If you’re a retired clergy person, Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) may seem daunting. RMDs are the minimum amounts that individuals must withdraw annually from their tax-deferred retirement accounts, of which your contributions to United Methodist defined contribution plans may be, once they reach a certain age. As of 2025, the age to begin RMDs is 73, following changes implemented by the SECURE Act and SECURE 2.0. The first RMD must be taken by April 1 of the year after reaching the required age, with subsequent distributions due by December 31 each year. Failing to take the correct RMD can result in significant penalties from the IRS.
Knowing that RMDs can be difficult to navigate, Wespath Benefits and Investments has introduced a new RMD information page that is accessible through their Benefits Access platform to assist retired clergy. The resource provides detailed information about RMDs for each of your accounts, along with helpful links for taking necessary actions and obtaining additional information. Moving forward, RMD details will be communicated via email to retirees with prompts to log into Benefits Access, replacing previous letter notifications. Letters regarding RMDs will no longer be mailed. To ensure you receive these emails, please verify that your email address is current in Benefits Access. You can do this by logging into Benefits Access or by contacting the Benefits Office to verify your email address on file with Wespath.
The RMD information page is now available. To view information on RMDs and access your personalized details, visit the Benefits Access platform. If you don’t have an account, we encourage you to set one up now. Finding information on RMDs is just the latest feature available in Benefits Access, but you can also use it to discover a variety of other information, check and update contact details and beneficiaries, and much more.
Last Updated on May 5, 2025