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  1. Benefits
  2. Retirement Plans
  3. TRS
  4. TRS

TRS

TRS is a defined benefit plan, which means that your retirement benefit (annuity) is defined by a formula, not by the amount that you contribute to the pension plan.

Formula:

  • Average top five salaries = A
  • Years of service x 2.3 = % = B
  • A x B = annuity

Example: $50,000 (A) x .575 (B) = $28,750 (annuity)

Employees participating in TRS contribute a percentage of income monthly and the employer contributes a percentage as well. These amounts are determined by the State.

Current rates are:

  • Employee contribution: 7.7%
  • Employer contribution: 7.5%

Retiring under TRS:

  • If you are retiring from an UNT System institution as a TRS member, the retirement process should ideally begin about six months prior to your planned departure date. Contact HRBenefits@untsystem.edu to schedule a Retirement Meeting with a benefits coordinator.
  • If retirement is a few years in the future, contact HRBenefits@untsystem.edu to help you determine when you are eligible to retire and how to navigate the retirement process. We’ll be glad to do a planning meeting with you to plan for your future retirement.
  • To be eligible for retiree health insurance: you must meet retirement eligibility AND must have 10 years (120 calendar months) of service with a Group Benefit Plan employer (employer participating in ERS administered insurance.  All UNT System campuses participate).
  • Retirement eligibility: Meet “Rule of 80” (age plus years of service = 80) OR be 65 with 5 years of service to be eligible to draw an annuity.
  • *Note, Rule of 80 may include an age minimum based on the employee’s “TRS Tier”. Create a MyTRS account to see which tier you are in:

MyTRS

Employees can access their own retirement account information by creating a MyTRS account. Use MyTRS to help plan for retirement and keep track of your information. MyTRS is available to both active and retired TRS members and includes a retirement calculator tool.

If you have not registered for MyTRS

  1. Go to https://www.trs.texas.gov/Pages/Homepage.aspx
  2. Click on MyTRS on the top right of the page
  3. Under “New to MyTRS?” click Register Now to create your login and password.

New employees will need to wait approximately 60 days after their hire date to register.

Helpful resources:

  • Check out the TRS Handbook of Benefits for more in-depth information, including information on tiers.
  • ERS (not TRS) administers our retiree health insurance.  Information about retiree health insurance can be found here.  Retirees must have 10 years of service with a Group Benefit Plan employer AND meet retirement eligibility for the retiree health insurance benefit.  State agencies listed here are also GBP employers. 
  • Contact HRBenefits@untsystem.edu if you have questions.  Everyone’s situation is different.  We’re here to help.