Transactions

Take money out

Take money out of your account(s) through loans, withdrawals, payouts, retirement income and distributions.

Common transactions
The most common things people do
  • Authorize direct depositFor payments you’ve already set up, authorize TIAA to make direct deposits into your bank account. Authorize
  • Set up an electronic funds transfer (EFT)Select how and where you want your withdrawals sent. Set up EFT
  • Set up a direct transfer to another investment companyTransfer funds directly from your account to another financial institution, either immediately or at a future date. Download Form
  • Set up a contract-to-contract transferTransfer money from one of your TIAA contracts into another of your TIAA contracts. Download Form
Transfer & rollover
  • Set up an electronic funds transfer (EFT)Select how and where you want your withdrawals sent. Set up EFT
  • Set up systematic direct transfers from your TIAA Traditional account(s) to another investment companyMake a direct transfer of TIAA Traditional account funds to another investment company permitted to receive transfers from your employer’s retirement plan. Set up transfer
  • Set up a direct transfer to another investment companyTransfer funds directly from your account to another financial institution, either immediately or at a future date. Download Form
  • Set up a direct transfer to another investment company - Employer authorization requiredTransfer funds directly from your account to another financial institution, either immediately or at a future date. Employer authorization required. Download Form
  • Set up a contract-to-contract transferTransfer money from one of your TIAA contracts into another of your TIAA contracts. Download Form
  • Set up a rollover from your retirement investments - ERISA and Non-ERISARollover funds from your retirement contracts to another IRA at TIAA or to an IRA at another investment company. Set up rollover
  • Set up a rollover from your Investment Solutions IRA contractsRollover funds from your Investment Solutions IRA contracts to another IRA at TIAA or to an IRA at another investment company. Set up rollover
  • Set up a transfer from your After-tax Retirement Annuity (ATRA) to a different accountTransfer from your TIAA Traditional account ATRA funds to another account within TIAA or to another company. Set up transfer
Loans & withdrawals
  • Authorize direct depositFor payments you’ve already set up, authorize TIAA to make direct deposits into your bank account. Authorize
  • Certify your date of birthVerify your date of birth and your annuity partner’s date of birth, if applicable, to determine eligibility for certain options as well as to calculate the lifetime income payable to you. Certify
  • Request a hardship withdrawal (Employee Certifies) - ERISAA hardship withdrawal is a distribution from your retirement plan due to an immediate financial need. Request
  • Request a hardship withdrawal (Employer Certifies) - ERISAA hardship withdrawal is a distribution from your retirement plan due to an immediate financial need. Request
  • Request a hardship withdrawal (Employee Certifies) - Non-ERISA A hardship withdrawal is a distribution from your retirement plan due to an immediate financial need. Request
  • Request a hardship withdrawal (Employer Certifies) - Non-ERISA A hardship withdrawal is a distribution from your retirement plan due to an immediate financial need. Request
  • Make limited periodic withdrawals from retirement annuities and mutual fundsThis option is available to all terminated employees between the ages of 55 and 69 1⁄2. The amount you may withdraw is subject to the terms of your employer’s plan. Make withdrawals
  • Convert your pension in-plan RothPlease be aware of tax implications on certain types of IRA payments. Speak with your tax advisor for more information. Convert
  • Make a cash withdrawal from your retirement investments - ERISA and Non-ERISAPlease be aware of tax implications on certain types of IRA payments. Speak with your tax advisor for more information. Withdraw
  • Withdraw from your TIAA Mutual Fund Traditional or Roth IRARefer to the disclosure statement for details on whether a tax or penalty applies. Consult your tax advisor before making a decision. Withdraw
  • Authorize an Unforeseeable Emergency Withdrawal - PrivateUse this autorhization when you need to take an emergency withdrawal from a private 457(b) deferred contribution plan. Authorize
  • Authorize an Unforeseeable Emergency Withdrawal - PublicUse this autorhization when you need to take an emergency withdrawal from a public 457(b) deferred contribution plan. Authorize
  • Request a payment from your Keogh planTake a cash withdrawal from your Keogh account. Request payment
  • Certify your disability for private employers If you claim residence AND citizenship outside the U.S., also complete a W-8BEN to certify your foreign tax status. Certify
  • Certify your disability for public employers If you claim residence AND citizenship outside the U.S., also complete a W-8BEN to certify your foreign tax status. Certify
Distributions
  • Reinvest your dividends into your Retirement Choice TPATransfer some or all of your TIAA Traditional account balances over 84 months to one or more of your variable accounts and/or mutual funds in your TIAA and CREF contracts. Reinvest
