System

New York City

Teachers’ Retirement System (TRS)

Tier IV.*  

Optional Retirement Program

Tier V**

Type of Plan

Defined benefit plan: Benefits are based on age, average of highest three year’s consecutive salary and years of employment.

Defined contribution plan: Benefits are based on the amounts contributed by the employer and employee and the success of the employee’s choice of investments.

Vesting

5 years of full-time credited service.

After 366 days of continuous full-time employment.

(Immediate if employee has an open-vested TIAA-CREF Retirement Contract.)

Retirement Age

Minimum 55 and 5 years of credited service at an actuarially reduced rate or age 55 with 30 or more years of service with no reduction or 62 and 5 years of service with no reduction.  Normal retirement is at age 62.  Full-time employees appointed after 12/27/01 are eligible for after retirement health benefits if they are receiving a City pension and have at least 10 years of credited service.

Member may choose to retire and begin annuity income after vesting.  However, city-provided health benefits are not available to individuals with less than 15 years of full-time CUNY service and age 62.

Contribution Rates

For the first 10 years of public employment,  employee pays 3% of regular compensation on a federally tax-deferred basis.  Employer contributes a lump-sum annually to its pension funds, not to individual accounts.  The annual amount is determined by the actuary of the pension systems.

For the first 10 years of public employment, employee pays 3% of regular compensation on a federally tax-deferred basis.  Employer pays 8% of salary for first seven years of employment and 10% thereafter. Employer also assumes the employee 3% contribution after 10 years of CUNY service for a total of 13% after 10 years of CUNY service.

Retirement Allowance

Less than 20 years of service:

1.67% x Final Average Salary (FAS): (average wages paid for three consecutive years) x years of service.

20 to 30 years of service:

2% x FAS x years of service.

Over 30 years of service:

Additional 1.5% after 30 years x FAS x years of service after 30.

Retirement benefits are based on total accumulations, age at retirement, and the income option selected.

Tax Deferred Annuity

Tax Deferred Annuity (TDA):

Available.

Tax-deferred Group Supplemental Retirement Annuity (SRA): Available

Disability Benefits

A member of TRS is eligible to retire for Ordinary Disability if he or she has 10 or more years of service credit.  Benefit schedules and formulas are spelled out in the laws relating to Tier IV.

A member who has been certified disabled and retires may receive annuity payments and city-provided health benefits after 10-years of full-time service.

Death Benefit for      Active Employees       

1/12 of last year’s earned salary x years of service to a maximum of 36 years.  Or one year’s salary x years of service to a maximum of 3 years which is reduced actuarially after age 61.

Total amount in pension and SRA accounts.

Loans

Yes, on member contributions and TDA accumulations.

Yes, to the maximum allowable by law on both the Pension and SRA.