January 2026 Reporting Tips

Happy New Year From NYSTRS!

At NYSTRS, we pride ourselves on serving our nearly 460,000 active and retired members. Your work as our valued partner allows us to maintain accurate and timely information. Thank you for helping us realize our vision to be the model for pension fund excellence and exceptional customer service.

We hope you have a Happy New Year!

Register for our Jan. 27 Webinar on the District Specific Issue Report (DSIR)

NYSTRS invites you to our next Employer Reporting Webinar at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 27. This live 30-minute session, “All About the District Specific Issue Report,” will cover:

• The meaning of specific DSIR messages received after submitting the monthly report.
• Reasons why DSIR messages are generated.
• How to respond to DSIR messages.
• How to find more information in the Employer Secure Area (ESA).

Register for our “All About the District Specific Issue Report” webinar.

The 2026 Employer Reporting Webinar schedule is available on the Employer Resources page. This page also includes the Employer District Specific Issue Report Issue Code Reference Guide(Opens in a new window), which explains the different types of issue codes, along with instructions for employers. 

If your office has new staff who require training on our reporting requirements – or if current staff need a refresher – NYSTRS also offers customized training webinars tailored to your team’s needs. These sessions provide step-by-step guidance on the reporting process and offer time for questions. To schedule a training session, contact the Employer Training & Outreach unit at [email protected].   

Deceased Member Notification and Deceased Member Report

It is important that employers promptly notify NYSTRS regarding the death of an active member or retiree. This ensures the timely payment of any death benefits to the individual’s beneficiary or estate. To notify NYSTRS of a member or retiree death:

1. Log in to the Employer Secure Area (ESA).
2. Go to the Membership menu and select Deceased Member Notification.
3. Enter the member/retiree’s Social Security Number (SSN), the first three letters of their first name, and the date of death.
4. Submit the information to view the corresponding member’s name.

Occasionally, NYSTRS may be notified of a member’s death even if the employer was not informed – in some cases, the employer administers the member’s health insurance.

In these cases, employers should consult the Deceased Member Report, available under District Reports in the ESA. This report shows all deceased members and retirees included in your monthly reports during their last school year of working. Members remain on this list for 24 months after their death.

Contact us at 800-348-7298, ext. 6220 or [email protected] with any questions about the Tips.