Enrollment

If you are an employee of the Department of Education, the School Construction Authority, a participating Charter School, or you are a School Crossing Guard working for the Police Department, you may be eligible to join BERS. However, membership in BERS is not open to regularly appointed teachers and other employees eligible to participate in the Teachers' Retirement System (TRS) or the Employees' Retirement System (NYCERS).

Membership is established on the date of your permanent appointment, or for elective members, on the date an enrollment application is received by the Retirement System. Upon receipt of a completed application, the Members Accounts department is responsible for verifying eligibility, payroll status, the calculation of pension deductions and arrears, if any, and the assignment of membership numbers.

The enrollment Kit, including Application forms, is available on this website. You can also request the kit by phone, mail or visiting our office. When requesting the application by mail or phone, please indicate your name, address, title, date of hire, employment status, and telephone number.

Please note that membership in the system is irrevocable.