NEW MEMBERS

What you need to know now

TRA is a defined-benefit pension plan, which differs from a 403(b) or 401(k) because you receive a predictable retirement benefit for your lifetime, not an account balance that you might outlive. With TRA:

Membership is automatic. From your first day of employment with a TRA-covered employer, you are a member of TRA.

Savings are automatic. During your teaching years, a percentage is deducted from every paycheck for your retirement.

It’s easy. Contributions from you and your employer are pooled with all state public pension fund assets. The State Board of Investment manages these assets and the risk so you don’t have to.

Contributions are pretax. This reduces your taxable income.

Job change? No worries. If you stay employed in city, county or state government in Minnesota, you can keep your money at TRA and continue to accrue public-sector service credit toward your eventual pension.

Contribution Rates

Your TRA contributions are tax-sheltered until you retire or take a refund. Your TRA paycheck deductions are determined by Minnesota law and are subject to change.

As of July 1, 2018, your contribution rate is 7.50 percent of your salary. Your employer is contributing 7.71 percent to your pension plan.

Vesting

You are “vested” in the TRA plan after three years of service. Once you’re vested, you have earned enough service credit to be eligible for TRA benefits.

Service Credit

Service credit affects eligibility for benefits and benefit amount. Paid sick leave, vacation days and all required attendance days and hours (such as workshops) count toward service credit.

TRA allows no more than one year of service during any fiscal year. Service credit for part-time teachers, extracurricular pay, retro pay, and summer pay is prorated.

Benefits AND OPTIONS

LEAVES OF ABSENCE

There are several types, including sabbatical, medical, parental, family, extended, legislative, military. You may purchase service credit for an authorized leave. Read more about leaves of absence.

PART-TIME TEACHING

If you plan to job share or work part-time, you might be eligible to purchase full-time service credit toward your pension for your part-time teaching service. Read more about TRA’s part-time teaching program.

DISABILITY

Available to those with at least three years of service who become disabled. Read more about disability benefits.

SURVIVOR BENEFITS

Certain benefits are available to your survivor(s) if you die before retiring with the TRA pension plan. Read more about pre-retirement survivor benefits.

REFUNDS

If you leave teaching, you are entitled to a refund of your employee contributions. However, vested members might consider a deferred annuity because of the potential greater value of a lifetime annuity vs. a refund. Read more about refunds.