~ Guide for Retirees ~ Guide for Retirees

Transcription

1 ~ Guide for Retirees ~ Guide for Retirees

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3 We re here to help. Contact us: Internet: Website: Your questions will be answered within 1-2 business days. Phone: Main: Toll free (outside Baton Rouge area): ASK-TRSL ( ) After normal office hours, you can leave a message for a return call the following business day. Mail: PO Box Baton Rouge, LA Send overnight or certified mail to our physical address below. Fax: Visit: 8401 United Plaza Boulevard, Suite 300 Baton Rouge, LA Office hours: 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday (excluding holidays) Guide for Retirees 3

4 View your TRSL account information through Member Access Get secure, online access to your TRSL account information through Member Access on our website. Click on the Member Access link at and follow the easy instructions. If you have any problems with registration, contact the TRSL HelpDesk at Directions to TRSL s office TRSL is located in Baton Rouge in the Louisiana Retirement Systems Building at 8401 United Plaza Boulevard, which is just off Essen Lane between Interstates 10 and 12. From Lafayette: Exit I-10 and turn left on Essen Lane, or exit I-12 and turn right on Essen Lane; From New Orleans: Exit I-10 and turn right on Essen Lane; From Hammond: Exit I-12 at Jefferson Highway/Drusilla Lane, turn left on Drusilla Lane, then right on Jefferson Highway. Proceed to Essen Lane, and turn left. Turn at the United Plaza Boulevard traffic signal on Essen Lane at the sign that reads: LA RETIREMENT SYSTEMS BLDG. 4

5 Contents Introduction About TRSL Direct deposit of your TRSL benefit When benefits are posted Changing your financial institution Direct deposit payment stubs Income tax information Understanding your Form 1099-R Social Security benefits What you need to know Social Security reductions if you receive a TRSL retirement benefit Government Pension Offset: reduction for spouse s or widow(er) s benefit Windfall Elimination Provision: reduction for earned benefit Beneficiary payments Death of a retiree Community property What you need to know Consult an attorney about community property settlements Guide for Retirees 5

6 Returning to work after retirement Retired teachers What is a classroom teacher? Earnings limitations Retired members Break in service Disability retirees DROP/ILSB interest rates For members eligible to participate in DROP/ILSB prior to January 1, For members eligible to participate in DROP/ILSB on or after January 1, DROP/ILSB account payments and statements Permanent benefit increase (PBI) What you need to know Funding and amount of PBI Eligibility PBI amount limits TRSL information is available online Member Access Need to contact us? Forms frequently used by retirees Frequently asked questions

7 Introduction Although you are retired, you may have questions about your benefits and the retirement laws and regulations that apply to you. This booklet will answer many of those questions. If you have specific questions, please don t hesitate to contact us. The information in this booklet is subject to change and is not a substitute for Louisiana law concerning Teachers Retirement System of Louisiana (TRSL). About TRSL TRSL is a public trust fund established in 1936 to provide retirement benefits for its members. TRSL administers a defined benefit retirement plan and is a qualified retirement plan under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code. Guide for Retirees 7

8 Direct deposit of your TRSL benefit Direct deposit is the safest, fastest, and most convenient way for retirees to receive their TRSL benefits. It eliminates the worry of waiting for the check and making a special trip to the bank to deposit it. Direct deposit also eliminates the chance that the check will be lost or stolen. Although members who retired on or after January 1, 2002, are required to use direct deposit for their TRSL benefits, all retirees can request direct deposit. To request direct deposit, submit to TRSL a Direct Deposit of Benefits (Form 15D). Form 15D and all TRSL forms can be found on the TRSL website at or requested by phone at or by at web.master@trsl.org. The completed direct deposit form should be sent to TRSL at P.O. Box 94123, Baton Rouge, LA NOTE: Members who also have DROP or ILSB accounts should use Direct Deposit of DROP or ILSB Account Withdrawals (Form 11R) to have those funds directly deposited at their designated financial institutions. When benefits are posted With direct deposit, retirement benefits are made available for deposit directly into your checking or savings account on the first of each month. However, when the first of the month falls on a weekend or a holiday, some financial organizations post the direct deposit to your account the next business day. 8

