Teachers Retirement System of Texas
TRS

TRS is a defined-benefits plan, which provides three basic benefits to employees participating in the program: retirement benefits, disability benefits and survivor and death benefits based on length of service and salary level. Detailed descriptions of these benefits, including payment options, are available at www.trs.state.tx.us.

It is important for employees to note that some of the information provided by TRS is not applicable to UHCL employees. When inquiring about TRS benefits, employees should only refer to the retirement information and disregard any of the health insurance benefit information that is referenced. All retirement health insurance benefits provided to UHCL retiring employees are provided by the Employees Retirement System of Texas (ERS).

Benefits eligible employees will continue to participate in TRS until retirement or termination, unless the employee has a change of employment status which makes him eligible to participate in ORP. It is the employee's responsibility in that case to make the decision to change to ORP within the first ninety (90) days of eligibility by submitting the appropriate forms to the Office of Human Resources. The 90-day election period to change from TRS to ORP is available only once during an employee's career in Texas State-supported institutions of higher education. The employee who chooses to change to ORP is not permitted to return to TRS.

An employee who is an active member in TRS at another higher education institution or public school district must contribute to TRS the required percentage of UHS salary regardless of whether or not the UHS position is eligible for TRS membership.

The State provides through UHCL, a contribution to the employee's TRS plan which is equal to 6% of the employee's gross salary. An employee participating in TRS is required to contribute 6.4% of his gross salary to the TRS account. The employee's contributions are tax-deferred. Interest is credited each August 31 to the employee's TRS account balance at the rate of 5% per year. No participation (contribution) occurs during any calendar month during which the employee is on leave without pay status for the entire month.