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Retirement checkups offer peace of mind

Posted on February 24, 2026

It’s not uncommon for people to worry about retirement. It might seem intimidating to think about no longer working, let alone how to make ends meet. Can you live comfortably in retirement? If you don’t know the answer, there’s an easy way to check. You can log in to your online account and use the retirement benefit estimator tool, then use your online account to do a quick retirement checkup:

Update beneficiaries – Make sure everything is accurate. Did you get married? Go through a divorce? Have kids?
Update your address – If you moved since you last looked at your retirement account, verify your information. You can’t update your address online but you can fill out a new form and return it to your employer. After you retire, you can change your address online.
Review your service credit balance – Don’t forget to check your service credit totals; their accuracy is important. This is especially true if you’ve been out of a job because of a major illness or injury. You can pay back your missed service credit but there are certain deadlines depending on the type of absence. If you wait to pay, it may cost more.

View your contributions – Check for accuracy. Your employer reports your contributions to DRS; if you see something off, let your employer know.
If you’re a Plan 3 member – You have an investment account and a retirement pension benefit. Explore your options for drawing that income, which includes purchasing a TAP annuity or setting up installment payments. Review your investment program election to ensure your distributions take place in a timeframe that will work for you; withdrawals from the WSIB investment program can take 45-90 days, so it’s important to plan ahead.
If you have one, view your Deferred Compensation Program (DCP) account – The DCP website has tools you can use to estimate your retirement income, including your pension, DCP, Social Security and other sources of savings income. If you want to increase your Deferred Compensation Program (DCP) savings, or if you need to adjust your contributions, you can do that through your online account as well. See the annual contribution limits based on age and plan type if you’re thinking about increasing. If you don’t have a DCP account, check this list to see if your employer offers it.