions. It is important to keep your recipient designation(s) accurate and up-to-date. You may view your most current recipient designation on myCalSTRS under Manage Your Beneficiary Selections at any time.

If you survive each of your primary designated recipients, any benefit due will be paid to your secondary recipients, unless you submit a valid Recipient Designation form updating your designated recipients.

If CalSTRS is unable to locate your designated recipients, the death benefit will be distributed to the best of our ability according to the laws in existence at the time of your death.

A fully executed Recipient Designation form must be properly submitted and on file with CalSTRS as an active member/participant. If you do not have a valid recipient designation on file with CalSTRS before your death, or if all designated recipients predecease you, any benefit due will be paid to your estate.

If you are married or registered as a domestic partner, your spouse or registered domestic partner must sign the Recipient Designation form acknowledging the recipients that you have selected.

If your spouse or registered domestic partner does not sign your form, you must complete the Justification for Non-Signature of Spouse or Registered Domestic Partner section when completing the Recipient Designation form on myCalSTRS.

You will be prompted through a guided set of instructions on myCalSTRS. Once you Preview & Confirm your request is accurate and complete, you may either submit the form online through myCalSTRS or Create Your Printer-Friendly Copy of the form to sign and send to CalSTRS by U.S. Postal Service, fax or in-person delivery to your local CalSTRS office.

If you are married or are registered as a domestic partner and you did not complete the Justification for Non-Signature of Spouse or Registered Domestic Partner section, your spouse or partner must also sign and date your form. Failure to do so will result in the rejection of your Recipient Designation form.

Your completed and signed form must be received by CalSTRS prior to your death for your recipient designation(s) to be valid.

You may submit your completed Recipient Designation form online through myCalSTRS using the Manage Your Beneficiary Selections link in the Account menu. You may also submit your completed Recipient Designation form via U.S. Postal Service, fax or in-person delivery to your local CalSTRS office. CalSTRS is currently not accepting any Recipient Designation forms by email.

myCalSTRS is safe and secure, allowing you to view and edit your CalSTRS member account information, including keeping your recipient designation(s) accurate and up-to-date. myCalSTRS makes the process simple, guiding you through a series of instructional steps to help you complete the form and make informed decisions along the way. myCalSTRS allows you to complete the Recipient Designation form quickly and easily.

You will be prompted through a guided set of instructions. Once you Preview & Confirm that the Recipient Designation form is accurate and complete, you will be given the option to Create Your Printer-Friendly Copy of the form to sign and send by U.S. Postal Service or fax to CalSTRS. You may also hand-deliver the completed form to your local CalSTRS office.

You can save both a blank Recipient Designation form and the completed form you created on myCalSTRS. Both are available as downloadable PDFs. CalSTRS forms require Adobe® Reader®. View the Frequently Asked Questions section of About myCalSTRS for more information.

You can view your most current recipient designation(s) on myCalSTRS. Select Manage Your Beneficiary Selections from the myCalSTRS homepage or select this option under Account in myCalSTRS main menu.

You can save the completed or blank form to your personal computer. Once you have made arrangements to access a printer, you can email the form as an attachment to download and print.

As you complete your Recipient Designation form on myCalSTRS, you will be given the opportunity to Update Your Profile, including your preferred primary mailing address and your benefit payment and Form 1099-R mailing addresses. Select the Edit link under Confirm Your Preferred Contact Information to Update Your Profile with CalSTRS quickly and easily. An update to your profile will be immediately reflected with CalSTRS.

If you require further assistance in completing your Recipient Designation form, contact CalSTRS.

myCalSTRS is safe and secure, allowing you to view and edit your CalSTRS member account information, while creating an accurate Service Credit Purchase Request. myCalSTRS makes the process simple, guiding you through a series of instructional steps to help you complete the form and make informed decisions along the way. myCalSTRS will verify your eligibility in real-time so that you can submit a complete and accurate Service Credit Purchase Request quickly and conveniently.

You must submit your completed request via U.S. Postal Service, fax or in-person delivery to your local CalSTRS office. CalSTRS is currently not accepting any Service Credit Purchase Requests electronically via myCalSTRS or by email.

Your employer must complete their section of the Service Credit Purchase Request to complete and submit this form properly. CalSTRS will not process your Service Credit Purchase Request if the employer section of the form is incomplete.

You are no longer eligible to purchase service credit from CalSTRS once you are retired.

You will be prompted through a guided set of instructions. Once you Preview & Confirm your request is accurate and complete, you will be instructed to Create Your Printer-Friendly Copy of the form to sign and send by U.S. Postal Service or fax to CalSTRS. You may also hand-deliver the completed form to your local CalSTRS office.