9 NOTE: DROP/ILSB funds withdrawals are made available for deposit directly into your checking or saving account on the 15th of each month. When the 15th of the month falls on a weekend or a holiday, some financial organizations post the direct deposit to your account the next business day. Changing your financial institution To change the financial institution that receives your direct deposit, simply complete a new Form 15D and submit it to TRSL. Direct deposit forms received by the 15th of the month will be processed, and the next month s benefit will be sent electronically to your financial institution. TRSL sends a letter confirming the direct deposit form was processed. You should carefully review the letter to make sure the account number is correct. If you do not receive a confirmation letter, check with your new financial institution on the first working day of the month before assuming the direct deposit form was not processed in time for your benefit to be sent electronically. If you receive multiple benefit payments, indicate the specific account you wish to update. If you do not make a selection, you authorize the change to be applied to all benefit payments (excluding DROP or ILSB account withdrawals). Direct deposit payment stubs TRSL prints and mails direct deposit payment stubs to retirees when one of the following occurs: Once a year in December, When direct deposit requests are established, or When the net benefit changes. Guide for Retirees 9

10 Income tax information Understanding your Form 1099-R Each January, TRSL will send you an annual tax statement, called a Form 1099-R. You ll need it when filing your income tax return. Form 1099-R will show your name, address, and the last four digits of your Social Security number, along with the gross amount of benefits paid to you, the amount of deductions (if any) for federal tax withholding, and any nontaxable payments you may have received during the previous year. Some boxes are not applicable to TRSL. Refer to the definitions below and the sample form on the following page for more information about Form 1099-R. Box 1 Gross distribution. Shows the total amount you received during the calendar year. Box 2a Taxable amount. Shows the taxable portion of the benefits you received during the calendar year. Box 4 Federal income tax withheld. This is the amount of federal income tax withheld from the taxable amount in Box 2a. Box 5 Nontaxable amount. This is the tax-free amount of the retirement benefits you received during the calendar year. It is not the amount of your insurance premiums. Box 7 Distribution code(s). This code identifies the type of benefit you received. Code descriptions are listed on the back of Form 1099-R. 10

11 Example of a Form 1099-R Guide for Retirees 11

12 Social Security benefits What you need to know Social Security benefits may be a major source of retirement income for you. To find out your projected Social Security benefits, file a Request for Social Security Statement (Form SSA-7004) with the Social Security Administration. This form and other information about Social Security benefits are available at the Social Security Administration s website, If you receive a retirement benefit from TRSL and you are also eligible for Social Security benefits, federal regulations may reduce your Social Security benefit. Your TRSL benefit will not be reduced. There are two types of Social Security benefits: Spouse s or widow(er) s benefit. This benefit is paid to spouses or surviving spouses of Social Security pensioners if those spouses did not work long enough under Social Security to have earned their own benefit or if their earned benefit is less than the pensioner s benefit. The spouse s benefit is generally one-half of the benefit paid to the Social Security pensioner. Earned benefit. This benefit is paid to people who worked at other jobs where they paid Social Security taxes long enough to earn a Social Security benefit. 12

13 Social Security reductions if you receive a TRSL retirement benefit The type of Social Security benefit you are eligible for determines the formula used to calculate the reduction to this benefit. The Government Pension Offset (GPO) is used for a spouse s benefit, and the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) is used for an earned benefit. REMEMBER: When you receive an estimate of your Social Security benefit, the amount probably will not have been reduced by either the GPO or WEP provisions. You should specifically ask Social Security to calculate the reduction for you. It is TRSL s understanding that if a refund is taken before you are eligible for a TRSL benefit, the Social Security reductions described on the next page will not apply. If the refund is taken after you become eligible for a TRSL benefit, then the spouse s reduction (GPO) will not apply, but the earned benefit reduction (WEP) will apply. You should contact Social Security for more information about their benefit provisions. Guide for Retirees 13

14 Government Pension Offset : reduction for spouse s or widow(er) s benefit The Government Pension Offset (GPO) is a reduction of the Social Security spouse s or widow(er) s pension if you receive a benefit from TRSL. Normally, when your spouse retires on Social Security, you are eligible for a spouse s or widow(er) s benefit if you are at least age 62 and did not work long enough under Social Security to have earned your own benefit, or your earned benefit is less than the pensioner s benefit. However, since you are eligible for a benefit from TRSL, you may be subject to the GPO. GPO exceptions: You will not have a reduction in your benefit from Social Security if you meet one of the following conditions: You were eligible to retire from TRSL before December 1982, and you meet all the requirements for Social Security spouse s benefits in effect in January (A divorced woman s marriage must have lasted at least 20 years, and a husband or widower must have received one-half of his support from his wife.); or You were eligible to retire before July 1, 1983, and were receiving one-half of your support from your spouse; or You were not eligible for retirement when you withdrew your contributions to TRSL. If you don t meet one of the exceptions listed above, the GPO formula will reduce your Social Security spouse s or widow(er) s benefit by two-thirds of your TRSL benefit. In some cases this offset could entirely eliminate your Social Security benefit. 14

