Even if retirement is years away, it is important to understand how the Plan works so that you can best prepare for your future, but the closer you are to retirement, the more important it is to start planning in detail. With that in mind, CPF has developed the checklists below to help you understand your options as you make decisions that may affect the rest of your life.
✔ Make sure Assessments are paid in full and on time. (If they are not paid on time, interest may be charged.)
✔ Carefully review your annual Personal Information Summary, including the amount of your annual Earnings, and contact our Client Services group if there are any errors.
✔ Contact our Client Services group if any of the following occurs:
✔ Contact our Client Services group at least three months before you plan to retire.
✔ Carefully review the estimate of retirement benefits provided after contacting our Client Services group.
✔ Complete the retirement application provided after contacting our Client Services group.
✔ Choose a form of payment for a surviving spouse or other beneficiary (and obtain spousal consent, if required).
✔ Submit a completed retirement application and, if applicable, option election form to CPF prior to your planned retirement date. (Please note that retroactive retirements are not generally permitted.)
✔ Make sure Assessments are fully paid prior to your planned retirement date. (In general, Assessments will not be accepted by CPF, and adjustments to your Earnings record cannot be made after you retire.)
✔ Contact the Social Security Administration at (800) 772-1213 or ssa.gov for details about the benefits provided by Social Security.
✔ Notify our Client Services group of an address change or a change in banking relationship.
✔ Notify our Client Services group if you marry or divorce, or if your spouse or named beneficiary dies.
✔ Make sure your spouse or beneficiary knows how to contact our Client Services group in the event of your death.
✔ Contact the Social Security Administration at (800) 772-1213 or ssa.gov for details about the benefits provided by Social Security.