At 40 Years of Service

Forty years is the maximum number of years your retirement calculation can be based upon. If you have at least 40 years of service credit, you may elect to discontinue your contributions to TRS. Per Georgia law, this election is irrevocable. 

Should you elect to discontinue monthly contributions, the effective date would be the month after you complete your school year or fiscal year contract. For example, you earned 40 years of creditable service in October. If you were a teacher working August to May, and were being paid August to July, your contributions would continue through July, which would be the end of your school year contract. If you were working year-round, July to June, your contributions would continue through June, or whenever the last payment may be for your work in June.

To discontinue monthly contributions, please submit to TRS a completed Election to Discontinue Monthly Contributions form, which you and your employer must complete. 

Further, your employer is required to discontinue deducting retirement contributions from your salary at the end of your school year or fiscal year contract, after you have attained 40 years of service credit and are age 65. You may, however, sign a waiver, which will enable you to continue your contributions.

If you elect to continue to work after reaching 40 years of service and are able to continue to receive salary increases, it may be to your advantage to continue contributions. Remember, your retirement calculation is based on your highest consecutive 24 months of salary. (Your retirement benefit will only be calculated on the maximum of 40 years of service credit.)