December 2015 TRS News

Teacher Retirement System of Texas

Description

TRS TEACHER RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF TEXAS PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Austin, Texas PERMIT # 2603 1000 Red River Street Austin, Texas 78701-2698 CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED TRS annual statements - cont. from page 5 If your annual statement included an estimate but your employer’s report to TRS for September had not been received at the time the estimate was prepared, your compensation for the 2014-15 school year may not have been used in the estimate or, if it was used, it may have only included 11 months of salary due to the change in reporting requirements addressed previously. If this occurred, future retirement estimates will include the additional month of salary attributed to the 2014-15 school year, or you may contact TRS for a current estimate. criteria, which took effect Sept.

1, 2014. However, the changes only affect members who did not have at least five years of service credit on Aug. 31, 2014, those persons who become members of TRS on or after Sept.

1, 2014, or members who had five years of service credit, terminate TRS membership by withdrawal of accumulated contributions on or after Sept. 1, 2014, and then later resume membership. For answers to frequently asked questions on annual statements, please visit www.trs.texas.gov. NO ANNUAL STATEMENT. If you became a new member of TRS or recently returned to TRS-covered employment after the end of the 2014-15 school year, you will not receive an annual statement until the fall of 2016.

When you receive your annual statement, please review it carefully and promptly notify TRS if your records are inconsistent with the reported compensation or number of years of service credit shown on your statement Employment after retirement - cont. from page 3 More information about service credit and/or compensation verification deadlines is included in the article titled “Important deadlines for verification of unreported service and service reported but not credited on your annual statement” on pages six and seven of this TRS News issue. Avoid jeopardizing your retirement benefit or forfeiting annuity payments and any health benefits paid on your behalf by TRS-Care. Know the facts – there are different limitations on full-time employment, substitute work and half-time employment. It is important that you review your annual statements carefully. In 2013, the Texas Legislature made changes to retirement eligibility 8 Care on your behalf or on behalf of your dependents.

If you can’t pay back the amount owed, TRS must permanently reduce your monthly benefit by an actuarially reduction to cover the benefits you were not eligible to receive. All of these situations and more are covered in the brochure. If you have questions about your individual situation after you read the Employment After Retirement brochure, please call TRS at 1-800-223-8778 and speak to a benefit counselor. .