Pension for Occupational and Physical Therapists

In December 2024, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed the Chapter 551 bill into law, giving UFT members automatically enrolled in the Board of Education Retirement System (BERS) the option to transfer into the Teachers’ Retirement System. This new right was the culmination of a 20-year fight led by our chapter.

We have until Dec. 10, 2025, to request a transfer.

A decision to transfer to TRS is irrevocable, so it’s important to understand how a transfer may affect you. BERS and TRS have similar but not identical pension plans, so you may be required to make additional contributions when transferring to TRS.

• Visit the union’s FAQ page on BERS to TRS transfers
• See a chart to compare the two plans

We strongly recommend that all members attend a BERS transfer workshop offered by the UFT Pension Department before applying for a transfer. Keep an eye on your email for an invitation with session dates.