FAQ: Further Questions about TRS

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TRS Retirement FAQ: Other Questions

When do I start getting my retirement checks?

If you do not work past June 15, you will get a June, July, and August pay check from the district and a TRS retirement check.  Expect your TRS checks to start approximately 31 days after the district gives you your last check. So, if the district gives you your last check at the end of August, 31 days after that you will see your June, July, and August checks deposited at one time.  The reason for this is because the district will not transmit your salary from last year until the district pays you off in August.  If you retire at semester, you should get your first retirement check in 31 days.

Do I get a check from the district and from TRS in June, July, and August?

Yes, for those who have been getting paid during the summer months!!  If you do not work past June 15, you will get a June, July, and August retirement check from TRS.  The district has withheld money from your check each month so they can give you a check in June, July, and August.

If I am retiring under the rule of 80, and at the end of the school year I am at 79, can I resign and wait until my birthday to retire?

Yes!  As an example, if you have taught 25 years and are 54, the sum of your age and teaching is 79.  Let’s say your birthday is in December.  You could RESIGN at the end of the school year and wait until the last day of December to RETIRE from TRS because after your birthday you would then meet the rule of 80. (25 years of teaching plus age 55 equals 80.)

How do I calculate how much I will get each month form TRS?

The formula to calculate the standard annuity is

(Highest 3- or 5-year average) (.023) (years of teaching) = your yearly amount

For example, if you had 28 years of teaching and your average salary was $60,000 here is the calculation:

($60,000) X (.023) X (28) = $38,640 per year or $3220 per month

There are only two deductions taken out of your check, the TRS Care insurance and taxes.

Will TRS calculate my average salary using my highest 3 or 5 years?

Your TRS monthly payment is based on the best three-year average of your annual compensation if you are grandfathered. Any time TRS uses the word grandfathered, it means that on or before September 1, 2005, you met any one of the following:

      • you attained the age of 50; or
      • you had at least 25 years of service credit; or
      • your age and years of service credit totaled at least 70.

If you don’t meet one of the above, your pension will be calculated using the highest 5-year average.

Can I work after I retire?

If you retired on or before January 1, 2021:

      • You may now work in Texas public education in any capacity without any loss of monthly annuities.
      • The district must pay a surcharge for all retirees who retired after September 1, 2005. SB 202, passed during the 2021 session, prohibits the school districts from requiring the rehired employee to pay any part of the penalty, and the district must pay the employee for the years of experience he/she had when he/she retired.

If you retired AFTER January 1, 2021 and have a 12-month break in service:

      • If you have a break in service of 12 full consecutive calendar months after retirement (including no substituting), you may work full time for as much as 12 months each school year without any loss of annuities.

If you retired After January 1, 2021 and do NOT have a 12-month break in service:

      • You may work 92 hours each month as long as you do not substitute while you are doing part-time work.
      • If you substitute and do part-time work at the same time, you may only work 11 days each month. (You must have one full month of separation before working for schools after retirement. For example, if you work into June, you must not work for a district until after July.)
      • After a month separation from the district after retirement, you may substitute an unlimited amount of time, providing there is an employee in the position for which you substitute.
      • If you substitute for vacant position, you are limited to no more than 20 days a year for that position.
      • You may work and make as much as you want as long as you are working for an entity that does not pay into TRS.

If you plan to work for a school after retirement, UEA recommends that you call TRS at 1-800-223-8778 and do a final check before you start.

When TRS uses the term grandfathered, what does that mean?

If you met at least one of the following criteria before Sept. 1, 2005, you are a grandfathered member.

      • You attained the age of 50; or
      • You had at least 25 years of service credit; or
      • Your age and years of service credit totaled at least 70.

How much is deducted for early age retirement?

For grandfathered members you must meet one of the following before Sept. 1, 2005:

      • You attained the age of 50; or
      • You had at least 25 years of service credit; or
      • Your age and years of service credit totaled at least 70.

With greater than 20 years:  Annuity reduction could be as great as 10%

With less than 20 years: reduction could be as great as 53%.

For non-grandfathered members:

Early age retirement reduction could be as great as 53%.

Call TRS at 1-800-223-8778 for the exact reduction of your annuity.

How Do I Determine What Tier I Am In? 

Notice:  If you do not meet the requirements of any of the tiers, but you are 65 years of age and have at least five years of service, you may retire with no penalty for early retirement.  You will not be eligible for the health insurance unless you meet the requirements in one of the tiers below.

Notice: To retain your placement in a particular Tier, you cannot terminate your membership by withdrawing your accumulated contributions and resume membership in TRS after Aug. 31, 2014.

 Tier 1 – You retire under the rule of 80 and your best three years of salary will be used for your average salary.

  1. Your current TRS membership began prior to Sept. 1, 2007
  2. You had at least five years of service credit as of Aug. 31, 2014
  3. You met at least one of the 2005 eligibility requirements to be grandfathered:
        • You attained the age of 50; or
        • You had at least 25 years of service credit; or
        • Your age and years of service credit totaled at least 70.


Tier 2 – You retire under the rule of 80 and your best five years of salary will be used to calculate your average salary.

  1. Your current TRS membership began prior to Sept. 1, 2007
  2. You had at least five years of service in TRS as of Aug. 1, 2014
  3. You did not meet at least one of the 2005 eligibility requirements to be grandfathered:
          • You attained the age of 50; or
          • You had at least 25 years of service credit; or
          • Your age and years of service credit totaled at least 70.


Tier 3 – You retire under the rule of 80 and you must be 60 years of age. Your best five years of salary will be used to calculate your average salary.

  1. Your current TRS membership began on or after Sept. 1, 2007 but prior to Sept 1, 2014
  2. You had at least five years of service credit in TRS as of Aug. 31, 2014
  3. You did not meet at least one of the 2005 eligibility requirements to be grandfathered:
        • You attained the age of 50; or
        • You had at least 25 years of service credit; or
        • Your age and years of service credit totaled at least 70.

Tier 4 – You retire under the rule of 80 and you must be 60 years of age. Your best five years of salary will be used to calculate your average salary.

  1. Your current TRS membership began on or after Sept.  1, 2007, but prior to Sept.  1, 2014
  2. You had at least five years of service credit in TRS as of Aug. 31, 2014
  3. You met at least one of the 2005 eligibility requirements to be grandfathered:
        • You attained the age of 50; or
        • You had at least 25 years of service credit; or
        • Your age and years of service credit totaled at least 70.


Tier 5 – You retire under the rule of 80 and you must be 62 years of age. Your best five years of salary will be used to calculate your average salary.

You did not meet at least one of the 2005 eligibility requirements to be grandfathered:

        • You attained the age of 50; or
        • You had at least 25 years of service credit; or
        • Your age and years of service credit totaled at least 70.

And if any of the following applies:

        • you did not have at least five years of service credit on Aug. 31, 2014
        • your current membership in TRS began on or after Sept. 1, 2014


Tier 6– You retire under the rule of 80 and you must be 62 years of age. Your best five years of salary will be used to calculate your average salary.

You met at least one of the 2005 eligibility requirements to be grandfathered:

        • You attained the age of 50; or
        • You had at least 25 years of service credit; or
        • Your age and years of service credit totaled at least 70.

And any of the following applies:

        • you did not have at least five years of service credit on Aug. 31, 2014
        • your current membership in TRS began on or after Sept. 1, 2014
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