NOTE: This glossary is an aid for members and employers, but official definitions are contained in statutes, regulations and the summary plan description. This glossary is under construction to reflect the addition of TRS 4.
Active Member – A member of TRS who has made contributions and those contributions remain in his/her TRS account.
Active Contributing Member – A member who is currently making contributions to TRS or who made contributions in the preceding fiscal year.
Beneficiary Designation – There are two designations that each active member needs to make: (1) the beneficiary of the member’s TRS account balance (Form F1C); and (2) the beneficiary of the Life Insurance Benefit (Form DB1).
Contributions – The money that is deducted from a member’s gross earnings each month and placed into the member’s TRS account. University members contribute into Social Security in addition to TRS. Non-university members do not participate into Social Security. See “Historical University Member Contribution Rates” or “Historical Non-University Member Contribution Rates” for more information.
Defined Benefit Group Retirement Plan – TRS is a defined benefit group retirement plan that guarantees a lifetime benefit based on the member’s years of service, average salary and the retirement factor. The amount of member contributions does not determine the amount of retirement benefit.
Defined Contribution Individual Savings Plan – An individual retirement plan, such as a 401(k), in which the amount of monthly benefit is based on the member’s contributions and the invested earnings of those contributions. A lifetime benefit is not guaranteed.
Disability Retirement – A member must have five years of creditable Kentucky service in order to receive a monthly benefit (unless the disabling condition is work related) and the disabling condition must be severe enough to prevent the member from performing his/her job duties for at least 12 months. Application must be made within one year of the member’s last contributing service. Effective July 1, 2002, if a member has 27 years of service he/she is not eligible for disability retirement because he/she is eligible to receive service retirement benefits. (See “Disability Information” pamphlet).
Estimate of Retirement Benefits – TRS can provide a member with an estimate of his/her TRS monthly benefit. The member must provide TRS with specific information, including current earnings, number of unused sick days and the anticipated retirement date. The estimate letter will be mailed to the member. (See “Service Retirement” pamphlet and “Retirement Options” pamphlet).
Fiscal Year – July 1 through June 30 of the following calendar year.
Full year of Service (1.0) – This is obtained by working the required number of contract days and remaining in active status for the full fiscal year. If a member completes his/her full contract and retires as of July 1, the member will receive a full year of service. If the member completes his/her full contract and retires as of June 1, he/she will receive .92 year of service because the member is not in active status for the full fiscal year (the member is active for 11 months and retired for the 12th month). KRS.161.500 allows 1.0 year of service credit if the member has 5 or fewer unpaid days.
Health Insurance – TRS provides access to group health insurance coverage for retired members. The amount of the TRS supplement depends on the member’s years of service. Retirees who are under 65 are covered by the Commonwealth of Kentucky state plans; retirees who are over 65 year must enroll with Medicare and TRS provides a “supplement” to the Medicare coverage and prescription drug coverage to help with prescription drugs.
Installment plan – TRS allows bank draft payments as a means of purchasing service. The interest charged is 8% compounded annually.
KEA-R – Kentucky Education Association-Retired is an organization much like KRTA. (888-456-9097).
TRS — The Teachers’ Retirement System of the State of Kentucky
KRS – Kentucky Retirement Systems, a group of state retirement plans consisting of KERS (Kentucky Employees’ Retirement System), CERS (County Employees’ Retirement System) and SPRS (State Police Retirement System).
KRTA – Kentucky Retired Teachers’ Association is an organization of retired teachers that provides additional information; support; dental, visual, long-term health insurance, etc. (800-551-7979).
Members – Individuals who are employed in eligible agencies and occupy positions that require either Certification by the Department of Education or graduation from a four (4) year college or university as a condition of employment. (Prior to July 1, 2002, full-time employment was a condition for membership). Eligible agencies include: public schools; Kentucky Department of Education; Murray State University, Western Kentucky University, Kentucky State University, Morehead State University, Eastern Kentucky University; the Community Colleges; some KCTCS positions; Regional Cooperatives; Department of Vocational Rehabilitation; etc. See the TRS Law Book for a complete list. (KRS 161.990(4)).
Reciprocal Retirement Systems – KRS (see above), Legislators’ Retirement Plan, Judicial Retirement System and TRS. Each system recognizes service earned in the other systems when calculating a member’s total years of service. Separate retirement applications must be filed with each system in which the member has an account.
Refund of a TRS Account – A member who is no longer employed in a TRS-covered position may withdraw his/her contributions if he/she is not eligible to retire.
Reinstatement of a previously refunded TRS Account – An active contributing member who has one year of active TRS service may reinstate contributions (plus interest) and service credits that were previously refunded.
Salary – Member’s contract salary plus extra earnings for additional service.
Service Credit – The percentage of contract days that a member works each fiscal year. Each member has a specific number of contract days that he/she must work in order to receive a full year of service for the current year (ex. 185, 190, 240, 260). If a member does not work the full contract, the fractional year of service for the current year is determined by dividing the number of days worked by the number of contract days. Current law permits a full year of service with no more than five unpaid days.
Service Credit Purchases – Active-contributing members may purchase additional service credit if eligibility factors are met. See details page.
Service Retirement – A member is eligible to receive a lifetime monthly benefit if he/she has 27 years or more of active Kentucky service (regardless of age) or if he/she has at least five or more years of active Kentucky service and is at least 55 years of age (with a reduction) or 60 years of age (with no reduction).
Shared Responsibility – Retiree health care legislation, developed and supported by the education community, passed through the Kentucky House of Representatives and Senate, without a single negative vote, and was signed into law in 2010. This legislation helps insure that not only Kentucky’s current retired teachers, but active teachers when they retire as well, will continue to receive health benefits. Click for more information on Shared Responsibility.
Sick Leave – Each employing agency has a policy on how the member’s unused sick days are used in calculating the member’s retirement. Some agencies give the member service credit for the unused sick days (the number of unused sick days divided by 185); some school districts give the retiring member a percentage of the daily rate for each unused sick day and this amount is added to the member’s last year’s salary. Some members who are 12-month employees will have unused sick, annual, and/or comp. time for which the employing agency will provide service credit and/or payment.
Survivor Benefits – These monthly benefits are provided to the survivors of an active contributing member upon the death of the member. Persons who may qualify: A member’s widow/widower if named beneficiary; Minor children: under age 18; up to age 23 if a full-time college student; unmarried; and benefits are limited to four minor children. Mentally or physically disabled adult children; Dependent parents; or Dependent brothers or sisters.