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Purchasing prior service credit
Were you a New York City or New York State employee or did you work as a substitute teacher or serve in the military before joining the Teachers’ Retirement System? If so, you may have the option to buy service credit.
UFT Lobby Day 2025
About 1,000 UFT members and parents spent March 10 in Albany, lobbying legislators and hearing from Gov. Kathy Hochul and other state officials on key issues for the union. They spoke with lawmakers about fixing Tier 6, banning cellphones in schools, providing adequate state aid to schools, protecting students and school communities from cuts to federal aid, and maintaining vital UFT programs like United Community Schools and the UFT Teacher Center.
Retiring soon?
If you are planning to retire in the next year or two, now is the time to start preparing. It may seem early, but trust us, it’s not.
The UFT Pension Department is here for you to assist in your transition to retirement.
Paraprofessional pensions
Paraprofessionals have the security of knowing they will receive a pension check every month for the rest of their lives after they retire as members of the Teachers' Retirement System. Learn all you need to know about this key benefit.
Save with the TDA program
The Tax-Deferred Annuity program is a simple and powerful way to save additional money for your retirement. Your TDA account is funded exclusively through your own contributions.
UFT pension services
The UFT Pension Department offers an array of services to inform members of their retirement benefits and help them prepare for retirement.
In sickness and in death
It’s always a good idea to speak with your family about what to do in the event of a debilitating illness or death. Here is a list of topics to discuss with your family and the legal documents you should have. Let trusted family members know where...
Your TDA options at retirement
When you retire, you have three choices for handling your money in your Tax-Deferred Annuity: 1) Defer; 2) Convert your TDA into a monthly annuity; or 3) Withdraw all the funds. Most TRS and BERS members elect TDA deferral status.
History of the UFT pension plan
New pension plan tiers come into existence when the state Legislature enacts new laws that change benefits, contribution rates and service requirements. But a pension tier is never set in amber. Over the past 40 years, legislative amendments to each...
It’s a good time to review your pension
The start of a new school year is a good opportunity to review the basics of membership in the Teachers’ Retirement System or the Board of Education Retirement System.