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• Members

• Table of Contents
• Key plan provisions
• Plan 1 membership definition
• When should I start planning for retirement?
• Who pays for my benefits?
• What is service credit?
• Claiming credit for substitute teaching
• Can I purchase credit for past service?
• What if I leave my TRS position?
• Reestablishing membership
• Can I restore credit for past service?
• What if I’ve previously been a member of another retirement system
• How do I retire?
• Can I obtain a refund of contributions paid after 30 years of service?
• What is my service retirement benefit?
• What are my benefit options?
• What is the purchase additional service credit option?
• Can I continue health care coverage after I retire?
• Can my benefit increase after I retire?
• What if I work after retirement?
• What if I become disabled?
• What benefits do my survivors receive?
• Taxation and assignment of benefits
• Why does DRS need my Social Security number?
• Administrative information
• Contacting DRS

Teachers' Retirement System

What if I become disabled?

Plan 1 provides two types of disability benefits:

• Temporary disability benefits, payable for up to two years of continuous disability, and
• Permanent disability retirement benefits, payable if you have at least five years of service credit.

Eligibility for temporary disability benefits

Note: Changes were made to this provision (HB 1261) during the 2007 legislative session.

You must be:

• A member employed full time by a Washington public school at the time the disability occurs,
• Mentally or physically incapacitated for the performance of duty for at least 60 consecutive calendar days from the date of disablement, and
• A TRS member employed full time in a covered position when applying for and receiving temporary disability benefits.

For more information about eligibility requirements, see the brochure, TRS Plan 1 Disability Benefits, available from TRS or your employer.

Benefits

Temporary disability benefits are $180 per month for up to two years for a single disability. The first payment is retroactive to the effective date of the disability. Benefits are not paid for periods of disability shorter than 60 consecutive calendar days, or for periods following separation from employment.

You may apply for benefits after you have been disabled for 60 consecutive calendar days. Applications must be filed no later than four years from the date of disability. The application can be made by you, your employer or by the legal representative (estate) of a deceased member who was eligible for benefits within the time limits.

A doctor’s report is required with the application. TRS may periodically also require additional doctor’s reports. Application forms and medical report forms are available from DRS.

Eligibility for permanent disability retirement benefits

You must:

• Be permanently disabled for the performance of your duties while employed under an annual contract as a contributing member of TRS,
• Have five or more years of service credit, and
• End your public school service. (Members are advised to apply for disability retirement and establish eligibility before separating from employment.)

If you qualify for a service retirement, your benefit will be processed as a service retirement, rather than as a disability retirement.

Benefit formula

A disability retirement benefit is calculated the same as a service retirement. Members with at least five years of service credit also have survivor benefit options. These options are the same as those described in the benefit options section, with one exception: If you choose the maximum retirement benefit and then die before receiving annuity payments equal to the value of your accumulated contributions, the balance of your contributions will be paid to your beneficiary or estate. If your disability is terminal, we encourage you to discuss survivor benefits with a DRS Retirement Services Analyst.

Disability withdrawal of contributions

A disabled member who has terminated employment has the option of withdrawing his or her contributions, plus interest, and terminating membership in the plan. This would cancel all rights and eligibility for future benefit payments.

Termination of benefits

A member retired for disability may be required to undergo a medical examination at any time. If the examination shows that the member is no longer disabled for the performance of public school service, the disability retirement benefit may be terminated. If that happens, full membership in TRS will be restored.

For more information about your disability benefits, see the brochure, TRS Plan 1 Disability Benefits. You can obtain this publication from DRS or your employer.