What documentation can I use as proof of my date of birth?
The following items are considered acceptable date-of-birth documentation: birth certificate, passport, or naturalization document.
If none of the above is available, you can submit two of the following: driver's license, certificate of military record, Confidential Social Security Benefit Information Form SSA2458, or other government-issued identification.
Please note that any date-of-birth documentation in a language other than English must be accompanied by a translation. Puerto Rico birth certificates are valid only if issued July 1, 2010 or later. Photocopies of all documents are acceptable.
You may upload your date-of-birth documentation in the secure area of our website or mail it to TRS.
Please submit your documentation as early in your membership as possible. TRS cannot process any withdrawal-related requests (e.g., loans) or calculate your retirement benefits if we do not have proof of your date of birth.
Can regularly appointed teachers in New York City public schools join TRS?
Yes. If you are appointed as a teacher or pedagogue in a public school maintained by the New York City Department of Education, you would automatically become a TRS member as of your appointment date.
Can full-time faculty or professors with the City University of New York join TRS?
Yes. Full-time instructional staff of CUNY must join either TRS or the Optional Retirement Program offered by TIAA. If you do not join the Optional Retirement Program within 30 days of your appointment to the CUNY position, you would automatically become a TRS member. Your TRS membership would be effective as of your appointment date.
Can paraprofessionals in New York City public schools join TRS?
Yes. TRS membership is optional. You may enroll at any time by accessing the "Enroll Now" link on our homepage. Your membership would begin on the day that TRS receives your enrollment request. Once you enroll, you must maintain your membership for as long as you are in a TRS-eligible position.
Can adjuncts with the City University of New York join TRS?
Yes. TRS membership is optional. You may enroll at any time by accessing the "Enroll Now" link on our homepage. Your membership would begin on the day that TRS receives your enrollment request. Once you enroll, you must maintain your membership for as long as you are in a TRS-eligible position.
Can New York City Charter School employees join TRS?
Yes, if their Charter School has selected pension coverage from TRS. Appointed teachers and pedagogues in participating Charter Schools are required to become TRS members, and paraprofessionals may choose to join TRS. Check with your school administrator to learn if your Charter School provides TRS coverage for employees.
Can substitute teachers and per diem teachers in New York City public schools join TRS?
No. But, depending on your title, you may be eligible for membership in the Board of Education Retirement System or the New York City Employees’ Retirement System.
If you are a substitute teacher employed by the City University of New York (CUNY), you are eligible to join TRS.
What are the benefits of TRS membership?
As a TRS member, once you have completed the minimum requirements, you will be entitled to receive a retirement allowance from the Qualified Pension Plan. You may also enroll in the Tax-Deferred Annuity Program, which enables you to save money from your salary on a tax-deferred basis; at retirement, these savings could fund a separate annuity. As a TRS member, you may also be eligible to take out loans from the Qualified Pension Plan and the Tax-Deferred Annuity Program. In addition, if you die while you are an in-service member, your beneficiary may be eligible to receive a death benefit.
How do I enroll in TRS?
If your TRS membership is mandatory, you will be automatically enrolled in TRS, and will not need to submit an enrollment request. (However, you must provide other documentation; see What documentation must I provide to TRS as a new member?)
If your TRS membership is optional, you may enroll by accessing the "Enroll Now" link on our homepage.
For more information about enrolling in TRS, please refer to the Enrolling in TRS brochure.
What documentation must I provide to TRS as a new member?
Members must provide the following to TRS:
| Documentation |
Method |
| Beneficiary designations under the QPP |
- Secure section of our website;
|
| Information about membership in a public retirement system within New York State or in TIAA (if applicable) |
|
| Information about previous work for a public employer within New York State (if applicable) |
|
| Information about military service (if applicable) |
|
| Proof of your date of birth (see below for more details) |
- Secure section of our website; or
- Paper documentation
|
When will I be assigned a membership number?
You will be assigned a membership number once we have completed processing your enrollment. This number will appear on your paystubs, EFT statements, and TRS correspondence.
Why is the pension number box on my pay stub blank?
If your TRS membership is mandatory, the box may be blank because TRS has not completed processing your enrollment. If your TRS membership is optional, the box may be blank because you have not enrolled in TRS, or TRS has not completed your enrollment.
I seem to have two different TRS numbers. Which one should I use?
All in-service members have a membership number that begins with an introductory code "00T" and is followed by six numbers. For TRS' filing purposes, the first of those six numbers may vary on different correspondence. For example, a "0" and a "5" are considered interchangeable, as are a "1" and a "6", or a "2" and a "7." You may use either of these numbers when you correspond with TRS. Please also note that the introductory code on TDA correspondence may begin with an "AOT."
How do I enroll in the TDA Program?
You may enroll in the TDA Program at any time by accessing the secure section of our website. When you enroll in the TDA Program, you should also designate your beneficiaries under the TDA Program.