As a new member, here are some key steps to take to make the most of your benefits.
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1
Bookmark your handbook.
Each month, you contribute to your pension. We administer benefits for several systems and funds, including:
- Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System (TSERS)
- Local Governmental Employees' Retirement System (LGERS)
- Consolidated Judicial Retirement System (CJRS)
- Legislative Retirement System (LRS)
- Firefighters' and Rescue Squad Workers' Pension Fund (FRSWPF)
- North Carolina National Guard Pension Fund (NCNGPF)
- Disability Income Plan of North Carolina (DIPNC)
- Register of Deeds Supplemental Supplemental Pension Fund (RODSPF)
Most of these are administered by a Board of Trustees with the assistance of the Retirement Systems Division within the Department of State Treasurer (DST). Here, our mission is to preserve and protect this benefit for current and future public employees in North Carolina.
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2
Sign up for a webinar.
Retirement planning conferences are a great way to learn about your benefits. These webinars are offered throughout the year and registration is required.
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3
Create your ORBIT account.
ORBIT is the secure portal for your retirement benefits. Within one to two pay cycles, you will be able to register your account. In ORBIT, you can monitor your benefits, maintain beneficiaries, estimate your future benefits and track your years of service and contributions.
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4
Name your beneficiary(ies).
This is one of the most important things you can do to ensure your benefits are distributed according to your wishes in the event of your death. You can select as many principal and contingent beneficiaries as you like, but you must have at least one principal beneficiary.
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5
Consider enrolling in the NC 401(k) and/or NC 457 Plans.
Your monthly lifetime pension benefit may provide a solid foundation in retirement, but you can do more to make sure your future is financially secure. The NC 401(k) and NC 457 Plans are supplemental retirement savings plans that are exclusively available to public servants like you and provide low-cost and diverse investment options.