November 2018
Need some training? We've got you covered.
We've got lots of training opportunities coming up this fall and spring. Check out the dates for webinars and comprehensive training below. If you need more information about any upcoming workshops, contact retire.edu@trsl.org.
WEBINARS
These 30-minute webinars are a great opportunity to train new staff or refresh your knowledge. They're held on Wednesdays at 10 a.m.
COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING
Save the date for our next annual comprehensive training March 12-14, 2019. All sessions will take place from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at TRSL in Baton Rouge. Training sessions are specifically designed for each employer type:
  • Tues., March 12 - K-12 & charter schools*
  • Wed., March 13 - Higher education
  • Thurs., March 14 - State agencies
Click here to save your seat!
*LSERS will also provide relevant training during the K-12 & charter school session.

RETURN-TO-WORK (RTW) ENROLLMENT
"Do all retirees have to sit out a year after retirement?" 
The term "sit out" is commonly used to refer to the 12- or 36-month "waiting period" in the state's RTW law.
All retirees returning to work in positions eligible for TRSL membership are subject to the waiting period, which begins immediately following a retiree's date of retirement and supersedes all other provisions set forth in law.
Re-employment within the applicable waiting period will result in the suspension of TRSL benefits until completion of the waiting period or the end of re-employment, whichever occurs first. Once the 12- or 36-month waiting period is met, the enrollment type regulates what, if any, restrictions may apply to the retiree's benefit payment (earnings limitation of 25% from the RTW employment or suspension of the monthly benefit).
The table below provides the criteria to determine a retiree's applicable waiting period. 

EXAMPLE: A TRSL member retired on 01/05/2017 and decides to accept a position as a full-time PreK-12 teacher in a critical shortage position. The hire date of this position is 08/06/2017. Usually, retirees re-employed in critical shortage positions would be able to receive their monthly benefits in full. However, because this retiree’s waiting period has not elapsed, the TRSL benefit must be suspended until the waiting period has ended. Then, benefits would resume as usual.
REMINDER: When enrolling a RTW retiree, you should select the provision of the law that is appropriate for the position being hired in, regardless of whether or not the retiree is within the waiting period. Our system will know to suspend the monthly benefit, if applicable.
Important information about third-party vendors
TRSL does not authorize or endorse any outside vendors to represent TRSL or provide TRSL retirement information to your employees.
The only exceptions are the three Optional Retirement Plan (ORP) vendors: 1) TIAA, 2) VOYA, and 3) VALIC. TRSL contracts with these vendors to provide investment services, communication, and record keeping to employees who participate in the ORP.
Disclaimer request
Employers have the right to invite outside vendors to their campuses to provide retirement information to employees. If your school or agency allows an outside vendor to visit, please provide a disclaimer to your employees acknowledging that the vendor does not represent TRSL.
The goal of the disclaimer is to prevent any confusion among employees. We ask, at minimum, that the disclaimer include the following language:
  • This vendor is not affiliated or associated with Teachers' Retirement System of Louisiana (TRSL) in any manner.
  • TRSL does not endorse this vendor or its services and products.
  • This vendor does not receive, obtain, or secure any retirement information directly from TRSL.
  • Individuals who rely on any information provided by this vendor with regard to TRSL benefits, i.e. calculations, estimates, projections, etc., do so at their own risk.
Questions? Please contact Ed Branagan, Employer Services Director at 225-925-6446, ext. 4846. If outside the Baton Rouge area, call toll-free at 877-ASK-TRSL (877-275-8775), ext. 4846.
News for your employees: Changes on the way for actuarial cost calculations
Effective January 1, 2019, members requesting the actuarial cost for the purchase or transfer of service credit will get one calculation for the $150 actuary fee. Currently, the $150 fee covers the cost of two calculations.
Under the new few schedule, requests for additional actuarial cost calculations made at the same time as the initial request will be $50 each.
Applicable purchase and transfer request forms have been updated with this information and are available online. Please go to www.TRSL.org for the most recent version of all forms.
Completed applications received by TRSL on or after January 1, 2019, will be subject to the new fee schedule. 
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