Basics for Employers

The TRS pension plan is a defined benefit plan, which means retirement benefits are determined by a formula set in Texas law – not by how much a member contributes. Once eligible and retired, members can receive a monthly pension for life.

Learn more about TRS benefit programs and how benefits are calculated. 

One account. All the tools. Total convenience.

MyTRS is the secure online portal where members can:

• Estimate future retirement benefits
• Update personal information
• Designate or change beneficiaries
• Track service credit
• Apply for retirement, when eligible

Get started:

• Sign up or log in: mytrs.texas.gov 
• Explore the MyTRS Benefit Calculator
• Step-by-step account setup guide (pdf)
• Helpful How to Establish Your MyTRS Account (video)
• Helpful how-to videos
• Services available to members 
• Services available to retirees

Here are links to quick, shareable resources employees use most:

Flyers

Get to Know Your Retirement System

A Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) Overview

Service Credit: The basics of earning, purchasing and paying for service credit.

How to: Earn TRS Service Credit
Purchasing Service Credit: Substitute Teaching
Purchasing Service Credit: Military
Purchasing Service Credit: Withdrawn
Purchasing Service Credit: Out-of-State
Purchasing Service Credit: Unreported
Purchasing Service Credit: Worker’s Compensation
Purchasing Service Credit: Career/Technology Teacher
Purchasing Service Credit: Developmental Leave
Purchasing Service Credit: Waiting Period
Purchasing Service Credit: State Sick Leave
Purchasing Service Credit: Uniformed Services Employment & Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA)
Paying for Service Credit

Account Management: Steps to managing account information.

TRS Beneficiary FAQs
The Retirement Process
How to: Request a Refund of Your TRS Contributions

Life Events: TRS supports members with clear next steps during important life events. 

Active Member Death Benefits
What to Know: Death Claim Step-by-Step Process

Publications

TRS Benefits Handbook
TRS Service Credit Brochure

TRS Forms

Application for Refund (TRS 6) *
Designation of Beneficiary (TRS 15) *
Request for Estimate of Retirement Benefits (TRS 18) *
Verification of Substitute Service and Salary (TRS 22S)

*Denotes actions that can be completed in the MyTRS member portal.

Service credit plays a big role in TRS retirement eligibility, benefit amounts and TRS-Care coverage.

Important notes:

• Membership service credit is earned in one-year increments. 
• Members earn one year of service credit by: 
  • Working or receiving paid leave for 90 days during the school year (Sept. 1 through Aug. 31), or
  • Working fewer than five days per week in four full calendar months, with five additional days outside those four months (generally applies to individuals working compressed work weeks).

Substitute Service

• Substitute work is not eligible for TRS membership.
• However, 90 or more days of substitute service in a school year may be purchased as service credit if verified by the deadline.

More information:

• Earn TRS Service Credit
• MyTRS Benefit Calculator

TRS has six membership categories, called “tiers.” These tiers determine when a member is eligible to retire. 

A member’s tier is based on:

• when they first joined TRS,
• whether they’re “grandfathered” and 
• how much service credit they had as of Aug. 31, 2014. 

Each tier has different age and service requirements for normal‑age and early retirement, including how the Rule of 80 applies. In general, members who joined TRS earlier have more flexible retirement eligibility, while newer members may need to reach a higher age or more years of service before retiring.

More information:

• Members can find their tier in MyTRS and on their annual statement. 
• Members can explore the TRS Tier Placement Map to find their tier and the Tier Guide to better understand their retirement eligibility.

Members should know the difference between refunding and retiring, and carefully consider their options before making a decision. 

Retiring 

• The employee meets TRS eligibility requirements.
• The employee begins receiving a monthly retirement payment (annuity) for life. 
• This option provides long‑term income. 

Refunding

• The employee leaves TRS‑covered employment and withdraws their TRS contributions.
• Refunding ends TRS membership.
• Refunding cancels all service credit.
• The employee gives up future benefits, including a lifetime pension. 
• The employee may be subject to different retirement eligibility requirements if they return to TRS-covered employment in the future.

