Texas County & District Retirement System
09/23/2024 | News release | Archived content
Members: Manage Your Representatives Online and by Phone
Members: Manage Your Representatives Online and by Phone
Being prepared for the future is one of the best things you can do to help your loved ones. TCDRS has made it more convenient for you to name people you trust to view or manage your account.
Naming a representative ensures that only the people you authorize can act on your behalf, and that helps keep your TCDRS account secure.
There are two types of representatives you can designate online: Inquiry Access representatives and Power of Attorney agents. To get started, sign in to your account at TCDRS.org and click the Representatives link in the My Information dropdown menu. Or you can call TCDRS Member Services at 800-823-7782.
You will provide the name and contact information of your representatives. If you are setting up a Power of Attorney, you will also need to upload your Power of Attorney documentation. Power of Attorney designations are not official until we receive the appropriate documentation. You can replace and revoke Power of Attorney agreements online and via phone, as well.
How can my representatives access my account?
Your representatives will be able to manage your TCDRS account either online or by calling TCDRS Member Services at 800-823-7782.
We will send your representatives a link to set up their sign-in credentials for TCDRS.org. They will be able to view your account online and act on your behalf according to the power you provided them.
What can a representative with Inquiry Access do?
When you grant someone Inquiry Access, you are giving them permission to view your online account or call TCDRS Member Services for information about your account. They can run benefit estimates, view your personal information and see your beneficiaries.
The person you grant Inquiry Access to cannot take any action on your TCDRS account, such as naming a beneficiary or applying for a benefit.
What is a Power of Attorney?
Granting someone "Power of Attorney" allows you to designate a person you trust to make financial decisions for you if you become incapacitated or need help. That person is also referred to as your agent. You decide everything from when the Power of Attorney can take effect to what kinds of decisions that person can make on your behalf.
You must complete the Durable Power of Attorney (TCDRS-67) form or have a Power of Attorney submitted to and approved by TCDRS before any designation you make online is official.
When would I need a Power of Attorney?
Setting up a Power of Attorney is an important part of estate planning and helps ensure that your affairs are taken care of if you are ever unable to manage them yourself. A Power of Attorney can go into effect immediately or only if you become incapacitated. You can also limit what your agent can do. For example, you can give your agent full power over your TCDRS account, or you can limit them to just managing your payments.
You must be mentally competent at the time the Power of Attorney is created for it to be valid. That's why it is important to have a Power of Attorney in place before you need it.