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Retirement eligibility criteria changed for individuals who established TRS membership on or after September 1, 2007. Anyone who becomes a TRS member on or after September 1, 2007, will be required to meet one of the following eligibility requirements to qualify for an unreduced annuity at retirement:

• Age 65 with 5 years of service credit, or
• Age 60 with at least 5 years of service credit and meets the Rule of 80
(combined age and years of service credit equal at least 80).

Current members who terminate TRS membership by withdrawing TRS contributions upon termination of employment will also be subject to these new eligibility requirements if they resume TRS membership on or after September 1, 2007.

Members who are subject to these new eligibility requirements and who retire before age 60 will have a 5% annuity reduction for each year under age 60, if they meet the Rule of 80 at the time of retirement.

Members with at least 30 years of service credit, but who do not meet the Rule of 80 also will have a 5% reduction for each year under age 60.

NOTE: Members who plan to terminate employment, request a refund of their TRS member contributions, and then resume TRS membership on or after September 1, 2007, should take
note of this change. Even if they reinstate the TRS service credit that was earned for service rendered before September 1, 2007, they will be subject to the new retirement eligibility criteria.