Your application sets the date. It is the last day of a month, like Jan. 31 or May 31.
Handbook p. 40
You must have left every TRS-covered job by that date, and be eligible to retire by then.
Handbook pp. 40-41
TRS must get your application by the end of the second month after your date.
Handbook p. 40
TRS doesn't pay for any month before your retirement date. File late and the date moves later.
Handbook pp. 32, 40
Your dates, from your last day of work
Enter the last day you'll work for, or be paid leave by, any Texas public school or other TRS-covered employer. This uses the handbook's rules only. It doesn't check whether you're eligible to retire. TRS decides your actual dates.
TRS's deadline table
From TRS's Ready to Retire presentation (slide 32). It follows the handbook rule: file by the end of the second month after your retirement date. The same deadline applies to buying extra service credit.
| Retirement date | Leave all TRS jobs by | Application & service credit purchase due |
|---|---|---|
| January 31 | January 31 | March 31 |
| May 31 | June 15* | July 31 |
| June 30 | June 30 | August 31 |
| July 31 | July 31 | September 30 |
| August 31 | August 31 | October 31 |
| December 31 | December 31 | February 28 |
*Only if you work into June to finish the school year (Handbook p. 41). Otherwise, leave by May 31. February 28 becomes February 29 in a leap year.
What counts as leaving your job
You've terminated when you officially resign and end all work with all TRS-covered employers. That includes part-time work that isn't TRS-eligible. Follow your employer's rules for giving notice (Handbook p. 41).
- Early-age retirement: you have not terminated if you're on paid or unpaid leave, or if you have a contract for any future job with a TRS-covered employer (Handbook p. 41).
- Normal-age retirement: you have not terminated if you're on leave, or if you have a contract for future full-time work (more than half time) that starts before you've had a 12-month break (Handbook p. 41).
Why one month can change everything
You must be eligible to retire by your retirement date (Handbook p. 40). Your age and years of service on that month-end decide your eligibility, so a birthday a few days after the date can push you back a whole month.
- Milestone ages. Ages 55, 60, 62 and 65 matter, depending on your tier. Check yours on Which tier am I? and the reduction table.
- Service credit comes in whole years. You earn a year by working (or on paid leave) at least 90 days in the Sept. 1 to Aug. 31 school year (Handbook p. 14).
- The fall-semester rule. In your last year, working every day of the full fall semester earns a full year of service credit, even if it's under 90 days (Handbook p. 14; slide 31).
- December vs. end of school year. TRS's presentation says a December retirement uses only the salary earned September to December for that year. An end-of-year retirement uses the full September-August salary (slide 31). Ask TRS how that affects your average salary.
Needs checking with TRSThe handbook doesn't say whether partial years of age count toward the Rule of 80. Ask TRS for an estimate at each date you're weighing. The calculator can show your own full-benefit date.
Your first check and your payment plan
- First payment. In TRS's example, a May 31 retirement date leads to a first payment on June 30 (slide 43). Payments are generally made on the last working day of each month (Handbook p. 48).
- What comes out. Federal income tax and your health premium can be taken out of each payment (slide 43). See Taxes on your TRS pension.
- PLSO. A 12-month PLSO is paid with your first monthly payment. The first part of a 24- or 36-month PLSO is too (Handbook p. 37).
- Missing forms hold things up. You must complete all required forms before TRS pays you (Handbook p. 9). If your file isn't complete within 12 months of your retirement date, TRS cancels the application. No benefits are paid for the months it sat incomplete (Handbook p. 40).
Needs checking with TRSThe handbook doesn't give a deadline for choosing your payment plan. It says your packet has the forms for your date and plan, with deadlines listed in it (Handbook p. 40). After retirement, only a few plan changes are allowed (Handbook pp. 44-46). Follow the dates in your packet and confirm with TRS. It also doesn't say how far ahead you can apply.
If you plan to go back to work
- One full month off, no exceptions. Work for a TRS-covered employer in the month right after your retirement date and your retirement is revoked. You'd have to pay back annuity, PLSO and TRS-Care payments (Handbook p. 41).
- No job talks too early. Early-age retirees can't negotiate any job with a TRS-covered employer before that month is over. Normal-age retirees can't negotiate a job that wouldn't fit an exception (Handbook p. 41).
- The 12-month break. After 12 full, consecutive calendar months with no TRS-covered work, a service retiree can work full time with no limits (Handbook p. 42). Pick your date with this in mind. More on working after retirement.
Your retirement countdown
Tick items as you go. Your ticks stay in this browser only. Printing this page prints just the checklist.
12 months outPlan
6 months outContact TRS
3 months outDecide
1 month outFile and finish
After you retireFollow up
Unofficial checklist from Teacher Pension Calculator, based on the TRS Benefits Handbook (Sept. 2025) and TRS's Ready to Retire presentation (FY27). Not affiliated with TRS. Your dates and deadlines come from TRS and your retirement packet. TRS: 1-800-223-8778.
Questions
What is the earliest date I can retire from TRS?
Your retirement date is always the last day of a month. It can't be earlier than the last day of the month you leave your last TRS-covered job, and you must be eligible to retire by that date (Handbook p. 40).
When is my TRS retirement application due?
TRS must get your application no later than the last day of the second month after your retirement date. The handbook's example: to retire Jan. 31, you must quit by Jan. 31 and file by March 31 (Handbook p. 40).
Can I retire May 31 if I have to work into June?
Yes, if you work into June only to finish the school year and you leave no later than June 15. File by July 31. You can't go back to work in Texas public education until Aug. 1 (Handbook p. 41).
When will I get my first TRS check?
In TRS's own example, a May 31 retirement date leads to a first payment on June 30 (Ready to Retire presentation, slide 43). Payments generally arrive on the last working day of each month (Handbook p. 48). Missing forms can hold it up. TRS sets the actual date.
How long do I have to stay away from work after I retire?
At least one full calendar month after your retirement date, with no work at all for a TRS-covered employer. After that, limits apply unless your job fits an exception. A 12-month break with no TRS-covered work lets you return full time without limits (Handbook pp. 41-42).
What happens if I miss the application deadline?
Your retirement date moves later. It can be no earlier than the end of the month TRS gets your application, or of either of the two months before. TRS doesn't pay for any month before your retirement date (Handbook pp. 32, 40).
Source: TRS Benefits Handbook, September 2025, pp. 9, 14-15, 24, 32, 37, 40-42, 47-48. Deadline table, first payment, TRS-Care timing and December retirement: TRS K-12 Ready to Retire presentation (FY27), slides 31, 32, 36, 43 and 45. Last reviewed .