You can save both a blank Service Credit Purchase Request form and the completed form you created on myCalSTRS. Both are available as downloadable PDFs. CalSTRS forms require Adobe® Reader®. View the Frequently Asked Questions section of About myCalSTRS for more information.

Select the View More Info icon or choose the View Example link to find more detail about a specific service credit purchase option.

You cannot view your past Service Credit Purchase Request on myCalSTRS.

No, do not re-submit your Service Credit Purchase Request to CalSTRS. Your duplicate requests will not be processed.

You can save the completed or blank form to your personal computer. Once you have made arrangements to access a printer, you can email the form as an attachment to download and print.

As you create your Service Credit Purchase Request on myCalSTRS, you will be given the opportunity to Update Your Profile, including your preferred primary mailing address and your benefit payment and Form 1099-R mailing addresses. Select the Edit link under Confirm Your Preferred Contact Information to Update Your Profile with CalSTRS quickly and easily.

An update to your profile will be immediately reflected with CalSTRS.

Enter the Years field as specific as you like. You can enter the Years field as a whole number (e.g., 5) or you can include a more specific number that includes a partial year (e.g., 4.150) with a maximum of three decimal points.

If you require further assistance in completing your Service Credit Purchase Request form, contact CalSTRS.

A Verification of Benefits letter can be requested by the following:

• Benefit recipients, 18 years of age or older.
• Government agencies.
• Third parties (i.e., financial institutions, mortgage companies, landlords) with signed authorization from the benefit recipient.
• U.S. Social Security Administration.

If you require additional detail beyond the standard Verification of Benefits letter generated by myCalSTRS, contact CalSTRS to speak with a Contact Center Agent for further assistance.

CalSTRS can notarize a Verification of Benefits letter. Contact CalSTRS to speak with a Contact Center Agent to learn more. A notarized Verification of Benefits letter will require additional time to process.

Once CalSTRS receives a request for a Verification of Benefits letter, CalSTRS will send a notification to your Preferred Email Address on file. Be sure your personal profile is up-to-date, including your preferred email address on myCalSTRS.

An electronic copy of the Verification of Benefits letter will be accessible to you on myCalSTRS from the main menu under Services.

CalSTRS will notify you by email that your Verification of Benefits letter is ready and accessible to view, print and save from myCalSTRS.

The Verification of Benefits letter may be sent to any valid mailing address outside of the United States.

You can provide a temporary mailing address (domestic or international) to receive your Verification of Benefits letter. You must enter your Preferred Mailing Address in the delivery options as you Create a New Request.

You can provide any fax number where you would like to receive your Verification of Benefits letter. You must enter this Preferred Fax Number in the delivery options as you Create a New Request.

CalSTRS stores all of your Verification of Benefits requests on myCalSTRS for your reference.

Yes. You can print any of your requests from myCalSTRS. Look for the Print & Save button to access a printer-friendly PDF to download and save a copy to your personal computer.

Once a request has been submitted to CalSTRS it cannot be re-submitted. You must Create a New Request each time you require a letter to verify your benefits.

An electronic copy of the Verification of Benefits letter will always be available to you on the myCalSTRS homepage under Complete & Submit Forms. You may also select Complete & Submit Forms from the main menu under Services.

CalSTRS Defined Benefit Program provides lifetime retirement benefits based on a formula using age, service credit and final compensation as well as disability and survivor benefits for California’s public school educators.

CalSTRS Defined Benefit Supplement Program provides benefits based on contributions and interest credited to members’ accounts. Contributions on compensation earned from service in one school year in excess of one year of service credit are credited to this account.

To learn more, view the Defined Benefit Supplement FAQ on CalSTRS.com.

• Your Defined Benefit account guarantees you a steady source of income after retiring. To receive the benefit requires five years of service credit and your eligibility to retire. The benefit is based on a formula using age, service credit and final compensation, not the balance of your account.
• Your Defined Benefit Supplement account provides additional retirement income based on the amount in your account.

You contribute 8 percent of creditable compensation earned to your Defined Benefit account if you are a Defined Benefit member.

No, the CalSTRS Defined Benefit is based on a formula using age, service credit and final compensation. You cannot make voluntary contributions to your Defined Benefit or Defined Benefit Supplement account.

No withdrawals can be made against your Defined Benefit or Defined Benefit Supplement accounts, unless you are seeking a full refund from CalSTRS. See the Refund FAQ for more information.

You cannot borrow against your Defined Benefit or Defined Benefit Supplement account.

CalSTRS Cash Balance Benefit Program is an alternative retirement plan for educators hired to work part time. The CalSTRS Cash Balance Program is an alternative to Social Security, private plans and the CalSTRS Defined Benefit Program.

To learn more, view the Cash Balance Benefit Program FAQ on CalSTRS.com.

