How we estimate TSERS pensions

The handbook's early-retirement table shows 52% at age 53 with 20 years. The state law's formula gives 50%, and every other cell in the table follows the formula.

We use the handbook's 52% at exactly 53 with 20 years, and the formula everywhere else.

If your service began before July 1, 1994 and you retire between 50 and 59, the law also lets TSERS pay the actuarial equivalent of your age-60 benefit if that is larger. The factors for this aren't published.

We don't calculate this. Your benefit could be a little higher than our estimate.

Between birthdays, the reduction changes month by month. The law counts months to the 1st of the month on or after your 60th or 65th birthday. The handbook only says it is 'adjusted proportionately'.

We count months the way the law describes.

The handbook doesn't say exactly how TSERS rounds. Its worksheet rounds 1.82% of your average to the cent before multiplying by service; its example chart drops the cents.

We follow the worksheet. Expect differences of a few cents to a dollar.

Three amounts in the handbook's 'Examples of Benefits Paid' chart don't match its own formula: $90,000 at 55 with 28 years and at 60 with 25 years, and $35,000 at 60 with 25 years ($1,337 printed; the formula gives about $1,327).

We use the formula.

In the handbook's payment option example, Option 6-3 pays John $1,909.20 and his spouse $954.10. Half of $1,909.20 is $954.60.

We show half of the member's amount, as the option is described.

TSERS doesn't publish the factors used to figure Options 2, 3, 4, 6-2 and 6-3. They depend on your age and your beneficiary's age.

We describe the options in words and show the handbook's one example. Get your amounts from an ORBIT estimate.

Option 4's higher payment before 62 is figured actuarially. The handbook example can't be reproduced without TSERS's factors.

We show only that the payment drops by your Social Security estimate at 62, as in the example.

The handbook says your average uses your four highest-paid years (48 months) in a row. The law says four consecutive calendar years.

We use the average you enter. Our worksheet helper uses four yearly salaries in a row.

The handbook lists 'noncontributory' and 'partially contributory' retiree health with the same eligibility, and says the cost depends on the plan you pick. It doesn't say which plan is which, or give premiums.

We show these two together as one tier.

The return-to-work earnings floor is published only for 2026 ($43,300). It goes up each January with inflation.

We show the 2026 figure.

Retirees with an average of $100,000 or more (adjusted each year) may be affected by the contribution-based benefit cap. The current threshold and the cap formula's factor aren't published in the handbook.

We don't apply the cap; we flag it when your average is $100,000 or more.

The state law lists retiree supplements through 2023, and the Retirement Systems reported the 2026 supplement. We haven't checked the 2024 and 2025 session laws.

We list only the increases we found in the sources.

One handbook section says you vest with five years of membership service; another says five years of creditable service.

We use membership service (the time you paid into TSERS).

To find your earliest and full-benefit dates, we assume you keep working full time and earn one year of service per year.

This is a planning assumption, not a TSERS rule.

Sick leave converts at one month per 20 days, plus one month for any leftover of at least one hour. A 'day' follows your employer's policy.

We assume an 8-hour day unless you tell us otherwise.