If a disability totally incapacitates you for continued employment with a public school district or ESD, and you leave that employment as a result, you may be eligible for a disability retirement benefit. There is no minimum service credit requirement for this benefit. Benefits will not be paid until you have separated from service.
You can learn more about TRS Plan 3 disability benefits by reading the DRS online publication, TRS Plan 2 and 3 Disability Benefits.
The disability retirement benefit, including survivor options, is determined by the same formula as a service retirement benefit. The disability retirement benefit is reduced to reflect your age at the time benefits begin.
If your monthly benefit under Option 1 (see “What are my benefit options?”) will be less than $134.39 (as of 2006), you may choose to take payment in a lump sum. This figure changes each January.