15 Example: Suppose you retire on July 1, 2010, and receive a TRSL benefit of $1,500 per month. Your spouse is already retired and receives a Social Security benefit of $1,625 per month. If you are eligible for 50% of your spouse s Social Security benefit, the amount would equal $ per month. The GPO is calculated by multiplying $1,500 (the amount of your TRSL benefit) by two-thirds, which equals $1,000. Your Social Security benefit would be $ Since the offset of $1,000 is more than the Social Security benefit of $812.50, you would receive no spousal benefit from Social Security. Windfall Elimination Provision: reduction for earned benefit An earned benefit is paid to people who worked at other jobs where they paid Social Security taxes long enough to earn a benefit. A modified benefit formula, known as the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) is usually used to reduce your own Social Security earned benefit if you receive a benefit from TRSL. The maximum reduction is about 50%. The WEP was gradually implemented beginning in 1986 and is now in full effect when you reach age 62 or become disabled. Guide for Retirees 15

16 WEP exceptions: The WEP does not apply in the following situations: You were age 62 or disabled before 1986; or You qualified for a TRSL retirement benefit, including a reduced benefit, before 1986 even if you continued to work beyond 1986 (excludes members who took an early retirement pursuant to LSA-R.S. 11:272(D)). You can contact TRSL at ASK-TRSL ( ) or web.master@trsl.org to request a letter verifying your earliest retirement date; or You have at least 30 years of substantial earnings in a job where you paid Social Security taxes. If you have 21 to 29 years of substantial Social Security-covered earnings, you won t be subject to the full reduction. The WEP formula is complex, and you are encouraged to contact the Social Security Administration for explanations of possible reductions. For more information about Social Security reductions, including criteria for exceptions to these reductions, see TRSL s publication, TRSL and Social Security Benefits, which is available on the TRSL website,

17 Beneficiary payments Death of a retiree TRSL should be notified immediately of a retiree s death. Beneficiaries can then take the necessary steps to apply for benefits that may be due from TRSL. TRSL retiree benefits are paid a month in advance. If a retiree dies before the benefit is received, the benefit check should be returned to TRSL. Having been named a beneficiary does not entitle a family member to the retiree s monthly benefit check. Beneficiary payments are totally separate from the monthly benefit check paid to a retiree. Anyone cashing or depositing a monthly benefit check after the retiree s death may be subject to criminal prosecution or a civil suit to recover the funds. A copy of the retiree s death certificate and birth certificates of any minor or other eligible children should be sent to TRSL. Monthly benefits to any eligible beneficiary(ies) will be effective the first day of the month following the death of the retiree. NOTE: A member may create a trust for his or her children so that any benefits due the children after the member or retiree dies may be paid into the trust for the benefit of the children. Find more detailed information about survivor benefits and eligibility in TRSL s publication, Death and Survivor Benefits, available on the TRSL website, Guide for Retirees 17

18 Community property What you need to know The state of Louisiana considers most payments or benefits that members receive from TRSL to be community property, which should be accounted for in any community property settlement. The funds and payments from TRSL that may be considered community property include: Regular retirement benefits Refunds of contributions DROP or ILSB withdrawals Death benefits The court system ultimately determines which of these funds or payments are considered community property. If a TRSL member divorces or legally separates, the ex-spouse may claim a portion of any of the above-mentioned payments and benefits that were earned during the time the member and ex-spouse were married, even if the benefits are not payable until after the divorce. 18

19 Consult an attorney about community property settlements TRSL members who divorce or must otherwise agree on a community property settlement should consult their attorneys concerning the partition of their retirement and other community assets and liabilities. If a member s legal counsel is preparing an order to divide TRSL retirement benefits or withdrawals, he or she should refer to LSA-R.S. 11:291. For more information about community property, see the TRSL brochure, Community Property and TRSL Benefits, which is available on the TRSL website, All of TRSL s forms and publications are just a click away. Find them on our website at Guide for Retirees 19

