T-D-A stands for the Tax-Deferred Annuity Program, which includes a traditional TDA and a Roth account option. This defined-contribution program, established under Section 403(b) of the Internal Revenue Code, provides TRS members with the opportunity to save additional funds for retirement. Participants in the traditional TDA option make contributions on a pre-tax basis, while participants in the Roth option make after-tax contributions. Generally, earnings grow tax-free in the accounts. Traditional TDA funds are taxable when received as income, while Roth funds are tax-free when received as a qualified withdrawal.

The figures used by your union representative were estimates. Several factors included in the actual retirement allowance calculation may not have been known to your union representative when he or she made the estimate. These factors may have included changes in unit value, your recent investment elections, the payment option you chose, your Final Average Salary, your total service credit, and whether you took a loan or made an excess withdrawal at retirement.

In general, lump-sum payments of your retirement allowance are only permitted for terminally ill members (please see the TRS' Lump-Sum Disability Benefit brochure); however, all eligible members may apply for a loan from their funds in conjunction with retirement. If you are a Tier I and II member, you may also withdraw in a lump sum any amount in your Annuity Savings Fund (ASF) that is in excess of your minimum accumulation. (Please note that an outstanding loan or an excess withdrawal at retirement may result in a reduction of your retirement allowance payments.)

When you retire, you may no longer make TDA contributions. But your TDA account will automatically carry over into your retirement. You will have full access to the funds and can make a withdrawal or annuitize the account at any time.

You may have an open TDA loan when you retire. In this case, you’ll need to tell us on your retirement application how you want to make your loan payments after retirement – deductions from your monthly retirement allowance, or direct payments online at TRS’ website.

The figures used by your union representative were estimates. Several factors included in the actual retirement allowance calculation may not have been known to your union representative when he or she made the estimate. These factors may have included changes in unit value, your recent investment elections, the payment option you chose, your Final Average Salary, your total service credit, and whether you took a loan or made an excess withdrawal at retirement.

In order for TRS to promptly respond to your inquiry, you should have the following information available when you contact TRS, or include this information when you send us correspondence: your TRS membership number, a phone number at which you can be reached during business hours, copies of correspondence you are questioning, and documentation to support your claim. If you are visiting TRS, you should also bring a photo ID that includes a signature. Acceptable forms of identification include a driver's license, state-issued non-driver's license identification, passport, or school ID; unacceptable forms of identification include a credit card or store card with a photo, gym card, or a library card.

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A member's beneficiary (or representative) must first submit a certified or original death certificate for the member; (s)he must also submit a Claimant's Statement (code DB17) . We will inform them of additional documentation and forms they may have to file.

For more information, please see the Guide to Death Benefits for Beneficiaries of Retired Members or the Guide to Death Benefits for Beneficiaries of Non-Retired Members.

If you left your QPP accumulations with TRS and returned to active service before the initial payability date of your retirement allowance, you would be reappointed as an in-service TRS member with all the benefits of your former tier; your additional service credit would count toward your future retirement allowance. However, if you withdrew your QPP accumulations, your TRS membership ended when you made your withdrawal; therefore, if you later returned to active service, you would begin a new TRS membership and become part of the tier in effect when you return to service. Please note that if you return to active service after the initial payability date of your retirement allowance, your retirement allowance would stop, and your active membership would be restored.