Changes to Retirement Benefits
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How do I change the beneficiary on my retirement account while I am still an active member?
A. Active employees/members should contact us to request a Change of Beneficiary form. The form can be mailed to you or you can fill it out in person. Our staff can assist you in completing and notarizing the form. You will need your beneficiary's name, SSN and date of birth.
Q. I have moved or will be moving soon. How do I change my address?
A. Please send a written request to our address: Baltimore County Retirement Division, 400 Washington Avenue, Room 169, Towson, Maryland 21204. Include your name, SS#, new address and telephone number, and the effective date of the change. If you are moving from MD to another state, you will also need to file a new MD tax withholding form to stop your current state tax withholding.
Q. How do I change the taxes that are currently withheld from my retirement check?
A. Please call 410-887-3132 and select option 1 from the menu. Ask for federal form W-4P and/or MD form MW-507P to change or stop your current withholding. State tax is only withheld for MD residents.
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Q. After I retire, can I change the retirement option that I elected?
A. You cannot change your option after you have received your first retirement payment except under limited circumstances. If you elected options 2 or 3 and retired prior to 10/01/1985 or elected options 5 or 6, you can change your option only after divorce from or the death of your beneficiary. You must complete the appropriate forms and provide legal proof of the divorce or death. You cannot change your option under any other circumstances. If you are uncertain of the option that you elected, please refer to your copy of your retirement application or call the Retirement Office.
Q. Once I retire, can I change my designated beneficiary under the option that I elected?
A. If you elected option 1, you can change your beneficiary at any time. If you elected options 2 or 3 and retired prior to 10/01/1985 or elected options 5 or 6, you can change your beneficiary only after divorce from or the death of your beneficiary. You must complete the appropriate forms and provide legal proof of the divorce or death. You cannot change your beneficiary under any other circumstances. If you are uncertain of the option that you elected, please refer to your copy of your retirement application or call the Retirement Office.
Revised June 15, 2009
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