  • Redirect your TPA to variable accounts and/or mutual fundsChange where your TPA transfers are sent. Complete this request to transfer your TIAA Traditional Annuity account balance to one or more of your variable accounts and/or mutual funds. Redirect payouts
  • Global Pay AuthorizationComplete this transaction to establish or change Annuity and Cash payments to a foreign currency. Receive income
  • Change the destination of your TPA within TIAAReceive cash withdrawals from your TPA. Receive withdrawals
  • Change the destination of your TPA payments to another investment companyRedirect your TPA payments to another investment company. Redirect
  • Change destination of interest-only payments To determine your current accumulation, find out the status of your request, or if you have questions, call 800-842-2252. Change destination
  • Change the destination of cash payments – ERISA You can make this request if you currently have a TIAA Traditional Annuity and you want to change where the transfers are sent. You can transfer as a rollover or cash withdrawal. Change destination
  • Change the destination of cash payments – Non-ERISA You can make this request if you currently have a TIAA Traditional Annuity and you want to change where the transfers are sent. You can transfer as a rollover or cash withdrawal. Change destination
  • Redirect your TIAA Traditional annuity paymentMake this request if you currently have a TPA and want to change your TPA destination to an alternate investment company. Redirect
  • Reinvest your TIAA Traditional annuity payment to another investment companyMake this request if you have a TIAA Traditional Annuity and you want to have funds sent to another investment company. Reinvest
  • Reinvest your TIAA Traditional annuity to variable accounts and/or mutual fundsTransfer your TIAA Traditional Annuity account balance to one or more of your variable accounts and/or mutual funds in your TIAA and CREF contracts. Reinvest
  • Request distribution from your 457(b) government planPlease be aware of tax implications on certain types of 457(b) distributions. Speak with your tax advisor for more information. Request distribution
  • Charitable Distribution from your IRAMake a charitable distribution to a non-profit organization from your IRA account. Set up
Income & payments
  • Get employer authorization to begin retirement plan incomeYour employer must certify that you've either retired, have a disability or a hardship, or your employment has been terminated. Get authorization
  • Authorize interest-only payments - ERISA To establish an Interest-Only Option contract, participants must be between the ages of 55 and 69 ½. Authorize
  • Start annuity income - Direct payThis is a TIAA Direct Payment group annuity request to start annuity income. Start income
  • Start annuity income - Non-participatingThis request is for a non-participating group annuity. It's a request to start annuity income. Start income
  • Get authorization to begin life expectancy option payments Request that payments start on your life expectancy contract. Get authorization
  • Request a single payment from your ATRAYou may also use this request to get a payment of your entire TIAA Traditional accumulation provided it is $2,000 or less. Request payment
  • Authorize an ATRA 1035 exchangeAuthorize a 1035 Exchange from the TIAA Real Estate or TIAA Traditional account to the CREF accounts or from the CREF accounts to the TIAA Traditional or TIAA Real Estate accounts. Authorize
  • Authorize interest-only payments- Non-ERISAYou will be subject to the 20% federal income tax withholding unless payments are directly rolled over to an IRA or to another plan. Receive income
Healthcare & insurance
  • Activate your TIAA Retirement Healthcare Program claims Once your request has been processed, you'll receive a Welcome Kit about claim reimbursement alternatives and also your Healthcare Payment Card. Activate
  • Request a payment to an insurance provider under the HELPS ActHealthcare Enhancement for Local Public Safety Officers (HELPS) provides a tax-free distribution up to $3,000 from retirement plans for retirees to pay health insurance or long-term care insurance. Receive income
Survivor benefits
  • Verify your marital status Before TIAA can pay any death benefits we must determine if any benefits are payable to a participant’s surviving spouse. This form needs to be completed by all beneficiaries. Verify
  • Request immediate annuity income for survivor benefitsRequest funds for an immediate rollover or distribution for a survivor benefit. Request income
  • Request a single sum survivor benefit payment (Non-spouse)This is a non-spouse group annuity single-sum survivor benefit. Request payment
  • Request a single sum survivor benefit payment (Estate)This is a group annuity single-sum survivor benefit for an estate or organization. Request payment
  • Request annuity income for survivor benefitsRequest funds for a rollover or distribution for a survivor benefit over a set period of time. Request income
  • Request a single-sum survivor benefit paymentRequest a single-sum payment from a specified retirement plan. Request payment
  • Waive survivor annuity benefitsTo comply with federal law or the plan provisions, you and your plan representative must provide written verification that your spouse cannot be located. Wave benefits