MEMBER BENEFITS ONLINE SYSTEM
MBOS USER'S INFORMATION GUIDE FOR ACTIVE EMPLOYEES
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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 accounts.
If you need to register for MBOS, view the MBOS Registration Instructions
If you need help logging on to MBOS, view MBOS Logon Help
If you are a retiree,
please view the MBOS Retired User's Information
Guide
The MBOS Home Page
When
you log on, the MBOS Home Page will open
in your Web browser.
Here you can link to all of the MBOS
Applications that are currently available to active members.
You will find buttons that open
the MBOS 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: Access to MBOS applications is based upon the benefits provided
to you through your employer. Therefore, not all applications
are available to all members.
This online help page is available by clicking the "Search Help"
button located on the right side of the MBOS Home Page.
Members with Multiple User Roles
- If you have MBOS access to other pension
fund accounts or employer access to the Employer Pensions and
Benefits Information Connection (EPIC), you will need to select the "user role" you wish to open each time you log on to MBOS or EPIC.

When you are logged on to MBOS or EPIC you may click the
"Select Different Role" button to leave the current MBOS session
and access your other accounts or user roles.
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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.

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MBOS Support
If you are having difficulty registering for MBOS or logging on to your existing MBOS Account, see the detailed MBOS Registration Instructions and the MBOS Registration Help page.
Registered users who still have questions about
or difficulty using MBOS Applications after reading the information
in this User's Guide should 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 provided above.
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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. |

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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.).
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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).
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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, Adobe PDF (33K) 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.

NOTE: Purchases that were authorized prior to 2008
will display with a Status of "Expired"
rathed than "Authorized." We appologize for any inconvienience.
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.
Please review the summary information
carefully as this is what will be submitted to the Division
of Pensions and Benefits to begin processing of your purchase.
- If you need to change any of the information
shown, click on the "Modify" button to go back and make changes.
- If any of the information shown is incorrect,
you can click on the "Delete" button 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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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 Button and Menu
The "Retirement" button on the MBOS Home Page opens a menu of online retirement sub-applications for MBOS users. These include the Retirement Application, Retirement Estimate, and Retirement Application Status sub-applications.

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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" button on the MBOS Home Page and then the "Retirement Estimate" button on the MBOS Retirement Sub-Application Menu.
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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.
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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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Retirement Application
The online Retirement Application allows
you to submit your Application for Retirement Allowance online 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 "Retirement" button on the MBOS Home Page and then the "Retirement Application" button on the MBOS Retirement Sub-Application Menu.
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 member. 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. |

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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 members
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.
Note:
The next pages of the application differ depending upon your
retirement system.
The PERS and TPAF are discussed first with the PFRS and SPRS
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PERS and TPAF Members
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 Members
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 "Retirement" button on the MBOS Home Page and then the "Retirement Application" button on the MBOS Retirement Sub-Application Menu. 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, Adobe PDF (30K) and on the Frequently
Asked Questions About Withdrawal page.
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 Adobe PDF (45K).
- 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 Adobe PDF (30K).
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, Adobe PDF (44K) 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 Adobe PDF (45K).
After you have made your selection,
click the "Continue with the Withdrawal Application" button.
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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.
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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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Health Benefits Programs
State Health Benefits Program (SHBP)
School Employees' Health Benefits Program (SEHBP)
(if
applicable)
The Health Benefits Programs application
allows you to view health benefit account information for you and
your enrolled dependents, if enrolled in the State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) or the School Employees' Health Benefits Program (SEHBP).
To access the application, click
the "SHBP/SEHBP" 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
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To view the history of your SHBP/SEHBP 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" button on the MBOS Home Page and then the "Retirement Application Status" button on the MBOS Retirement Menu 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.
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instructions on how to enter your bank information. |

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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.
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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.
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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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