Actual ATRS service credit
Service credit earned by working for an ATRS covered employer (as opposed to purchased or reciprocal service).
Member Handbook p. 52, GlossaryMore on this →These are the words in the ATRS handbook and on these pages. To put them to work, try the Arkansas ATRS calculator, or start with contributory or noncontributory and the benefit formula.
Age and Service Retirement
Also called voluntary retirement: a full, unreduced benefit for vested members at age 60, or with 28 years of service credit at any age.
Member Handbook p. 52, GlossaryMore on this →Annuity
Your fixed monthly retirement payment, paid for your lifetime.
Member Handbook p. 52, GlossaryAnnuity option beneficiary
The person or entity you name to keep receiving a payment under your annuity option after you die, for their lifetime or the period the option sets.
Member Handbook p. 52, GlossaryMore on this →ATRS covered employer
A participating employer that pays ATRS an amount equal to 15% of each covered employee's salary.
Member Handbook p. 52, GlossaryCash Balance Account (CBA)
An account where members retiring out of T-DROP can place their T-DROP money and earn interest.
Member Handbook p. 52, GlossaryMore on this →CASH program
Cash and Savings Help: lets eligible vested, inactive members cancel their membership and give up their benefit in exchange for a one-time lump sum.
Member Handbook p. 52, GlossaryMore on this →COLA
Cost of living adjustment: a 3% increase of your base amount, added each July 1 once you've been retired one full fiscal year.
Member Handbook p. 52, GlossaryMore on this →Contributory / noncontributory
Contributory members pay 7% of salary to ATRS and earn the higher multiplier; noncontributory members pay nothing and earn a lower one.
Member Handbook pp. 10, 52-53More on this →Deferred member
A vested member who no longer works for an ATRS covered employer and doesn't yet meet the age or service requirements to retire.
Member Handbook p. 53, GlossaryMore on this →Dependent child
A member's child, not older than 22, who is eligible for survivor benefits.
Member Handbook p. 53, GlossaryMore on this →Early Age and Service Retirement
Retiring early with a reduced benefit when you have 25 to 27.75 years of service credit and don't meet full Age and Service Retirement.
Member Handbook p. 53, GlossaryMore on this →Fiscal year
July 1 through June 30.
Member Handbook p. 53, GlossaryInactive member
A member who hasn't worked and earned service credit for more than one fiscal year and hasn't retired.
Member Handbook p. 53, GlossaryLump-sum death benefit (LSDB)
Up to $10,000 paid to the beneficiaries of an active member, T-DROP participant or retiree who dies with at least 10 years of actual ATRS service credit.
Member Handbook p. 53, GlossaryMore on this →Multiplier
The percentage used in the benefit formula for each year of service, from 1.00% to 2.15%.
Member Handbook p. 53, GlossaryMore on this →Normal Retirement Age
Age 65 with 5 years, or age 60+ with age plus service totaling 98; lets you work for an ATRS employer right after retiring.
Member Handbook pp. 27, 53More on this →Purchased service
Service not earned in ATRS or another Arkansas state-supported system that you can buy to count toward your ATRS service credit.
Member Handbook p. 54, GlossaryMore on this →Reciprocal service
Service in another Arkansas state-supported system (APERS, ASHERS, ASPRS, AJRS, LOPFI, or an ARP) that counts toward ATRS vesting and eligibility.
Member Handbook pp. 12, 54More on this →Refund
Taking back your member contributions plus interest after leaving ATRS-covered work. It cancels all your service credit and membership rights.
Member Handbook p. 54, GlossaryMore on this →Residue
Your contributions not yet paid back to you in benefits; paid to your residue beneficiary when you die if no annuity continues.
Member Handbook pp. 29, 54More on this →Stipend
$50 a month added to the benefit of retirees with 10+ years of actual ATRS service.
Member Handbook p. 26More on this →Survivor benefit
A monthly payment, if eligibility rules are met, to a deceased member's surviving spouse, dependent children until the end of the last month they are 22 (the month before they turn 23), and incapacitated children for as long as the incapacity lasts.
Member Handbook p. 54, GlossaryMore on this →T-DROP
Teacher Deferred Retirement Option Plan: keep working while monthly deposits build an interest-bearing account.
Member Handbook p. 54More on this →Termination separation period
The 4 months from your retirement date when you may not work for an ATRS employer (unless at Normal Retirement Age).
Member Handbook p. 54More on this →Vested
Having at least 5 years of ATRS and reciprocal service credit, which makes you eligible for a retirement benefit.
Member Handbook p. 54, GlossaryMore on this →Source: ATRS Member Handbook, 2026-2027 school year (current as of July 2026), pp. 10, 12, 26, 27, 29, 52, 52-53, 53, 54. Last reviewed .