Since refunding can have tax implications and permanently ends retirement benefits, employees should carefully review their options before making a decision.

More information:

• Retirement planning resources
• Steps to refunding your member account

Designating a beneficiary is one of the most important steps a TRS member can take. Members are eligible for death benefits from the first day of TRS membership. Naming a beneficiary helps ensure those benefits go to the person or people the member chooses in the event of the unexpected.

More information:

• Active member death benefits are available to TRS members on day one of employment. Read more in the TRS Benefits Handbook. 
• TRS members can review, update or designate a beneficiary(ies) anytime by logging in to their MyTRS account.

Service credit is important in determining eligibility for TRS benefits including TRS-Care. Members earn membership credit for service with a TRS-covered employer. Other types may be purchased. Common examples include:

• Military: TRS members with at least five years of TRS service credit may be eligible to purchase up to five years of service credit for active-duty federal military service in the U.S. armed forces.
• Out-of-State: Members who have out-of-state service in a public school system or college and who have at least five years of TRS membership service credit, may be eligible to purchase one year of out-of-state service credit for each year of service credit with a TRS-covered employer.
• Withdrawn Service: Restoring service credit canceled after receiving a refund of TRS contributions.   

More information:

• Refer to Purchasing Service Credit 
• Members can call TRS at 800-223-8778 if they are interested in purchasing service credit.
• TRS Service Credit Brochure

Life changes can happen at any time, and TRS offers resources to help members navigate these transitions with confidence. Here are some important considerations. 

• Marriage
  • Enroll spouse to member’s health plan; update beneficiary; update mailing address; inform TRS of name change; update tax withholding; survivor benefits; future retirement goals.
• Starting a Family
  • Update beneficiary information; add a new child as a dependent on member’s health plan; update tax withholding.
• Divorce
  • Update name, address, beneficiary; obtain account balance letter; impact on retirement plan benefits; know requirements of Domestic Relations Order (DRO).
• Disability
  • Eligibility for retirement benefits; how to apply for disability retirement; provide required documentation; return to work information.
• Death
  • Report death to TRS; submit documentation; healthcare considerations.

More information:

• Visit resources TRS provides for life changes and job changes.

TRS retirees may be able to return to work for a TRS-covered employer, but EAR rules affect when they can return, how much they can work, what employers must report, and surcharges that may apply. 

Important EAR notes:

• Break in service is required before returning to work. 
• Work limits apply for many retirees. 
• Surcharges may apply. 
• Reporting retiree employment, hours and compensation to TRS is required. 
• Rules vary based on service/disability retirement, retirement date and employment type. 

Best Practices before hiring or rehiring a TRS retiree:

• Encourage the retiree to review TRS EAR resources.
• Recommend the retiree contact TRS directly to confirm how the rules apply to them.
• Use EAR limits and reporting requirements when setting schedules and pay. 

More information:

• Employment After Retirement brochure
• Employment After Retirement Overview and FAQs

A member who earns at least five years of membership service credit is considered “vested.” This means when they meet the necessary age requirements, they can apply for service retirement and receive a lifetime monthly benefit (“pension” or “annuity”)! 

Rule of 80: A member’s age plus years of TRS service credit equal 80. Meeting this rule can make the member eligible for a full, unreduced retirement benefit.

Naming a beneficiary ensures that TRS death benefits are paid to the person or people the member chooses. If no beneficiary is on file, TRS must follow plan rules to determine who receives the benefits, which may not reflect the member’s wishes. Keeping beneficiary information current helps prevent delays and confusion for survivors.

Being grandfathered means a TRS member may follow earlier retirement rules that were in place before changes made in 2005, which can affect how your benefits are calculated. A member is grandfathered if they met at least one of the following by Aug. 31, 2005:

• Were age 50 or older
• Met the Rule of 70 (age plus service credit equaled 70)
• Had 25 years of service credit
   

No, members cannot borrow against their TRS account. Loans and partial withdrawals are not allowed, but a member may withdraw all contributions (refund) only after permanently ending employment with all TRS‑covered employers.