Pension Sense blog | July 21, 2025 | Thomas Lawrence

Even moving to a charming home in a dream neighborhood will stress you out.

It’s expensive. The cardboard boxes linger like a dystopian corn maze. And where in the world is that toothbrush?

And that’s a positive change.

Other life changes can bring even more stress and uncertainty. Being prepared can help.

Thankfully, changing your address—along with reporting other major life changes to CalSTRS—is relatively simple. Here’s a brief roundup of how to communicate job and life changes to us:

Address change

You can change your address online at myCalSTRS or complete the Address Change Request form. It’s important to keep your address current so you don’t miss any financial forms or helpful publications. After you’re done, with free time to spare, you can track down that toothbrush and call it a night.

Changing work positions

If you’re a member of the CalSTRS Defined Benefit Program and change to a position under another public retirement system, you may be able to elect to continue coverage under CalSTRS.

If you do, service in your new position will be treated as creditable service under the CalSTRS Defined Benefit Program. Your retirement system choice:

• Must be made within 60 days of the date of hire into your new position.
• Must be done on the appropriate CalSTRS form provided by your employer and received by us within 60 days of the signature date.
• Is effective as of the date of hire into your new position.
• Is irrevocable and applies to all service performed for that position.

Reporting a death

Notify us of the death of a CalSTRS member, benefit recipient, option beneficiary or designated recipient as soon as possible. We’ll need the deceased person’s name and Social Security number or CalSTRS client ID, their date of death, and the name, address and telephone number of a contact person.

Divorce, disability and more

Check out job and life changes on CalSTRS.com to learn about even more life changes, such as selecting a power of attorney, reporting a divorce, and setting up or altering disability and survivor benefits.

Changes at CalSTRS

Here at CalSTRS, we’re also making changes, such as:

• Upgrading myCalSTRS: An improved myCalSTRS is coming this fall for members, including stronger security and new self-service tools. If you’re planning to retire in 2025, we encourage you to submit your Service Retirement Application online at myCalSTRS.com by July 31, 2025. Delays are expected during the transition. Applying online by the end of July will increase your chance of receiving timely payment.

For information on how to reach us, visit our contact us webpage. We’re here to help you prepare for the inevitable changes of life.