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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

Reestablishing Membership

If you have withdrawn your contributions and you wish to reestablish membership, you may do so by:

• Working as a contracted teacher for at least 90 calendar days within the fiscal year (July 1 - June 30); or
• Working as a substitute for at least the equivalent of 90 full-time working days within the fiscal year.

Membership exclusions

In most cases, those who are already receiving retirement benefits from another DRS plan will not be able to participate in TRS Plan 1. Contact DRS for more information. Information is also available in the brochure, Thinking about working after retirement? which is available from your employer or DRS.

Inform your employer of previous TRS membership

It is important that you tell your employer if you have any prior TRS membership, even if you withdrew your contributions.

Name or address change

If you have made a change to your name or address, and you are an:

Active member:

• Download the Name/Address Change form and submit the completed form to your employer.

Inactive member:

• Download the Name/Address Change form or contact DRS for a copy of the form. Submit the completed form to DRS.

Designating a beneficiary

To designate a beneficiary, or to change a beneficiary designation, submit a completed Beneficiary Designation form to DRS. The form is also available from your employer.