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APRIL 2019

Legislative session kicks off soon

The 2019 Regular Session begins Monday, April 8. We’re monitoring the following bills impacting TRSL:

HB 19 (Rep. Pearson) would require certain unfunded accrued liability payments included in the minimum foundation program formula funds to be paid directly to the Teachers’ Retirement System of Louisiana.
HB 28 (Rep. Ivey) would establish a hybrid retirement benefit structure for members of the state retirement systems first hired on or after July 1, 2020.
SB 14 (Sen. Peacock) would provide term limits for retirement system boards of trustees.

For more information on these bills, along with positions taken by the TRSL Board of Trustees, visit the Legislation page of our website.

Stay informed with email updates!

You can also receive updates about bills and issues that impact TRSL and its members delivered straight to your inbox through eNews. Click “manage your preferences” at the bottom of this email, and make sure you have “legislation” selected as a topic of interest.

Board of trustees elections: Qualifying requirements/deadlines

TRSL will be holding elections for three active member seats on the TRSL Board of Trustees. If you are an active member employed in one of the following districts and are interested in representing your fellow TRSL members, please click below to view eligibility requirements and qualifying information.

District 2: Orleans, St. Tammany, & Washington parishes
District 3: Assumption, East Baton Rouge, Iberville, Lafourche, & Terrebonne parishes
District 4: Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Claiborne, DeSoto, Lincoln, Natchitoches, Red River, Sabine, & Webster parishes

The qualifying deadline is 4:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 30, 2019.

Make sure your contact info is up to date!

In August, active members eligible to vote in the above elections will receive election information via email and voting credentials via mail.

Now is a great time to make sure your email and mailing addresses are current with us, so that you won’t miss any important TRSL correspondence, including election information.

Log in to your Member Access account and verify that your contact information is current. If you need to make an update, see below:
To update your information, select “Change Your Mailing/E-mail Address” from the “My Self Service” drop-down menu.

Need assistance with Member Access? Contact TRSL’s Help Desk at 225-925-6460. If you’re outside the Baton Rouge area, call toll free at 1-877-275-8775, ext. 6460.

FAQ: "I've applied for retirement/DROP. When will I receive my estimated affidavit?"

Once you have applied for retirement or DROP, we’ll send you and your employer an acknowledgment letter within two weeks of receiving your application.

Several weeks before your planned retirement date (or DROP begin date), we’ll send you an estimated affidavit which you will use to select your retirement option and beneficiary/ies. Your affidavit must be completed, notarized, and submitted to TRSL so that we can set you up for monthly estimated benefits (or DROP deposits) while your retirement is being finalized.

Keep in mind that you can apply for retirement or DROP up to six months prior to your planned retirement (or DROP begin) date. However, to ensure that TRSL has the most current information on file for you, such as salary and service credit, your estimated affidavit will still be sent closer to your desired retirement/DROP begin date.

NOTE: TRSL will send your estimated affidavit only after we receive a copy of your Social Security card. TRSL will also need copies of the following documents:

Birth certificates (member and beneficiary)
Death certificate, if spouse is deceased
Divorce decree or judgment of separation (including community property settlement), if member is divorced, legally separated, or remarried

Have more questions about the retirement process? Click on the "Retirement Road" image above, or check out the other resources below.

Member Handbook

Planning for Retirement

Retirement checklist

Get in the know with upcoming training opportunities!

Spring webinars

These 30-minute sessions cover information for every stage of your career, including stand-alone retirement topics and specially designed series for new, mid-career, and retirement-ready members.

Upcoming dates

Wed., May 8 – “I’ve Completed DROP. What’s next?”
Thurs., May 9 – Guide for Retirees

Click here to view all dates and register.

Missed a webinar? No problem… Click here to view all recordings.

Summer workshops

If you’re within 10 years of DROP or retirement eligibility, join us this summer at a Planning for Your Retirement workshop near you. We’ll be all over the state during June and July to help you get retirement ready.

These workshops cover the following topics:

Retirement eligibility
How your benefit will be calculated
How to purchase service credit
Considerations for those entering DROP
What happens to your annual/sick leave
How to apply for retirement
Beneficiary options
Social Security information

Click here to see all dates and save your seat today!

Don't let an emergency throw you into a tailspin...

Did you know that state law does not allow you to borrow from your TRSL account, even for emergencies? Financial planning experts recommend that you create a fund to cushion the blow of life’s unexpected events like car repairs or illnesses.

Check out our “Saving for Emergencies” Roadmap to Retirement infographic for ideas on how to fuel up your savings.