Member Benefits Online System (MBOS)
User's Information Guide for Active Employees

If you are a retiree, please view the MBOS Retired User's Information Guide

Welcome to the Member Benefits Online System (MBOS). MBOS is your most useful resource for getting accurate, up-to-date information about your pension and health benefits. When you log on to MBOS, the MBOS Home Page will open in your Web browser. You can link to all of the MBOS applications that are currently available to active members from the MBOS Home Page.

Navigating Between Applications

All of the MBOS applications contain navigation buttons at the top of the page that allow you to:

• Return to the MBOS Home Page to access other MBOS applications. You should always use the "Home" button (instead of the browser's "Back" buttons, see image below) to return to the MBOS Home Page.
  
  
• Logout of MBOS and end the session. It is important that when you are finished with your MBOS session, be sure to always log out of MBOS to prevent unauthorized access to your account information.

MBOS applications currently available to active members are listed below and formatted as links. For help with any application, click on the link.

CURRENT MBOS APPLICATIONS - ACTIVE EMPLOYEES Payroll Certifications Application for Withdrawal Member Account Information Designation of Beneficiary Pension Loan Deferred Compensation Plan Retirement Calculator State Health Benefits Program Retirement Application - PERS/TPAF Supplemental Annuity Collective Trust Retirement Application - SPRS/PFRS Purchase Application Retirement Application Change Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) Retirement Application Status

MBOS Support

Registered users who still have questions about or difficulty accessing or using MBOS after reading the information in this User's Guide may contact the Division's MBOS Help Desk at (609) 777-0534 or send an e-mail to: pensions.nj@treas.state.nj.us

If you have comments or suggestions regarding MBOS, please submit them to the Division's MBOS development staff at the e-mail address or MBOS Help Desk phone number provided above.

The MBOS Home Page

When you first sign onto MBOS you are taken to the MBOS Home Page.

The "Member Account Applications" area is on the MBOS Home Page.

• Here you will find buttons for calling up the various online applications. These applications provide information about your pension account and link you to benefit calculators and online application forms. Additional information about using these applications is provided in the next section.
  
  Note:
  
  1. New applications (online forms, etc.) will be added as the programming is completed.
  
  2. Access to MBOS applications is based upon the benefits provided to you through your employer. Therefore, not all applications are available to all members.
  
  The online help screen is available by clicking the "Search Help" button located on the right side of the MBOS Home Page.
  
  
• If you have MBOS access to other pension fund accounts or employer access to the Employer Pensions and Benefits Information Connection (EPIC), you may click the "Select Different Role" button to leave the current MBOS session and access these other accounts.

Note: If you are registered with multiple roles through MBOS and/or EPIC, you will need to select the role you wish to open for the session each time you log on.

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MBOS Applications for Active Employees

Membership Account Information

The Membership Account Information application allows you to view information about your personal pension account.

To access to the application, click the "Membership Account Information" button on the MBOS Home Page. The page that appears will show your account information, current as of the last quarterly posting by the Division of Pensions and Benefits.

On the left side of the page you will find identifying information, your date of enrollment, birth date evidence and veteran status, and the current status of any loan, arrears/purchase, or back deduction amounts due to the Division.

On the right side of the page is account information including the date of the last reported contribution, your total employee contributions to the pension fund, pension service credit, life insurance coverage status, and — if available to you — information for the State Employees Deferred Compensation Plan and Supplemental Annuity Collective Trust of New Jersey.

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Payroll Certifications

The Payroll Certifications application allows you to view Certifications of Payroll Deductions issued to you by the Division of Pensions and Benefits. Payroll certifications are issued to authorize the start of pension deductions when you are newly hired, for back deductions due to the Division, pension loan payments, or arrears/purchase payments.

To access the application, click the "Payroll Certifications" button on the MBOS Home Page. On the page that appears you can request all certifications or choose only a specific certification (loans, back deduction, etc.).

