Fiscal Year 2013 Teachers' Retirement Insurance Program

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Recent Law Change May Impact TRS Benefit Recipients

Public Act 97-0632, effective January 1, 2012, gave school districts, public institutions of higher education, and units of local government the right to use the Comptroller’s offset system to collect delinquent obligations owed to that entity. TRS has already seen a dramatic increase in these “involuntary withholding” orders, due to unpaid parking fines, overpaid unemployment benefits, unpaid student loans, etc.

When this occurs, payments that are normally electronically deposited into your financial institution are reduced by the debt, and a paper check is mailed to your home. TRS has no advance notice that an involuntary withholding order has been placed on a check. You must contact the Involuntary Withholding Unit at the Comptroller’s Office at (217) 782-8290 for information.

Post-retirement Employment Limitations Reduced

Beginning July 1, 2011, a retired Tier I member may work in a TRS-covered position for 100 days or 500 hours each school year and not lose benefits. The old limit, which expired at the end of June, was 120 days or 600 hours per year. A member's benefits are suspended if the limit is exceeded. Click here for more information.

Refund?

Inactive teachers (if you have not contributed to TRS for four or more months): click on this link to request a refund of your TRS contributions.

Online Personalized Retirement Planning

The benefit estimate feature in Member Account Access will take information from your TRS record and use it to help you calculate your retirement income. Click here for more on the Personalized Benefit Estimate.

Tier I and Tier II Retirement Plans Explained

Public Act 96-0889, formerly Senate Bill 1946, adds a new section to the Pension Code that will apply to anyone who first contributed to the Teachers’ Retirement System on or after January 1, 2011. Please select the following link to read more: EZ Guide to Retirement Plan Tier I and Retirement Plan Tier II under Public Act 96-0889

Private School Service Credit Information

The law allows up to two years of optional service credit for private school teaching for members who apply for it by August 1, 2012. A TRS member pays the full cost.

Here is a link to an optional service page with further details about purchasing the credit.

Here is a link to the recognized Illinois private school database (PDF). Please call Member Services at (800) 877-7896 or email us at members@trs.illlinois.gov regarding any omissions from the list.

Online Security Increases in Member Account Access Area

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