The TRS pension plan is a defined benefit plan. This means retirement benefits are determined using a formula established by Texas law and not member contributions.
This diagram shows you how standard annuity/lifetime retirement benefits are calculated. The formula takes into account your years of service credit and highest salaries to calculate your lifetime retirement benefits. To estimate your retirement benefits, you will want to access the MyTRS portal.
TRS also administers two other benefit programs established by state law. These programs, and their funding, are separate from the TRS pension plan and have different eligibility requirements:
- TRS-ActiveCare – The health benefit program for eligible active public school employees and their eligible dependents
- TRS-Care – The health benefit program for eligible retirees and their eligible dependents
At TRS, we are committed to serving you and upholding our responsibilities:
- To efficiently deliver retirement and health care benefits
- To manage the trust fund that finances member benefits
Learn More About Your Benefits
Member Contributions
As a TRS member, you’re required to contribute a percentage of your eligible compensation as your share in funding for your future retirement benefits.
Membership Tiers
Knowing your tier can help you better understand the requirements and reductions that apply to you for normal age service retirement, early age service retirement and the Partial Lump Sum Option.
Understanding Your Pension Fund
Know how the TRS Pension Trust Fund operates. Dive into: How the Health of the Fund is Calculated; How Benefit Enhancements are Paid for; and Experience Study & Investment Return Assumption.
Social Security and TRS
While TRS benefit payments are not affected by Social Security, TRS can verify the date you were first eligible for a TRS retirement benefit and the amount of your benefit if the Social Security Administration is requesting the information.
Estimate My Retirement Benefits
Log in to MyTRS, and select the Benefit Calculator located under the Planning Tools tab. The calculator will automatically import current data from your TRS records such as your tier, years of service credit, and highest annual salaries.
Change the data if you want to explore different scenarios. You can also read more about the tiers in this Guide to Understanding Your Tier.