The total number of records available for viewing will be listed in the bottom right table cell.

Available certifications are presented in groups of up to five at a time (if more than five certifications are available, navigation buttons to go to the "Next" or "Previous" part of the certification list will be active). Past certifications are archived for up to two years.

To view a specific certification, click on the check box that corresponds to the certification you want and then click on the "Details" button. You may also request to view more than one certification by clicking on several check boxes (or click the "Select All" box to view all certifications from this search).

Selected certifications are presented one at a time. Navigation buttons will allow you to go to the "Next" or "Previous" selected certification.

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Pension Loans

The Pension Loan application allows you to see how much you may borrow from your pension account, view estimates of different loan and/or repayment amounts, and — if you wish to — submit an online request for processing of a pension loan check.

Note: You must have at least three years of pension membership credit posted to your pension account to be eligible for a pension loan. You can borrow from your pension account two times within a calendar year, up to one-half of the contributions you have posted to your pension account (or a maximum loan balance of $50,000, whichever is less). For information about the present loan interest rate and administration fee, click here.

To access the Pension Loan application, click the "Pension Loan" button on the MBOS Home Page. The page that appears contains important information about the rules and regulations currently in effect regarding pension loans. Be sure to read and understand the contents of this page, Fact Sheet #81, Pension Loans, and the information provided at the link, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Regulations, before you proceed.

Click on the "Agree" button if you agree to comply with the repayment terms and conditions. (If you do not agree with the repayment terms and conditions, you may exit the MBOS Loan Application by clicking on the "Disagree" button or the "Home" button on the top right-hand side of the page.)

When you click on the "Agree" button, the "Loan Application Process" page appears, displaying the maximum amount that you may currently borrow and the minimum allowable repayment schedule, in the Results column.

How to Change the Loan Amount Taken

If you do not wish to borrow the maximum amount displayed, there are three different ways you can change the amount of your loan:

• To borrow less than the maximum amount, enter the actual amount you want to borrow on the Amount of Loan Requested line of the Input column (see red arrow, above right) and hit the "Recalculate" button. The amount you enter cannot exceed the maximum amount first displayed.
  
  
• To increase the payment amount, enter the actual payment amount you wish to make on the Single Biweekly/Monthly Payment Requested line of the Input column (see black arrow, above right) and hit the "Recalculate" button.
  
  
• To change the number of payments, enter the number of payments you wish to make on the Number of Biweekly/Monthly Payments Requested line of the Input column (see blue arrow, above right) and hit the "Recalculate" button.
  
  
• To return to the original maximum loan/minimum repayment calculations, click on the Restore Max/Min button at the bottom of the page. The new loan and repayment amounts will appear in the Results column after you hit the "Recalculate" button.

When you have entered the loan and repayment amounts that you want and they are displayed in the Results column (Amount of Loan Requested, Single Biweekly/Monthly Payment Requested, and Number of Biweekly/Monthly Payments Requested), you may continue the Loan Application process by clicking on the "Process Loan " button at the bottom of the page.

If an error message appears, click here for help in determining the possible problem.

Providing Your Correct Address to Receive Your Loan Check

On the next page, enter the address to which the Division of Pensions and Benefits should mail your loan check. When the information is correct, click on "Continue."

Note: All loan checks MUST be mailed and cannot be picked up at the Division of Pensions and Benefits.

The next page will display the address information you have provided. Please double check that your address information on this page is correct before clicking on the "Continue" button.

Loan Confirmation

A final confirmation page will display your name, membership number, the loan amount requested, the check date, the single payment amount, and your mailing address.

Print a copy of the Loan Confirmation page for your records.

E-mail Acknowledgement

An e-mail will also be automatically sent to the e-mail address that you have on file with the Member Benefits Online System, acknowledging the receipt and processing of your Loan Application by the Division of Pensions and Benefits. When you are done, click the "Home" button to exit the Loan Application.