20 Returning to work after retirement If you re thinking about returning to work in a position eligible for TRSL membership, it s important that you understand the state s return-to-work laws. Failure to comply with these laws, including provisions that TRSL be notified of re-employment, could result in permanent or temporary loss of your retirement benefits. As of July 1, 2010, TRSL retirees who return to work in a TRSL-covered position will be categorized as either retired teachers or retired members. Payment of retirement contributions and receipt of retirement benefits are determined by the category to which the return-to-work retiree belongs. Retired teachers Re-employed retired teachers will have their TRSL benefits suspended during the 12-month period immediately following the effective date of retirement or the termination of such active service, whichever occurs first. Employee and employer contributions are also required on compensation received as a re-employed retired teacher (even if such service is by contract or corporate contract). The following criteria determine whether a return-to-work retiree is a retired teacher. 20

21 A retired teacher is A retiree who has returned to work on or before June 30, 2010 (even if it was for one day several years ago), or 2. A retiree who returns to work (full- or part-time) as a K-12 classroom teacher in a declared critical shortage area, or What is a critical shortage area? A critical shortage area is defined as any subject area where a shortage of certified teachers exists. Before a retiree can be classified as a retired teacher, a critical shortage area must be declared by the school superintendent and personnel director. 3. A retiree who returns to work as a full-time certified speech therapist, speech pathologist, or audiologist whose position of employment requires a valid Louisiana ancillary certificate approved and issued by the Louisiana Department of Education in a school district where a shortage exists in those positions, or 4. A member who retired during the period of May 1, 2009, through June 30, 2010, and returns to work in a position requiring a valid Louisiana teaching or ancillary certificate. (Act 347 of 2011) What type of position requires certification? Valid Louisiana teaching and ancillary certifications are set forth in the Board of Elementary and Secondary (BESE) Bulletin 746. (See Chapter 3, subchapter A and C; Chapters 4 and 7; or a certificate of endorsement in Chapter 6.) 5. A retiree who returns to work as a substitute, prek-12 classroom teacher, or 6. A retiree who returns to work and holds an advanced degree in speech therapy, speech pathology, or audiology, or 7. A retiree who has a valid Louisiana teaching certificate and who returns to work instructing adults in an adult education or literacy program administered through a public institution of elementary and secondary education, or 8. A retiree who returns to work as an adjunct professor. Guide for Retirees 21

22 What is a classroom teacher? A classroom teacher is any employee (1) whose position of employment requires a Louisiana teaching certificate, and (2) who performs the professional activity of course instruction in classroom situations for which daily attendance figures are kept. Earnings limitations Some retirees who meet the definition of retired teacher are subject to earnings limits upon re-employment with a TRSLcovered employer. The following retired teacher categories are subject to the 25% earnings limitation: Retirees who are re-employed as substitute, prek-12 classroom teachers; Retirees who hold valid Louisiana teaching certificates and who are re-employed to instruct adults through an adult education or literacy program administered through a public institution of elementary and secondary education; and Retirees who are re-employed as adjunct professors. Earnings limitation provisions The earnings limit is implemented as follows: The earnings limit restricts any earnings from such a position in a fiscal year to no more than 25% of the retiree s annual retirement benefit. If earnings exceed 25% of the annual retirement benefit, the retiree s benefit will be reduced by the amount in excess of the 25%. 22

23 If a retiree returns to work in more than one position that is subject to the 25% earnings limit in any fiscal year, the earnings limitation applies to the total earnings for all such positions in the fiscal year. NOTE: Employers are responsible for providing certification to TRSL that re-employed TRSL retirees meet the retired teacher criteria. Retired members Re-employed retired members will have their TRSL benefits suspended for the duration of their re-employment, including employment through contract or corporate contract. No employee or employer contributions will be required. Retired members are individuals who do not meet the definition of a retired teacher as previously described. Retired members include, but are not limited to retirees returning to work as administrators and secretaries. Break in service In order to be eligible to return to work, you must have a break in service of at least one weekday (Monday through Friday), even if you do not intend to fulfill the 12-month waiting period. Example: If your last day of work is a Friday, your retirement date would be a Saturday. You could return to work on Tuesday. Monday would be the one weekday break in service. NOTE: DROP/ILSB account withdrawals can still be made, even if the retiree is re-employed during the first 12 months after retirement. Guide for Retirees 23

24 Find more detailed information about return-to-work laws in TRSL s publication, Returning to Work After Retirement, available on the TRSL website, Disability retirees Disability retirees cannot return to work in the field of public or private education and continue receiving TRSL disability benefits. While they can return to work outside the field of education, there are limits on how much a disability retiree can earn. Find out more in the TRSL handbook, Disability Retirement, available on the website at Questions about re-employment? Get the answers you need. Contact TRSL today! ASK-TRSL web.master@trsl.org 24

