TRS Eligibility Requirements

Teachers Retirement Services of Texas

 

Normal Age Service Requirement

When a member meets the requirements for a normal age retirement and applies to retire, the retiree is entitled to receive a payment of a lifetime monthly annuity. The annuity is calculated according to the standard annuity benefit formula in effect at the time of retirement. Under current law, there are 6 tiers in place to determine your retirement eligibility. Below is an example of an annuity calculated for a retiree in Tier 2.

Unreported Service and/or Substitute Service Credit

Service in a TRS-eligible position that was not reported to TRS at the time the service was rendered is considered “unreported.” Additionally, service as a substitute for 90 or more actual workdays in a school year may also be eligible for service credit as unreported service.

Military Service Credit

If you are an active TRS member with at least 5 years of TRS service credit, you may be eligible to purchase up to 5 years of service credit for active military duty you rendered in the Armed Forces.

Work Experience by Career or Technology Teacher

Service credit must be paid in full by the time of retirement. The 3 basic methods of making payment for service credit purchases are:

• A lump-sum using after-tax dollars (from a checking or a savings account). Installment payments using after-tax dollars is available for some types of service credit.
• A rollover (or in certain situations, a direct trustee-to-trustee transfer) using pre-tax dollars from another eligible retirement plan {such as annuity or a mutual fund 403(b){7}.

To be eligible to retire and receive a lifetime monthly service retirement annuity (normal age or early age), you must meet all of the following requirements:

• Have at least 5 years of service credit
• Complete the required break in service
• Meet the eligibility requirements for age and service
• Apply for retirement
• Terminate employment
  
  

Employment After Retirement

To work after retirement without revocation of retirement or loss of benefits, a retiree must:

• Have an effective date of retirement by terminating employment
• Wait to negotiate a return to employment as permitted by law
• Not be employed or otherwise work for a TRS-covered employer during the required break in service after the retirement effective date
• Work only the amount of time permitted under one of the “employment after retirement” exceptions. The exceptions permit certain kinds of employment without losing the annuity for the month in which the employment is performed.
  
  

Return to Work After 12 Month Break In Service After Retirement

Acute Shortage Area Exception: Retirees may work on as much as a full-time basis without limitation as a teacher in an acute shortage area. The exception is limited to certified classroom teachers.

Principal or Assistant Principal Exception: Retirees may work on as much as a full-time basis without limitation as a Principal or Assistant Principal provided they meet certain requirements.

Please note, TRS refers members to EFS Financial for advice on retirement choices. For more information call our office at (713) 520-0010.

Source:  TRS Website - trs.texas.gov