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Application for Purchase of Service Credit

The Purchase application allows you to submit a request for the purchase of service credit directly to the Division of Pensions and Benefits or view the status of a previously submitted request.

To access the application, click the “Purchase Application” button on the MBOS Home Page. The page that appears will show the status of any previously submitted purchase requests.

To enter a new purchase request, click the "Submit New Purchase Request" button. On the page that appears, enter the information about yourself and the type of service credit you wish to purchase.

Note: For additional information about types of service and purchase costs, view the fact sheets that are linked from the bottom of the page.

When all of the information has been entered, click the "Continue" button.

On the next page you will be asked about the prior employer.

For Public Employment with a governmental or educational employer, please enter the name of the employer, the address, your title while employed there, and the dates of employment.

For a purchase of Military Service, please indicate the Branch of Military Service and your Dates of Active Service.

To list additional titles, employers, or periods of service, for the same type of service, click the "Add New Service Period" button. When you have entered all the information about the employer or military service, click the "Continue" button.

All of the information needed for the purchase request should now be entered, and you will be shown a Summary Page.  

• If you need to change any of the information shown, click on the "Modify" buton to go back and make changes.
  
  
• If any of the information shown is incorrect, you can click on the "Delete" buton to remove the information.
  
  
• If all of the information displayed on the Summary Page is correct, click the “Submit” button to submit the purchase request.

You will see a Confirmation Page indicating that the purchase request has been submitted successfully. At the top of the Confirmation Page, there is a link to a “Printable Version” of the Summary Page information.  You should click this link and print a copy of the summary information for your records.

You will also receive a separate e-mail confirmation that the purchase request has been submitted successfully.

To enter a request for another type of service, click the "Submit Another Purchase Application" button. To exit the application, click the "Home" button near the MBOS page header.

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Retirement Estimate Calculator

The Retirement Calculator application allows you to estimate how much you may be eligible to receive at retirement for any retirement date up to two years in the future.

To access the application, click the "Retirement Calculator" button on the MBOS Home Page.

On the page that appears:

• Select the type of retirement from the drop-down menu.
  
  
  
  
• Enter your planned retirement date (All retirements must be for a date no more than two years in the future and must start on the first of a month).
  
  
• Enter the date on which you will terminate employment (must be prior to your retirement date).
  
  
• If you click "Yes" in the "Add Beneficiary" area a box will open where you may include a beneficiary's name, date of birth, and spouse information.
  
  Note: By providing this information we will be able to calculate additional pension payment options that include survivor payments (optional).

• When you have entered all of your information, click on the "Submit" button.

The page that appears will show you your retirement estimate.

Note: All calculations are ESTIMATES ONLY and are based on service and salary information currently posted to your pension account by the Division of Pensions and Benefits.

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Application for Retirement

The online Application for Retirement allows you to submit your Application for Retirement to the Division of Pensions and Benefits.

(To view the status of an already submitted application, see "Retirement Application Status".)

To access to the application, click the "Application for Retirement" button on the MBOS Home Page.

Before applying for retirement, you should obtain an Estimate of Retirement Benefits and consider the pension payment options available you — and to any beneficiary.  The online Retirement Application provides a link to the Retirement Estimate Calculator.

• To calculate an estimate of benefits prior to completing an application, click the "Yes" button.
  
  
• If you already have an estimate and you are ready to complete the application, click “No” and the application form will open.

Member Information

The Member Information page asks about you, the retiree. Please complete all of the requested fields.

• Some fields may be pre-filled.
  
  
• If any of the pre-filled information is incorrect, it can be corrected.

After you have entered all of the information for this page, click the “Continue” button.

Retirement Type

On the Select Retirement Type page, enter your “Retirement Date” and “Retirement Type”.  Because all retirements begin the first day of the month select only the retirement Month and retirement Year from the drop down lists. Then select your “Retirement Type” by clicking a selection button. Only ONE type of retirement may be selected.