25 DROP/ILSB interest rates Retirees who participated in the Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP) or took an Initial Lump-Sum Benefit (ILSB) retirement should note how their accounts earn interest. Interest rates are determined by when the member was first eligible to participate in DROP/ILSB. For members eligible to participate in DROP/ ILSB prior to January 1, 2004 After DROP participation or ILSB retirement, these accounts earn 0.5% less than TRSL s actuarially realized rate of return. Interest is posted to the DROP/ILSB account once a year (based on daily compounding), usually in the first quarter of the calendar year (January-March). No interest is lost because of the delayed posting. For members eligible to participate in DROP/ ILSB on or after January 1, 2004 After a member completes DROP participation or ILSB retirement, the DROP/ILSB account earns interest at the liquid asset money market rate less a 0.25% administrative fee. Interest will be posted to a DROP/ILSB account monthly and is based on the balance in the account for that month. If a member chooses a total account balance withdrawal, interest factors will be projected for the last two to four days before the payroll date to allow time for processing. Past interest rates are shown on the next page. Guide for Retirees 25

26 Interest rates on DROP/ILSB accounts Fiscal Year Ended June 30 For members eligible prior to January 1, 2004 For members eligible on or after January 1, % %* %* %* % 0.67% % 1.48% % 3.72% % 4.88% % 3.98% %* 1.32% %* 0.01% % % % % % % % % *A 2002 state attorney general opinion ruled that DROP accounts could not be debited, so account interest rates were set to zero. NOTE: The most recent DROP rates will be posted on the TRSL website at once available. DROP/ILSB account payments and statements DROP and ILSB benefit payments are issued on the 15th of the month. Regardless of when interest is posted, statements are created each quarter and sent to all members who have balances in their accounts. 26

27 Permanent benefit increase (PBI) What you need to know A PBI is a permanent benefit increase, commonly referred to as a cost-of-living adjustment or COLA. A PBI is payable to eligible retirees and beneficiaries on July 1, subject to TRSL Board recommendation and legislative approval, as long as there are sufficient funds in the TRSL Experience Account an account that holds funds dedicated to PBIs. Funding and amount of PBI The Experience Account is credited with up to 50% of TRSL s excess investment earnings, after the first $200 million of excess earnings have been applied to the unfunded accrued liability (UAL). The $200 million dedicated to the UAL will increase based upon the percentage increase in TRSL s actuarial value of assets. The amount of a PBI is determined by the TRSL funding percentage and the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), an inflation indicator. A PBI will not be given if there is no increase in the CPI-U, when the balance in the experience account is not sufficient to fund a PBI, or if a PBI was granted the previous year. Eligibility A retiree must have received a benefit for at least one year and be 60 years of age on or before July 1 of the year that the PBI is effective. Guide for Retirees 27

28 Beneficiaries will receive a PBI if the retiree or beneficiary (or both combined) received a benefit for at least one year, and the retiree would have been 60 years of age. The age requirement does not apply to retirees receiving a disability benefit. If, TRSL s funding is......the amount of the PBI will be determined by TRSL s earnings rate as categorized below: TRSL earns at least 8.25% TRSL earns ARR*, but not 8.25% TRSL does not earn ARR* Less than 55% None None None At least 55%, but less than 65% Lesser of 1.5% or CPI-U Lesser of 1.5% or CPI-U None At least 65%, but less than 75% At least 75%, but less than 80% At least 80%, but less than 85% 85% or greater Lesser of 2% or CPI-U Lesser of 2.5% or CPI-U Lesser of 3% or CPI-U Lesser of 3% or CPI-U Lesser of 2% or CPI-U Lesser of 2% or CPI-U Lesser of 2% or CPI-U Lesser of 2% or CPI-U None None Lesser of 2% or CPI-U Lesser of 2% or CPI-U *Actuarially Realized Rate of Return (ARR). The ARR for TRSL is 7.75%. NOTE: PBIs can only be granted every other year until TRSL is 85% funded. PBI amount limits Any PBI shall be calculated only on the first $60,000 of the retiree s annual retirement benefit, as established in the Experience Account law. The $60,000 limit is increased each year in an amount equal to the increase in the CPI-U for the preceding year, if any. 28