The amount you contribute to your Cash Balance account may vary by employer. The sum of the employee and employer contributions equals or exceeds eight percent of employee salary, but in no event will the employer contribution rate be less than four percent.

The CalSTRS Cash Balance Benefit Program offers a guaranteed annual interest rate, which is determined every year by the CalSTRS board.

You can roll over funds from another eligible plan to the CalSTRS Cash Balance Benefit Program provided it is allowable under applicable state and federal laws. Contact CalSTRS for more information.

The CalSTRS Cash Balance Benefit Program does not allow for voluntary contributions to your CalSTRS Cash Balance account.

No withdrawals can be made against your Cash Balance account, unless you are seeking a full refund from CalSTRS. See the Refund FAQ for more information.

You cannot borrow against your Cash Balance account.

A refund is a distribution of your total accumulated contributions and interest on account with CalSTRS. When you take a refund, you terminate your CalSTRS membership and forfeit your rights to all CalSTRS benefits.

To learn more, watch Refund: Consider the Consequences.

A refund is available to any CalSTRS member upon terminating CalSTRS-covered employment.

No. California law does not allow you to take a partial refund. The funds in your CalSTRS account are paid out in full upon refunding.

No. California law does not allow you to borrow against your accumulated contributions and interest on account with CalSTRS. The funds in your CalSTRS account are paid out in full upon refunding.

Your Defined Benefit Account
You can typically expect to receive your refund payment within 30 days from the date CalSTRS receives your complete Refund Application. However, payment timeframes can vary. Contact CalSTRS for the most current timeframes.

Your initial refund check represents the contributions and interest posted to your account as of the date of the refund. If additional contributions and interest are posted to your account after your initial refund check is issued, a second check will be mailed approximately four months later.

Your Defined Benefit Supplement Account
After you terminate employment, CalSTRS is required by law to wait six months before we can issue a check for the balance of your Defined Benefit Supplement account. Your Defined Benefit Supplement funds will continue to earn interest during this waiting period. If you return to CalSTRS-covered employment within the six-month waiting period, you will not be eligible for a Defined Benefit Supplement termination benefit.

Under California law, CalSTRS can distribute only one Defined Benefit Supplement termination benefit within any five-year period. If you later return to CalSTRS-covered employment and apply for a refund before five years have passed since payment of your last Defined Benefit Supplement termination benefit, CalSTRS cannot process your Defined Benefit Supplement payment until the five years have passed.

You may have a Defined Benefit Supplement account that provides additional income in retirement.

If you made member contributions to CalSTRS starting January 1, 2001, you have a Defined Benefit Supplement account. From January 1, 2001, to December 31, 2010, one-fourth of your 8 percent monthly contribution went into your Defined Benefit Supplement account.

In addition, contributions on earnings in excess of one year of service credit in a school year, special compensation and limited-term salary enhancements go into this account.

If your refund is paid directly to you, the direct payment is subject to taxes. CalSTRS is required to withhold 20% for federal income tax, but you may designate a higher percentage if you choose. State tax withholding is optional. If you choose to have California state income tax withheld, CalSTRS will withhold at 2%. Remember, there are penalties for not paying enough tax during the year, either through withholding or quarterly estimated tax payments.

If you receive your refund payment before age 59½, you may have to pay an additional 10% federal income tax and an additional 2.5% state income tax for early distribution.

Contact the California Franchise Tax Board or IRS , or a professional tax adviser, for additional information.

No, CalSTRS does not currently provide this service. If you choose a direct payment, your refund check will be mailed directly to you. If you choose a rollover, your refund check will be mailed directly to your financial institution.

If you were employed within the last 12 months, you must terminate all CalSTRS-covered employment in the California public school system and your date of termination must have passed to be eligible to apply for a refund.

Termination of employment means an action by you, such as employment resignation, or an action by your employer, such as dismissal or layoff.

Termination does not automatically occur at the end of the school year. Substitute teaching, including part-time substituting, qualifies as employment and must be terminated.

Contact CalSTRS to confirm your last activity date.

Termination of employment means an action by you, such as employment resignation, or an action by your employer, such as dismissal or layoff. Termination does not automatically occur at the end of the school year. Your employer must sign your Refund Application if you were employed in the last 12 months.

When you fill out your Refund Application, include the mailing address where you would like to receive your check. If you move, notify CalSTRS immediately of your new mailing address.

You can Update Your Profile and change your mailing address myCalSTRS. You may also download a blank Address Change Request form to submit to CalSTRS by U.S. Postal Service, fax or hand-deliver to a local CalSTRS office.

