TRS is a defined benefit retirement plan governed by Internal Revenue Code Section 401(a).

Texas law requires all benefits-eligible employees to be automatically enrolled in TRS at the time they are hired. Benefits eligible means expected to work at least 20 hours per week for at least 4 ½ months or more, excluding students employed in positions that require student status as a condition of employment.

Employee and employer contributions go into a large trust fund managed by knowledgeable professionals.

Benefits available from TRS are determined by a formula using a combination of years of service credit in TRS, annual salary and a multiplier established by state law.

A TRS member has the right to receive a lifetime annuity after 5 years of service credit with TRS and upon meeting age and service requirements.

The greater the number of creditable years of service, the greater the retirement benefit will be. For TRS purposes, your year begins every September 1st, and you will generally have attained credit for that year after working 90 workdays.

You can purchase previously unreported TRS-eligible service, substitute service, out-of-state service, military service, developmental leave and previously withdrawn service to increase your creditable years of service.

In some cases, purchases may be made with money rolled over directly from another qualified retirement account, such as your UTSaver Tax Sheltered Annuity or UTSaver Deferred Compensation Plan.

Please contact TRS for more information regarding types of special service purchases, cost and payment options.

TRS offers both disability retirement and death benefits effective on your first day of employment. The disability retirement is dependent upon the number of years of service credit with TRS at the time of the disability. Your beneficiary is eligible for a lump sum death benefit of twice your annual salary up to $80,000 on your first day of employment.

Service credited under the Employees Retirement System of Texas (ERS) can be transferred to TRS. Likewise, eligible members of ERS may transfer their TRS-credited service credit to ERS. Under both situations, you must have three years of creditable service with the receiving system. The transfer of service that has been actively maintained or reinstated takes place under the rules of the system to which the credit is transferred. Such transfer may only take place when the member retires or at the time that a pre-retirement death benefit becomes payable. Interested individuals should contact TRS for more information.

 If you terminate your employment in public education in Texas, you can request a refund of your TRS contribution amounts. When you refund your account, you lose the service credit, which could impair your ability to obtain retiree health benefits.

For more information regarding your TRS account, please visit the TRS website at https://www.trs.texas.gov/ or call (800) 223-8778.