Tier I — those who joined TRS before July 1, 1973.

Tier II — those who joined TRS after June 30, 1973 and before July 27, 1976

Tier III — those who joined TRS after July 26, 1976 and before September 1, 1983

All Tier III members may retire under Tier IV.

Tier IV (age 62) — those who joined TRS after August 31, 1983 but prior to Feb. 28, 2008.  Many Tier IV members have opted into the 55/25 plan.

Tier IV (55/27) — those who joined after Feb. 28, 2008 but prior to April 1, 2012.

Tier VI — those who joined the retirement system after March 31, 2012.

If you have a username and password on the TRS website at www.trsnyc.org, you can enroll in the TDA Program online at any time. When you enroll in the TDA Program, you should also designate a TDA beneficiary, which is available on the TRS website. If you are a member of BERS, call 929-305-3800.

You may be eligible for a TDA loan if

• you have participated in the TDA Program for at least one year;
• you are an in-service member, or you are on a leave of absence, or you have TDA Deferral status;
• you are not in default on an existing TDA loan.

You may learn whether you are currently eligible to take a loan by logging in to the TRS website at www.trsnyc.org.

You may be eligible for a loan from your pension fund account (Qualified Pension Plan or QPP) if:

• you are either an in-service member or on a leave of absence,
• you are not in default on an existing pension loan.
• as a Tier I or II member, you have at least three years of TRS membership service; OR
• as a Tier III, IV or VI member, you have at least one year of TRS credited service.

You may learn whether you are currently eligible to take a loan by logging in to the TRS website at www.trsnyc.org.

No. Your contributions automatically continue into the next year. However, you may change your contribution rate on the Teachers' Retirement System website at www.trsnyc.org or by filing a hardcopy TDA Contribution Rate Change Form. BERS members may call 929-305-3800.

The cost of purchasing service is based on your tier in the pension system. You may be eligible to pay in a lump sum, through payroll deductions, or through a TDA transfer. TRS will give you a Cost Letter, which explains the options, the amount of credit available for purchase and the cost.

There is no limit on the number of years of prior service credit you can purchase. However, you can't receive more than one year of credit for any given school year, and there may be minimum service requirements in a given year. You must complete at least two years of credited service with the retirement system before you can receive credit for prior service.

New members receive a “Designation of QPP (Qualified Pension Plan) Beneficiary Form” with their TDA enrollment application and should file both forms together. Participants in the Tax Deferred Annuity Program should designate a beneficiary for their TDA funds by filing a “Designation of TDA Beneficiary Form.”

In-service members may change their beneficiary on the TRS website (www.trsnyc.org) at any time.There is one exception: If you have a trust on file or wish to designate a trust as beneficiary, you can’t make beneficiary changes online. You must instead submit a Designation of QPP Beneficiary Form, code EN6, and/or a Designation of TDA Beneficiary Form, code EN8. 

Members of the Board of Education Retirement System (BERS) can call 929-305-3800 or visit BERS for information on how to designate or update their beneficiaries.

See "Designating Your Beneficiaries" for more detailed information. 

That depends on when you joined the retirement system. Your contribution rate is indicated on your Quarterly Account Statement from TRS or you can call a pension consultant at your UFT borough office. In any case, you will pay a percentage of your salary and the employer will contribute the rest of the money needed to pay for your pension benefit.

Substitutes and per diem teachers cannot join the Teachers’ Retirement System, but they may be eligible for pension coverage with the Board of Education Retirement System (BERS). Contact BERS at 65 Court Street, Brooklyn, New York 11201, or call 929-305-3800 or your UFT borough office. When you are a regularly appointed teacher, you are eligible to enroll in and transfer your pension to the Teachers' Retirement System.