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April 2023
2023 TRSL Board of Trustees elections: There’s still time to qualify as a candidate.
Time is running out to qualify as a candidate for one of the three seats up for election this year on the TRSL Board of Trustees. TRSL must receive your letter of intent by 4:30 p.m. on Friday, April 28.
Serving on the Board of Trustees is an important public service role that allows you to actively participate in the management and safeguarding of System assets that provide retirement income for thousands of TRSL members. The board usually meets once a month in Baton Rouge.
If you’re an active member employed in Districts 2, 3 or 4, and you’re interested in serving, take a look at the election policy and procedures.   
The maps below show which parishes are included in Districts 2, 3 and 4.
District 2: Orleans, St. Tammany and Washington parishes.
District 3: Assumption, East Baton Rouge, Iberville, Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes.
District 4: Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Claiborne, DeSoto, Lincoln, Natchitoches, Red River, Sabine and Webster parishes.
Interested but want to know a little more?
Get a crash course from our YouTube Channel on what’s involved in serving on the Board of Trustees by viewing a recent Candidate FAQs webinar led by TRSL Director Katherine Whitney. We also have a one-pager on the requirements. 

You don’t have to run for the Board of Trustees in order to participate. You can make your voice heard simply by casting a vote in the election. Ballots will go out in mid-August. You can vote by mail, phone, or online.
Now is a great time to make sure your mailing address is current with us. With just a few clicks of your mouse, you can change your address in Member Access.

Here's how:

Log in to Member Access, and select the "My Self Service" tab. Next, you will select "Change your mailing address."

TRSL monitoring five bills, including key PBI bill, that may impact the System

The 2023 Regular Legislative Session is underway, and we are monitoring five bills that affect TRSL. As always, we will keep you updated throughout the legislative session on each bill’s status. 
The main bill we’re tracking this session is legislation that aims to provide permanent benefit increases (PBIs) on a more regular basis. 
PBIs—often called cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs)—will grow in importance to you as you approach retirement. They help protect your purchasing power by ensuring your TRSL retirement benefit doesn’t stay static. 

A complete list of the bills impacting the System is on the Legislation page of our website. You’ll also find the TRSL Board of Trustee's position on each bill.
Want the latest news delivered to your inbox?

We won’t flood your inbox with lots of emails. We’ll deliver just enough news necessary to keep you up-to-date on bills and issues that impact TRSL. All you have to do is subscribe to eNews in two easy steps: 
Step 1. Click “manage your preferences" at the bottom (footer) of this email.
 
Step 2. Make sure you have “legislation” selected as a topic of interest from the eNews subscription page.






AskTRSL: Retirement questions answered with just a click
We have a new, online feature designed to answer your retirement questions quickly and conveniently without the hassle of a phone call or visit to our office. 
AskTRSL
is a one-stop shop for information about changing your beneficiary, learning about sick leave, requesting a benefit estimate or a DROP eligibility calculation, and more. The help you need is literally right at your fingertips.

More online tools: Skip the line with Member Access
Don’t forget! With Member Access, your retirement information is readily available on your tablet, smart phone or computer. 
Best of all, you’re always first in line with Member Access. 
It’s a great resource whether you’re new to teaching or approaching retirement. You can view your annual member statement, apply for retirement, update your mailing address and more!
Click here to sign in or register for Member Access. Contact the TRSL Help Desk if you need assistance. Help Desk hours are 8 am – 4:30 pm, Monday-Friday.
RETIREMENT CORNER: Are you retiring soon but still plan to work?
Many schools in the state rely on retired teachers to fill vacancies in their classrooms. 
If returning to work after retirement is a possibility for you, it’s important to keep a few things in mind.
  • Once you officially retire, any re-employment with an agency that reports to TRSL is subject to our Return-to-Work (RTW) Laws. This includes part-time, seasonal or temporary work, as well as re-employment via contract even if the contract is with a third party.
RTW laws can be challenging to navigate, but we are here to help. On our website, you’ll find the latest information on how RTW laws may impact you. You can also contact our RTW specialist, Jessica Trosclair, with answers to specific questions. 



I'm retiring soon as a 9-month employee.

How do I decide on a retirement date?


Summer is almost here, which means some of you will be retiring soon.  
At TRSL, we want the road to retirement to be a smooth one.
Here’s some helpful information about selecting a retirement date when completing your retirement application. It’s especially useful for 9- or 10-month employees who leave employment in May, but will continue receiving a paycheck from their employer during the summer. 
What you need to know: 
If May 26, 2023, will be your last day of work, put May 27, 2023, as your retirement date. Your retirement date should be based on when your contract ends — not when you’ll receive your last paycheck from your employer. School systems may stretch your contract pay over 12 months as a courtesy to ensure you have income during the summer. Your contract work schedule – not your pay schedule – determines your proper retirement date.

Summers are busy at TRSL

During the summer months, we’re often busier than a sno-cone stand in July. There’s a good reason for that. Summer is the most popular time to retire.  
If you’re planning to retire this summer, please expect to receive your estimated benefit for up to six months while we work to complete your final benefit amount. 
Once complete, you’ll receive your finalized, monthly benefit, plus a one-time “retro” check for the difference, if any, between the amount of your estimated benefits and finalized benefit.
Mark your calendar for summer workshops
Even in the summertime, school is in session at TRSL.  Save some time in June and July for our retirement workshops. We make it easy to learn about a variety of retirement topics. 
Dates will be announced soon! 

Life changes? Let us know

If you’re walking down the aisle this year, congrats. And, if changing your name or updating your address is also on your to-do list, don't forget to let us know. 
The simplest way to update your name and change your address with TRSL is through Member Access — just use the “My Self Service” tab in the drop-down menu. 
If you’re currently participating in DROP, please submit an Active Member Name Change Request (Form 2NC).
PO Box 94123 | Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9123 US
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