TCDRS
Automated Benefits System Streamlines Access for Municipal Retiree Beneficiaries
Texas County & District Retirement System (TCDRS) is the second-largest retirement fund in Texas. It provides retirement, disability, and survivor benefits to its 1 million members, who include current and former state, district, and municipal employees.
- Services
- Build for Optimizely
- Quality Assurance
- Technologies
- Azure DevOps
- Episerver 11
- Microsoft Sharepoint
- REST Api
- Okta SDK
- Okta SIW
Oshyn improves online services for municipal retirees in Texas, ensuring swift beneficiary transfers.
The Challenge
When a Texas county employee passes away, their spouse or family shouldn't have to wade through paperwork and phone calls just to access the retirement benefits they're entitled to. But for years, that's precisely what beneficiaries faced. Losing a loved one brings emotional upheaval and financial uncertainty, and during this challenging time, an unpleasant user experience only inflicts more unnecessary stress on grieving families.
The Texas County & District Retirement System (TCDRS) serves thousands of public employees across the state. Sheriff's deputies, county clerks, firefighters, EMTs, and other essential workers who've dedicated their careers to serving their communities. When these members retire or pass away, their beneficiaries rely on swift and transparent access to the benefits that support their financial security.
But the existing beneficiary registration and benefits management system relied heavily on manual processes. For TCDRS staff, the volume of manual processing created operational bottlenecks, and as membership grew, the system was unable to scale.
TCDRS recognized that automating beneficiary onboarding and benefits management would enhance the experience for families while preparing the system to handle increasing demand. To build a self-service platform that would give beneficiaries control and eliminate operational bottlenecks, TCDRS turned to Oshyn.
The Solution
Oshyn was selected for its deep expertise in public sector digital services and its ongoing partnership with TCDRS. Working closely with TCDRS stakeholders, Oshyn designed and implemented a complete self-service registration and benefits management system built on Optimizely CMS.
Oshyn began by mapping the entire user journey, from initial beneficiary registration through benefits application and approval. This included creating a new account type specifically for beneficiaries, developing the backend logic to support registration and account management, and integrating with TCDRS's existing systems, including Microsoft SharePoint and authorized representative workflows. Using Azure DevOps for development and deployment, Oshyn ensured a structured, reliable implementation process.
The new platform enables eligible beneficiaries to register directly through the TCDRS member portal, utilizing Okta SIW for secure authentication, access their dashboard, and apply for benefits, including one-time payments, monthly benefits, and group term life insurance. Oshyn configured REST APIs using Okta SDK and portal features to ensure seamless integration with TCDRS's infrastructure while maintaining security and compliance.
The Outcome
Since implementing the self-service platform, TCDRS beneficiaries can now register and access their benefits faster. By removing barriers to registration, the system has significantly increased the number of beneficiaries able to complete the registration process and access their entitled benefits.
The automated system has freed TCDRS staff from manual processing bottlenecks, allowing them to focus on higher-value member support while preparing the platform to handle increased beneficiary registrations as membership grows.
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