29 TRSL information is available online Member Access You can access your TRSL retirement account information through TRSL s online Member Access. Simply visit our website at and click on Member Access, to register. Once registered, you can begin enjoying the convenience of online access and its features: View your personal account information which includes your benefit summary and benefit payments. View your DROP account summary and payment history, if you receive a DROP payment. View and print your 1099-R form. Change your federal tax withholding. If you have any problems registering for Member Access, contact the TRSL HelpDesk at during normal business hours or support@trsl.org. Need to contact us? Our website also contains important TRSL news, information, forms, and brochures. To contact TRSL, you can us at web.master@trsl.org or call or toll free (outside the Baton Rouge area) at ASK-TRSL ( ). REMEMBER: We do not recommend sending confidential information, such as Social Security numbers, to us by . Guide for Retirees 29

30 Forms frequently used by retirees Form No. Form 3A Form Name Change of Beneficiary for Option 1 Retiree Form 7A Retiree Refund Application Form 11G-1 DROP or ILSB Spousal Consent to Withdrawal Method Form 11J use if under age 70.5 Form 11N use if age 70.5 or older Form 11R DROP or ILSB Retiree Withdrawal Method Selection Direct Deposit of DROP or ILSB Account Withdrawals Form 15C Retiree Change of Address Authorization Form 15D Direct Deposit of Benefits Form 15PA Affidavit for Power of Attorney Form W-4P Withholding Certificate for Pension or Annuity Payments (This is a federal form.) 30

31 Frequently asked questions How do I report a change of address? You can submit a Retiree Change of Address Authorization (Form 15C). The form is available on our website, or you can request one from TRSL by phone or . What can I do if my benefit check is late or missing? TRSL delivers the regular monthly benefit checks to the U.S. Postal Service for mailing on the last business day of the month (payment date is the 1st of the month). DROP/ILSB payments are released to the U.S. Postal Service for mailing and delivery on the 15th of the month (payment date is the 15th of the month). When the 1st or 15th falls on a weekend or holiday, delivery will be the next business day. If you do not receive your paper check by the fifth business day after the payment date (1st or 15th) of the month, or if you know your check was either stolen or destroyed, contact TRSL to request a stop-payment order on the original check and have it re-issued. To avoid this problem in the future, consider using direct deposit. It s secure, fast, and easy! How do I set up or adjust my direct deposit? Complete and submit a Direct Deposit of Benefits (Form 15D) to set up direct deposit or to change the financial institution and/or account number where your benefit is deposited. Guide for Retirees 31

32 How do I change my federal tax withholding? You can change your federal tax withholding through our online Member Access. See page 30 for more information about Member Access. You can also submit a new IRS Form W-4P to TRSL. Form W-4P is available online from the IRS ( or TRSL ( Or, you can call TRSL to have one mailed to you. Remember that the new W-4P you send in will replace all previous ones. I haven t received my 1099-R. How do I get one? Each year, TRSL mails Form 1099-R to retirees during the last week of January. Please allow two weeks for delivery. If you haven t received it by February 15, or if you need to request a duplicate copy or have questions, contact TRSL. You can also access your 1099-R information online through TRSL s Member Access. See page 30 for more information about Member Access. How can I get a letter verifying my monthly retirement benefit? Send a written request with your signature and Social Security number. You can submit it to TRSL either by mail or by fax at For more information, contact TRSL. How can I get a letter verifying my first eligibility date for Social Security purposes? Send a written request with your signature and Social Security number. You can submit it to TRSL either by mail or by fax. You can also request this letter by contacting TRSL. 32

33 Who can I talk to about my health insurance? Your former employer or insurance carrier can assist you with health insurance questions. Although TRSL may process your monthly deduction amount, we don t have the necessary information to answer any questions you may have about your coverage or premiums. We are here to help you! Contact us ASK-TRSL web.master@trsl.org Guide for Retirees 33

34 Notes 34

35 The Teachers Retirement System of Louisiana is an equal opportunity employer and complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act. This publication was last revised in January The first printing of this public document was published at a cost of $236. Two hundred copies of this document were published by the Teachers Retirement System of Louisiana, Post Office Box 94123, Baton Rouge, Louisiana , to inform TRSL members of issues they must face when preparing for retirement. Printing of this material was purchased in accordance with the provisions of Title 43 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes.

36 Teachers Retirement System of Louisiana 8401 United Plaza Boulevard, Suite 300 Baton Rouge, LA PO Box Baton Rouge, LA Telephone: Toll free (outside Baton Rouge area): ASK-TRSL ( ) Fax: Website: