MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT TEACHER RETIREMENT IN TEXAS
- If I have 50 or more days of accumulated leave, is it true that I can purchase service credit with my balance?
- I heard that I can purchase service credit for the time I substituted before I became a teacher, is that true?
- What if I was never employed full time but substituted for over 7 years?
- At some point in my career, I took developmental leave. Now, I’ve heard that you can purchase service credit for the time while on developmental leave?
- What if I retire on a disability and then get well?
- What if my last day to work was in May, but it is now end of August and I’ve decided that I just now want to retire. How far back can I make my retirement effective?
- I completed and sent my forms to TRS, do I still need to meet with anyone from the District?
- How far in advance shall I begin the process for retirement?
- How soon after I retire can I work?
If I have 50 or more days of accumulated leave, is it true that I can purchase service credit with my balance?
Effective September 1, 2001, a member is entitled to one year of membership service credit for 50 days or 400 hours of accumulated state sick and/or personal leave that is unused as of the last day of employment before retirement. Only five days per year of state sick and/or personal leave may be accumulated per year toward the 50 days or 400 hours. Only members who retire on or after September 1, 2001, are eligible to establish sick and/or personal leave credit for membership credit. To receive service credit the member must pay the actuarial present value of the benefits attributable to the sick and/or personal leave credit.
If the days are used to purchase special service credit then you forfeit any payment for unused accumulated sick days by the District.
I heard that I can purchase service credit for the time I substituted before I became a teacher, is that true?
Substitute service can be used to purchase special service credit. You must have substituted 90 or more days in a school year (July 1 –June 30) to qualify for a year of service credit. The number of days do not need to be consecutive and can be from different districts in the same region.
What if I was never employed full time but substituted for over 7 years?
If you worked 90 or more days in any one school year as a substitute, and worked more than five years; purchasing service credit for the number of years you substituted may give you a retirement annuity. Substitute service must be verified and then you must pay for this service credit to receive a benefit.
At some point in my career, I took developmental leave. Now, I’ve heard that you can purchase service credit for the time while on developmental leave?
A member with five years of service may purchase up to two years of credit for developmental leave within one year of return to service by:
- Notifying TRS in advance of intention to take leave and having leave certified by your employer, and
- Making deposits for both state and member contributions, based on salary for the year prior to taking the leave.
Established developmental leave credit cannot be used in computing retirement benefits until the person has at least 10 years of actual Texas public school service.
What if I retire on a disability and then get well?
TRS has established a 30 day window from your disability retirement date where you may elect to come back on a trial basis (3 month trial basis). If you can come back to work, you may rescind your disability retirement and continue to work until you choose to retire. No penalties will accrue.
What if my last day to work was in May, but it is now end of August and I’ve decided that I just now want to retire. How far back can I make my retirement effective?
Your retirement can be effective no earlier than either the last day of the month in which you file your TRS Form 30 “Application for Service Retirement”; or the last day of either of the two previous months.
In this case, the earliest retirement date would be June 30.
An important point to remember about a retro-active retirement date is that TRS allows for your retirement annuity to be retro-active but TRS-Care only permits coverage on a prospective basis. Coverage under TRS-Care becomes effective the first of the month following the date that TRS receives your election form.
In this case, coverage may not become effective until September 1 depending on when TRS receives the election form or it could be October 1.
JUNE 15 RULE – If you must work into the month of June but no later than June 15 to complete work required for the school year, you may keep a May 31 retirement date provided you file your retirement application by July 31 and terminate employment on or before June 15.
I completed and sent my forms to TRS, do I still need to meet with anyone from the District?
Yes, it is preferable that once you receive your TRS Retirement Package, you follow the detail instructions to complete and make elections on all forms. Once you have completed this process you should schedule an appointment with an Employee Benefits Specialists for an exit interview. The exit interview process will help ensure that the TRS forms have been completed correctly, that all necessary paperwork is enclosed and that all your current EPISD benefit termination dates are explained in detail. This final meeting also ensures that your last check will be processed and that the TRS Form 7 “Notice of Final Deposit” can be completed.
How far in advance shall I begin the process for retirement?
TRS advises that you should begin the process seven to eight months in advance to ensure that everything is taken care of to permit adequate processing time. Planning in advance will ensure that no months without pay or health coverage will occur.
How soon after I retire can I work?
As a service retiree, your TRS annuity will not be affected by employment in:
- A private school
- Public school in another state
- Private business, or
- Governmental agency not covered by TRS currently or previously
You may also be employed in a Texas public school without affecting your annuity under one of the following exceptions:
- As a substitute at no more than the employer’s daily substitute pay rate; or
- On a one-half time or less basis during any month; or
- On a full-time basis for six months in a school year (September through August)
Exceptions 1 and 2 may begin one month after your effective retirement date, or two months if you retire May 31 but worked no later than June 15.
Exception 3 may begin no earlier than the school year after your retirement.
For employment after retirement purposes, the school year is September through August.
REMEMBER, IF IN DOUBT ALWAYS CONTACT TRS FOR CONFIRMATION ON ANY INFORMATION WHICH COULD AFFECT YOUR ANNUITY.