TRS & Social Security: How Do They Play Together?

The Teacher Retirement System (TRS) is a state agency that falls under the authority of the Texas Legislature, and the retirement benefits it provides are available to all public school employees. Social Security is a federal program providing benefits for which you may also be eligible at retirement, depending on your employment history. If you have paid into both systems, or your spouse has paid into Social Security, you need to be aware of two Social Security offsets that can reduce the benefits you receive—and how ATPE has long advocated for reform of these offsets. In this episode of The ATPE Podcast, we ask ATPE Senior Lobbyist Monty Exter to explain the interaction between TRS and Social Security and provide an update on ATPE’s advocacy to protect your retirement benefits through both TRS and Social Security.