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Welcome to a new school year! As promised, we have a package of resources for you on the latest changes to return-to-work (RTW) provisions.
In this edition of The Key, we’ll summarize the changes and provide you with updated forms, step-by-step guides, and answers to your most frequently asked questions.
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A new return-to-work law went into effect July 1. Act 344 creates a single RTW law that replaces all previous RTW laws, simplifies the rules, and offers more reemployment options for TRSL retirees.
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Here’s a quick snapshot of what changed and what stayed the same:
- Retained: 12-month waiting period, grandfathered group, and the ability to regain active membership and earn a supplemental benefit.
- Added: Age 65 or Older provision
- Revised: Critical Shortage, Earnings Limit, and contract or corporate contract limitations for K-12 and postsecondary institutions.
The new law increased the earnings limit from 25% to 50% of the retiree's Final Average Compensation (FAC) and revamped the critical shortage process with the goal of making it easier for employers to fill vacancies. Advertising and certification requirements are now simpler. Employment by contract or corporate contract no longer triggers an automatic benefit suspension. Instead, contract or corporate contract provisions only apply to certain types of positions (See Index 15, page 4). When a retiree is employed by contract or corporate contract in one of these positions, the same requirements that apply to retirees employed directly will apply to those employed by contract or corporate contract (except for the regain membership RTW option).
The chart below summarizes the RTW provisions:
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We have resources designed to help you understand the new RTW law. Click each icon below to access files:
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1. Which forms may be needed for retirees returning to work?
The RTW process has been condensed to three forms:
- Application for RTW Supplement (Form 11RTW): Used by RTW retirees who elected to accrue a supplemental benefit to apply for a RTW Supplemental benefit payable 90 days after termination of all reemployment or the date the 11RTW is received (whichever is later).
- Retiree Refund Application (Form 7A): Used by RTW retirees to request a refund of unsheltered contributions payable after termination of all reemployment.
2. What’s changed with critical shortage?For employers, there are four major changes:- Employers must continuously advertise on their website and their governing authority's website (if separate sites are maintained) that they are seeking applications for future employment of certified teachers. Advertising at postsecondary institutions within a 120-mile radius is no longer required.
- Reemployed “classroom teachers” will no longer need to be certified in the subject area of the critical shortage. They just need to be a certified teacher.
- Form 15CS will no longer be required. Critical shortage certifications will now be handled through online enrollments in EMIS.
- The positions of Adult Education/Literacy Instructor, Orientation/Mobility Specialist, and Educator of the Visually Impaired were added.
3. What is a critical shortage position?
Critical shortages can only be certified for the following positions:
- Full-time, part-time, or temporary PreK-12 “classroom teacher” or adult education/literacy instructor with a valid teaching certificate. Retirees must hold a valid teaching certificate, which can be in any subject area.
- Full-time, part-time, or temporary certified speech therapist, speech pathologist, audiologist, educational diagnostician, school social worker, school counselor, school psychologist, interpreter, educational transliterator, orientation/mobility specialist, educator of the visually impaired, or educator of the deaf or hard of hearing in a school district where a shortage exists. The position of employment must require a valid Louisiana ancillary certificate approved and issued by the Louisiana Department of Education.
4. What tasks do employers need to tackle for the start of the new school year?
- Enroll all retirees hired for the upcoming school year. All previously enrolled retirees—with the exception of Grandfathered Retirees and RTW Supplemental—were terminated fromTRSL's system on June 30, 2026.
- Set up unsheltered contribution deductions in your payroll system.
5. Can retirees who are 65 or older really return to work without impacting their benefit?
Yes. As long as they fulfill a 12-month waiting period that begins on their date of retirement, retirees who are age 65 or older can return to work in any RTW-covered position without impact to their retirement benefits. This RTW provision is effective on the first day of the month in which the retiree turns 65. NOTE: If a retiree is enrolled under the Earnings Limit provision, TRSL will automatically switch the enrollment to the Age 65 or Older provision on the first of the month they turn 65.
6. How will the TRSL benefit be impacted for retirees who return to work through a contractor?
The benefit impact will depend on whether the retiree falls under the Grandfathered, Age 65 or Older, 50% Earnings Limit, or Critical Shortage provision (see chart above).
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We need your help with an exciting fall campaign. We're deploying flyers, posters, and other resources to help TRSL members track their retirement journey from kickoff to the final whistle.