Note: Click on the “question mark” icon next to “Retirement Type” to open a page with detailed explanations of each type of retirement.

• If you select Ordinary Disability or Accidental Disability Retirement, a field will open where you should enter additional information about your disability.  Please note that all disability retirement information submitted to the Division is kept strictly confidential.

You must also answer the question about any pending purchase of service credit.

PERS and TPAF retirees must also answer the question about the last or highest years of salary.

• Most PERS and TPAF retirements are calculated using the last 3 years of salary – which are usually the highest. If your last 3 years are not the highest salary years, select “No” and additional fields will open where you will enter your highest three fiscal years of salary. A fiscal year runs from July 1st through to June 30th.

After you have entered all of the information for this page, click the “Continue” button.

PERS and TPAF Retirees

The Option Selection page will open. You will need to select a pension option and name your pension beneficiary.

• The pension options provide for varying amounts that can be paid to you, and to your named beneficiary after your death. Click on the “question mark” icon next to “Select Pension Option” to view detailed explanations of each pension option.
  
  
• You may choose only ONE of the 9 different options that are offered.
  
  
• IMPORTANT: Please be certain that you understand the options available and that you choose carefully. You will have the opportunity to change your option selection until at least 30 days after your retirement date, however, once the retirement becomes “Due and Payable” your option selection CANNOT be changed. For most members the retirement usually becomes due and payable when they receive and cash the first retirement check.

When this section is completed, click the "Continue" button at the bottom of the page and you will go to the Life Insurance Beneficiary page.

PFRS and SPRS Retirees

The Marital Status page will open. List the name and other requested information as appropriate for your spouse, civil union partner, or eligible same-sex domestic partner. (If you are single or divorced, select “None of the Above”.)

On a following page you will also be asked to list information for any dependent children.

Life Insurance Beneficiaries (all retirees)

On the Life Insurance Beneficiary page you are required to list information about one or more beneficiaries for any Group Life Insurance payable upon your death.

When you have entered all of the information for this page, click the “Continue” button.

View Summary and Submit Application

All of the information needed for the Retirement Application should now be entered, and you will be shown the Summary Page.  

Please review the summary information and selections carefully as this is what will be submitted to the Division of Pensions and Benefits to begin processing of your retirement.

• If you need to change any of the information shown, click on the heading of any section to go back and make changes.
  
  
• If all of the information displayed on the Summary Page is correct, click the “Yes” button at the bottom of the page to submit the application.

You will see a Confirmation Page indicating that the application has been submitted successfully. At the top of the Confirmation Page, there is a link to a “Printable Version” of the Summary Page information.  You should click this link and print a copy of the summary information for your records.

You will also receive a separate e-mail confirmation that the application has been submitted successfully

To exit the application, click the "Home" button near the MBOS page header.

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Making Changes to a Retirement Application

After an online Retirement Application has been submitted (but before the retirement date) MBOS users are permitted to access their application and make changes.

Please note that changing a Retirement Application after its initial submission may significantly increase the required processing time.

To access to the application, click the "Application for Retirement" button on the MBOS Home Page. On the introductory screen of the application, click the “No” button to go directly to your retirement information.

If a prior retirement application has been submitted, you will be taken directly to the Summary Page. You can make changes in a specific information area by clicking the highlighted heading of that area.

Changes can also be made by clicking the "No" button at the bottom of the Summary Page.

If you clicking the "No" button, a Menu Page will open where you may select the various information areas of the application. Click on a button to go to that area to make any necessary changes.

After you have made your changes, click on the "Continue" button on that application page and you will again be shown the Summary Page.  

Review the revised summary information to be sure that your selections are correct. When all of the information displayed on the Summary Page is correct, click the “Yes” button at the bottom of the page to re-submit the application. The revised information will be submitted to the Division of Pensions and Benefits for processing of your retirement.

