Earning Service Time FAQs

You earn one month of current service time for each month you make a TCDRS deposit, no matter how many paychecks you get that month.

Your service time determines if you’re vested or eligible for retirement, or if your beneficiary is eligible for the TCDRS Survivor Benefit.

Here are the most common questions about service time:

 

Q) What does it mean to be vested with TCDRS?

A) With TCDRS, “vesting” means you have enough service time to receive a lifetime monthly benefit when you become eligible and choose to retire. The amount needed for vesting is determined by your employer. It could be 5, 8 or 10 years. TCDRS will contact you by mail or email when you become vested, but you can also sign into your online account to see your status on your Account Summary page.

 

Q) I have service with another retirement system. How will this help me?

A) The Proportionate Retirement Program lets you use service time from any of the systems listed below to qualify for retirement benefits (not disability benefits or the Survivor Benefit). Those systems are:

• Texas Municipal Retirement System (TMRS)

• Employees Retirement System (ERS)

• Judicial Retirement System of Texas (JRS)

• Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS)

• City of Austin Employees Retirement System (COAERS)

If you have service with one of these systems, please sign into your online account or call TCDRS Member Services at 800-823-7782 to add it to your account.

 

Q) If I have multiple TCDRS accounts, can I combine that service time?

A) Yes. You can combine your service time to meet eligibility requirements for retirement, disability and the Survivor Benefit. You can also use the service time from closed accounts as well.

 

Q) Can the time I served in the military count toward my retirement eligibility?

A) If you served in the military, you may be eligible to have up to five years of that service time credited to your account if:

• You are vested with your employer (based on TCDRS service).

• Your discharge was under honorable conditions.

• You have not applied to have your military service time credited by another Texas public retirement system.

You will get one month of service time for each month of active-duty military service. You can update your service time in your online account or by calling TCDRS Member Services at 800-823-7782.

 

Q) Will I continue to earn service time if I’m called away to active service duty while working?

A) The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) gives you a chance to fully restore your retirement account with service time and to make up for missed deposits when you return to work for your TCDRS employer. Please call TCDRS Member Services at 800-823-7782 for instructions on how to apply to have USERRA service added to your TCDRS account.

Benefits