Huddle with us for more details!Date and time: Tuesday, Sept. 29, at 11 a.m.Registration link: Sign up now through Zoom
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We’ve increased the number of forms and documents that can be uploaded through myTRSL, making the retirement portal truly a one-stop shop for members.
In fact, most TRSL forms—including beneficiary changes and supporting documents—can now be uploaded through myTRSL. That means every document needed for the retirement application process with the exception of court records and the retirement option affidavit can be submitted through myTRSL.
This streamlining should save time for employers. You’ll continue to submit any required forms at the time of enrollment to us, but members will be able to submit most other forms on their own.
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To help reduce costs and modernize, TRSL will stop printing and mailing paystubs in 2027.
Paystubs show the recipient’s gross and net benefit amounts as well as deductions for federal tax, health and/or life insurance, and LRTA dues, if applicable.
Currently, payment stubs are printed and mailed to benefit recipients each December and when their net benefit amount changes due to an increase or decrease of a deduction.
We’ll soon be informing TRSL retirees and other benefit recipients about this important change and how to access this information online through myTRSL.
If you receive inquiries from any of your retired employees, please let them know that they can easily view their paystubs by navigating to the “My Account” drop-down menu in myTRSL and clicking on "Benefit Information."
Retirees who haven’t already registered for myTRSL can sign up at www.myTRSL.org.
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Help TRSL make sure messages are delivered to the right inbox.
Does your employer contact list need a refresh? The new school year is here, and it’s the perfect time to review your TRSL Employer Contacts screen in EMIS to ensure all designated employer staff contacts are current. Here are some helpful tips:
Need to DELETE a previous designee?
• Submit a completed Authorized Contacts (Form 1).
Need to UPDATE employer contacts for your agency?
• Submit a completed Employer Directory Contacts (Form 1EDC).
Need to ensure your agency has a RETIREMENT CONTACT?
• Review your agency’s Employer Contacts screen to make sure there’s a designated Retirement Contact (code RC). Having a designated Retirement Contact listed on your Employer Contacts screen ensures that any retirement-related request letters or announcements will reach the right person.
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Did you receive an “Enrolled not Reported” exception on your Salary Contribution Exception Report this summer? In many instances, the exception can be cleared quickly with one simple step.
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- For enrolled members with no earnings in the months of June, July, and August, zeros can be posted (for actual earnings, contributions, and full-time earnings) anytime during the current fiscal year.
- Zeros can also be posted (only for actual earnings and contributions) for the months of September through May.
- Full-time earnings will equal the full-time earnings reported by the reporting agency from the previous month.
- For September, the system will look for the full-time earnings in May of the previous fiscal year if the member was employed by the same reporting agency.
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If this situation applies to a large number of employees in your agency, you can save yourself some time and request that TRSL process a mass zero posting for all of them at once. Just contact your Retirement Benefits Liaison for assistance.
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Cyber scammers are getting better and better at convincingly disguising themselves. They’re even impersonating legitimate phone numbers. That's why we want to help you and your employees unmask these scammers with a few simple best practices.
Please share this information with your employees:
If you receive an unsolicited phone call claiming to be from TRSL that asks for personal information, such as SSNs or bank account details, please hang up and contact us directly:
Also, remind your active and retired TRSL members that myTRSL is their best source for information about their retirement plan. Third party companies may contact them offering retirement planning services. These companies are not associated with TRSL and are not privy to member information. The only exceptions are the three Optional Retirement Plan (ORP) vendors: VOYA, TIAA, and Corebridge. These vendors provide investment services to individuals who participate in the ORP.
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In our ongoing series spotlighting our talented Employer Services Department staff, we’re introducing you to someone with a unique understanding of the joys and struggles of being a classroom teacher.
Kailey Kinney taught middle school before becoming a Retirement Benefits Analyst at TRSL. She continues to serve public education by ensuring the accuracy of salaries, contributions, and service credit reported to TRSL.
Meet Kailey!
• Job duties: I assist our employers with many actions related to TRSL, from auditing the employer-reported yearly salary, contributions, and service credit for TRSL members to overseeing the process of correcting employer records.
• Tenure at TRSL: It will be 3 years this October.
• What drew me to TRSL: I was a teacher for two years in 4th and 5th grade SPED inclusion classrooms, which was very stressful at times. TRSL is a special place to work, and I am grateful that I am here.
• Favorite part of the job: My colleagues and employers are wonderful to work with. I share an office with the marvelous Quincia and I believe we complement each other’s work style. I love learning new and interesting information from others at TRSL, my supervisor, and manager.
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