Yes, you may cancel your refund if you return the funds in full (gross amount) to CalSTRS within 30 days of the date that CalSTRS issues the initial refund check. You must also send CalSTRS a written request to cancel your refund. Contact CalSTRS immediately for more information.

Completing your Service Retirement Application and submitting it on myCalSTRS has many benefits. The guided steps online make the application easy to fill out and improves accuracy. myCalSTRS allows the application to be automated to help expedite processing and provide additional tracking and status information while the application is being processed by CalSTRS.

Of the many benefits to you, CalSTRS also strongly encourages all members to consider myCalSTRS as a way to reduce impact on the environment.

Your CalSTRS benefit information is protected by advanced technology on myCalSTRS. For more detailed security information, view CalSTRS Internet Privacy Principles and Policy .

You can edit your Service Retirement Application until it is received by CalSTRS. If you do not have a spouse or registered domestic partner, or have never been married, your application is considered received by CalSTRS when you have electronically signed the application. If you are married or in a registered domestic partnership, your application is considered received by CalSTRS when your spouse or registered domestic partner has approved and electronically signed the application. While you are waiting for your spouse or registered domestic partner to sign the application, you can edit it and then resubmit it for spousal or registered domestic partner signature.

Yes, your application will be saved on myCalSTRS until you submit it to CalSTRS. After the application has been received by CalSTRS, you will be able to view your electronically submitted forms and the status of the forms.

When you submit your retirement application electronically, you will receive a confirmation email from CalSTRS verifying that your application was received. You will also receive notification via email when an electronic copy is available to view on myCalSTRS.

Yes, you may print out your online application once you have completed it and submitted it to CalSTRS. You will also be provided a summary page for your review prior to submitting your online application.

You can email your questions using your myCalSTRS account or call 800-228-5453. Contact CalSTRS to speak with a Contact Center Agent for further assistance.

According to section 22453 of the Teachers’ Retirement Law, your spouse or registered domestic partner is required to sign your Service Retirement Application.

You and your spouse or registered domestic partner can sign your application electronically using DocuSign. DocuSign does not require myCalSTRS registration for your spouse or registered domestic partner. Look for an email from DocuSign for instructions.

Completing your Preretirement Election of an Option form and submitting it on myCalSTRS has many benefits. The guided steps online make the form easy to fill out and improves accuracy. myCalSTRS allows the form to be automated to help expedite processing and providing additional tracking and status while the form is being processed by CalSTRS.

Of the many benefits to you, CalSTRS also strongly encourages all members to consider myCalSTRS as a way to reduce impact on the environment.

Your information is protected by advanced technology on myCalSTRS. For more information, view CalSTRS Internet Privacy Principles and Policy .

You can edit your Preretirement Election of an Option form until it is received by CalSTRS. If you do not have a spouse or registered domestic partner, or have never been married, your form is considered received by CalSTRS when you have electronically signed the form. If you are married or in a registered domestic partnership, your form is considered received by CalSTRS when your spouse or registered domestic partner has approved and electronically signed the form. While you are waiting for your spouse or registered domestic partner to sign the form, you can edit it and then resubmit it for spousal registered domestic partner signature.

When adding a new option election, your form will be saved on myCalSTRS until you submit it to CalSTRS. After the form has been received by CalSTRS, you will be able to view your electronically submitted forms and the status of the forms.

When you submit your form electronically, you will receive a confirmation email from CalSTRS verifying that your form was received. You will also receive notification via email when an electronic copy is available to view on myCalSTRS.

Yes, you may print out your online form once you have completed it and submitted it to CalSTRS. You will also be provided a summary page for your review prior to submitting your online form.

You can email your questions using your myCalSTRS account or contact CalSTRS to speak with a Contact Center Agent for further assistance.

According to section 22453 of the Teachers’ Retirement Law, your spouse or registered domestic partner is required to sign your Preretirement Election of an Option form.

You and your spouse or registered domestic partner can sign your application electronically using DocuSign. DocuSign does not require myCalSTRS registration for your spouse or registered domestic partner. Look for an email from DocuSign for instructions.

Creating a Direct Deposit account with CalSTRS is done in three simple steps. You will first be prompted to identify the account type (checking or savings) you'd like to provide for your Direct Deposit account and include your Bank Routing and Account numbers. You will be asked to enter each number twice to ensure accuracy, and to review the information before it is submitted.

You'll be asked to review the Terms & Conditions of your Direct Deposit Authorization. You must accept the terms of the Direct Deposit Authorization before continuing. This authorization is required if you are creating, updating or cancelling your Direct Deposit account.

It is important to verify that your home address and email address are both accurate and up to date. If there are any changes necessary, you may update your contact information to complete online enrollment.

At Log In, if you do not recognize the SiteKey image and the Personal Phrase you created here, do not provide your Password and exit the Web site.