You will see a Confirmation Page indicating that the application has been submitted successfully. At the top of the Confirmation Page, there is a link to a “Printable Version” of the Summary Page information.  You should click this link and print a copy of the summary information for your records.

You will also receive a separate e-mail confirmation that the application has been submitted successfully. 

To exit the application, click the "Home" button near the MBOS page header.

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Designation of Beneficiary

The Designation of Beneficiary application allows you to review and, if desired, change your designated beneficiary(ies) for any payments upon your death for Group Life Insurance and/or Pension account funds.

To access the application, click the "Designation of Beneficiary " button on the MBOS Home Page. The page that appears will display the current beneficiary information you have on file with the Division of Pensions and Benefits.

A link is provided to a printable version of this information so that you may retain it for your records.

Note: If beneficiary information has not been updated since before 1987, users may receive a message indicating "beneficiary information unavailable" because it is not accessible to the online system. The message includes additional instructions for contacting the Division to obtain beneficiary information.

Changing Your Beneficiaries

If you wish to change, add, or delete any of the beneficiary information shown, click on the "Change Beneficiaries" button.

A summary list will appear.

• Click the "Modify" button to change any information displayed for a currently listed beneficiary.
  
  
• Click the "Add Beneficiary" button to add a new beneficiary to the existing list.
  
  
• Check the "Delete" box and then the "Continue" button to remove the beneficiary from the list.

If you choose to "Add" or "Modify" your beneficiary information, a form page similar to the one below will open. Enter the beneficiary information requested on the form. When finished click the "Continue" button.

Please note: Social Security numbers are optional, however, when provided the inclusion of a correct Social Security number will help to speed processing in the event of a claim.

Before completing your changes, you will be able to review your new beneficiary information on the verification page. The verification page will display the new beneficiary information and will also indicate any information that is being deleted from your beneficiary record. Please review the information carefully to assure that it is correct.

If any of the information requires further changes, you may make them now by clicking the "Change Beneficiaries" button.

If the information displayed is correct, click the "Submit" button to complete the transaction. You will see a confirmation page to indicate that your Beneficiary Designation has been submitted successfully. At the top of the confirmation page is a link to a "printable version" of the page. You should print and keep a copy on this confirmation for your records.

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Application for Withdrawal

The Application for Withdrawal allows members who have terminated employment (but who have not applied for retirement) to withdraw their contributions from the retirement system. Before completing the Application for Withdrawal, please read the information about withdrawal in Fact Sheet #24, Withdrawal from the Retirement System, and in the Frequently Asked Questions About Withdrawal.

Please note:

• By withdrawing from the retirement system you forfeit all benefits other than the return of contributions. If you are eligible for a retirement benefit, you will be given the option to review an estimate of that retirement benefit before continuing with a withdrawal.
  
  
• Some portions of the withdrawal may be subject to federal tax. See Fact Sheet #27, Taxability of Your Pension Distribution.
  
  
• Your decision to withdraw cannot be rescinded once the completed Application for Withdrawal is submitted.
  
  
• To exit the Application for Withdrawal, anytime before your final submission, click on the "home" button at the top of the MBOS page.
  
  
• All withdrawals are subject to verification with your former employer(s). See Fact Sheet #24, Withdrawal from the Retirement System.

To access the application, click the "Application for Withdrawal" button on the MBOS Home Page. On the page that appears, enter your current mailing address and the information requested about your termination of employment. When done, click the "Continue with the Withdrawal Application" button.

• If you are receiving periodic benefits under Workers' Compensation, or have a Workers' Compensation claim or litigation pending, applying for a withdrawal may jeopardize those benefits. To continue with your withdrawal, you must complete a waiver of any pension benefits associated with a Workers' Compensation award. See Fact Sheet #45, Workers' Compensation, for more information.
  
  
• If you are eligible for a retirement benefit, you must complete a waiver of that retirement benefit in order to continue with the withdrawal application.
  

