If you are a member of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) and are nearing retirement, you should contact TRS six months prior to your anticipated retirement date to allow enough time to complete and submit all required forms. (TRS provides retirement programs for higher education employees; ERS provides health insurance for eligible and enrolled higher education employees.)

• Download the TRS Benefits Handbook find a checklist for planning retirement.

Retirement Steps

Approximately six months before your anticipated retirement date, submit a request for a retirement estimate by logging into MyTRS or call TRS at 1-800-223-8778, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. (UNT System Benefits does not have access to these records.)

As soon as you receive your retirement estimate, review the information carefully. If service and salary data on your estimate(s) does not agree with your records, notify TRS immediately. Questions regarding retirement plan options should be directed to TRS, 1-800-223-8778.

Review documents provided in your retirement packet, complete necessary forms and follow instructions in the packet:

• Application for Service Retirement form (TRS 30)
• Direct Deposit Request form (TRS 278)
• Income Tax Withholding Form (TRS 228A)
• Notice of Final Deposit Before Retirement form (TRS 7). Give form TRS 7 to a UNT System Benefits Representative. It will be filled out by the TRS reporting official for the system component.
• Partial Lump-Sum Option (PLSO) Election form (TRS 30P), if applicable
• Application for Disability Retirement form (TRS 59), if applicable
• Statement of Member in Claim for Disability Retirement form (TRS 59A), if applicable
• Statement of Attending Physician in Claim for Disability Retirement form (TRS 58), if applicable
• TRS-Care Enrollment Application - Retiree form (TRS 700A), if applicable (See additional information below.)
• Obtain copies of proof-of-age documents for yourself and if you select an Option 1, 2 or 5 retirement plan, include copies of your primary beneficiary’s proof- of-Age document. Print your name and your social security number on your document and your beneficiary’s document.
• Complete purchase of special service credit, if applicable. 

Retiree Health Insurance

Contact UNT System Benefits at 1-855-878-7650, Option 2, or email Benefits to verify eligibility for Employees Retirement System retiree medical insurance. To receive insurance benefits in retirement, you must have 10 years of service credit with the Group Benefits Plan through ERS, and either be age 65 or meet the Rule of 80 (service years + age = 80). 

Retirement Review

If you would like to meet with a Benefits representative, schedule an appointment 30 days before your retirement date. We will review your TRS packet, complete the ERS Retiree Insurance Enrollment Form and complete exit forms for your location. Contact a Benefits representative, 1-855-878-7650, Option 2. Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.