Some portions of your withdrawal may be subject to federal tax. In the "Taxation of Your Withdrawal" section (below), select how you want your withdrawal payment and tax to be distributed. For additional information, click the icons or see Fact Sheet #27, Taxability of Your Pension Distribution.

After you have made your selection, click the "Continue with the Withdrawal Application" button.

Before completing your withdrawal, you will be able to review your distribution selections and the other information to be submitted.

• You will have the opportunity to change the distribution or address information shown by clicking the "change" buttons.
  
  
• If you wish to exit the Application for Withdrawal without submitting it, click on the "home" button at the top of the MBOS page.

To complete your Application for Withdrawal, click on the "Submit the Withdrawal Application" button.

You will see a confirmation page to indicate that your Application for Withdrawal has been submitted successfully. At the top of the page is a link to a "printable version" of the confirmation page. You should print and keep a copy on this confirmation for your records.

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Deferred Compensation (If applicable)

Clicking on the "Deferred Compensation Information" button takes you directly to the New Jersey State Employees Deferred Compensation Plan (NJSEDCP) Web site.

On the NJSEDCP Web site you can find your personal Deferred Compensation Plan account information, investment information, and forms and other publications that relate to the NJSEDCP. The NJSEDCP and its Web site are administered for the State of New Jersey by the Prudential Insurance Company.

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Supplemental Annuity Collective Trust (SACT) (If applicable)

The Supplemental Annuity Collective Trust (SACT) Plan Information application allows you to view SACT account information if you participate in SACT.

To access to the application, click the "Supplemental Annuity Collective Trust" button on the MBOS Home Page. The page that appears will show account information current as of the last quarterly posting by the Division of Pensions and Benefits.

By clicking on the "SACT Unit Values" box, you can access the unit values of the investment fund for the past quarter.

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State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) (If applicable)

The State Health Benefits Program application allows you to view health benefit account information for you and your enrolled dependents.

To access the application, click the "State Health Benefits Program" button on the MBOS Home Page.

From the "Subscriber/Eligibility" page, select your account by clicking on the "Employer ID" number.

The page that appears will show your Eligibility Summary, Coverage Information, and Dependent Information.

To view the history of your SHBP account, click the link "Click here to view coverage history".

The following information will appear:

Clicking the "Next" button will show additional pages of coverage history.

To return to the Eligibility Summary screen, hit the "Back to Subscriber Information" button at the bottom of the Previous Coverage page.

Dependent Information

To view details about a dependent's coverage, click on the linked name of a covered dependent.

Information about the dependent's coverage will appear:

Click the "Next" button to view additional Dependent Detail.

To return to the Eligibility Summary screen, hit the "Back to Subscriber Information" button at the bottom of the Dependent Detail screen.

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Applications for Pending Retirees

Retirement Application Status

If you have applied for retirement, the Retirement Application Status application allows you to check the status of your application.

To access the application, click the "Retirement Application Status" button on the MBOS Home Page. The page that appears will show the date the retirement application was received by the Division of Pensions and Benefits, the retirement date, and the date of receipt of the employer's Certification of Service and Final Salary.

If available, the list will also include the date the quote letter was prepared and mailed and the date the retirement will be presented for approval to the pension fund's Board of Trustees.

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Electronic Funds Transfer (Direct Deposit) for Pending Retirees

The Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) application allows you to set up EFT or direct deposit of your pending monthly pension payment.

To access the application, click the "Electronic Funds Transfer" button on the MBOS Home Page. The page that appears will ask if you wish to begin a new EFT Authorization. Click the "New EFT Authorization" button to begin the process.

A page will open with form fields and detailed instructions on how to enter your bank information.

Please check that the requested information is correct and click the "Continue" button. A Summary page will follow that displays the bank and account information.

To make any corrections, click the "Back" button. Otherwise, click the "Submit" button to complete processing of your EFT request. A final confirmation page will be shown.

Click on the "Home" button at the top of the page to exit the application and return to the MBOS Home Page.

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