- TRS of Kentucky has four account types, set by the date you first entered TRS of Kentucky: TRS 1 (before July 1, 2002), TRS 2 (July 1, 2002 through June 30, 2008), TRS 3 (July 1, 2008 through Dec. 31, 2021) and TRS 4 (on or after Jan. 1, 2022).TRS Basics 1-3 p. 1, TRS Account Types; TRS Basics 4 p. 1
- TRS 1, 2 and 3 share the same retirement ages but use different multipliers. TRS 4 is a different plan: a foundational pension plus a supplemental savings account.TRS 1-3 Service Retirement bulletin pp. 1-2; TRS 4 SPD p. 6, TRS 4 summary
- Whether you work for a school district or agency (non-university) or a university also matters: university members have lower multipliers because they also pay into Social Security.TRS Basics 1-3 p. 1, Membership; TRS 1-3 Service Retirement bulletin p. 2
- If you refund your account and later return to teaching, you come back as a new member unless you reinstate the old account after a year of service.TRS 4 SPD pp. 10-11; KRS 161.470(2)-(3)
| TRS 1 | TRS 2 | TRS 3 | TRS 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entered TRS of Kentucky | before July 1, 2002 | July 1, 2002 through June 30, 2008 | July 1, 2008 through Dec. 31, 2021 | on or after Jan. 1, 2022 |
| Unreduced | 27 years of service at any age; age 60 with five years | 27 years of service at any age; age 60 with five years | 27 years of service at any age; age 60 with five years | age 57 with 30 years; age 60 with 10 years; age 65 with five years |
| Early (reduced) | Age 55 with 5 years; 5% a year, up to 25% | Age 55 with 5 years; 5% a year, up to 25% | Age 55 with 10 years; 6% a year, up to 30% | Age 57 with 10 years; 6% a year, up to 18% |
| School district or agency (non-university) | 2% service before July 1, 1983; 2.5% up to 30 years; 3% each year over 30 | 2% under 10 years; 2.5% 10 through 30 years; 3% each year over 30 | 1.7% 10 years or less; 2% over 10 through 20 years; 2.3% over 20 through 26 years; 2.5% over 26 through 30 years; 3% each year over 30 | age factor 1.7% to 1.9%, plus career factor 0.25% at 20 to 29.99 years, 0.5% at 30 years or more |
| University or community college | 2% every year | 2% every year | 1.5% 10 years or less; 1.7% over 10 through 20 years; 1.85% over 20 but under 27 years; 2% 27 years or more | age factor 0.7% to 0.9%, plus career factor 0.25% at 20 to 29.99 years, 0.5% at 30 years or more |
| Final average salary | 5 highest years; 3 highest at 55+ with 27 years | 5 highest years; 3 highest at 55+ with 27 years | 5 highest years; 3 highest at 55+ with 27 years | 5 highest years |
| Minimum benefit | $440 a year of service | $440 a year of service | None | None |
| Retiree health needs | 5 years | 5 years | 15 years | 15 years |
Sources: KRS 161.600(1)(a), (c); TRS 1-3 Service Retirement bulletin p. 1, Service Retirement Eligibility; KRS 161.600(1)(b)1.; TRS 1-3 Service Retirement bulletin p. 1; TRS Basics 1-3 p. 2 ('Penalty (up to 25%)'); KRS 161.620(1)(a); TRS 1-3 Service Retirement bulletin p. 2, Multipliers; KRS 161.620(1)(a); TRS 1-3 Service Retirement bulletin p. 2 ('The maximum multiplier used for university members is 2%')KRS 161.600(1)(a), (c); TRS 1-3 Service Retirement bulletin p. 1, Service Retirement Eligibility; KRS 161.600(1)(b)1.; TRS 1-3 Service Retirement bulletin p. 1; TRS Basics 1-3 p. 2 ('Penalty (up to 25%)'); KRS 161.620(1)(b); TRS 1-3 Service Retirement bulletin p. 2 ('For TRS 2, the 2.5% begins at 10.0 years'); TRS 1-3 SPD (2011) p. 39, Step 2 note; KRS 161.620(1)(a); TRS 1-3 Service Retirement bulletin p. 2, Multipliers (University, TRS 1 and TRS 2: 2%)KRS 161.600(1)(a), (c); TRS 1-3 Service Retirement bulletin p. 1, Service Retirement Eligibility; KRS 161.600(1)(b)2.; TRS 1-3 Service Retirement bulletin p. 1; TRS Basics 1-3 p. 2 ('Penalty (up to 30%)'); TRS 1-3 SPD (2011) pp. 56-57, Eligibility for Retirement; KRS 161.620(1)(d)1.; TRS 1-3 Service Retirement bulletin p. 2, Multipliers; TRS 1-3 SPD (2011) p. 55, New Retirement Factors; KRS 161.620(1)(e); TRS 1-3 Service Retirement bulletin p. 2, Multipliers (University, TRS 3); TRS 1-3 SPD (2011) p. 55KRS 161.600(2)(a)-(c); TRS 4 SPD p. 13, Service retirement eligibility; TRS 4 Service Retirement bulletin p. 1; KRS 161.600(2)(d); TRS 4 SPD p. 13, Early retirement eligibility; KRS 161.620(1)(f); TRS 4 SPD p. 8, Multiplier; TRS 4 Service Retirement bulletin p. 1, Multipliers; KRS 161.620(1)(g); TRS 4 SPD p. 8, Multiplier; TRS 4 Service Retirement bulletin p. 1, Multipliers
School district or university?
Most teachers work for a school district or another education agency. TRS of Kentucky calls them non-university members. They don't pay Social Security on that pay, because TRS of Kentucky replaces it. University and community college members pay into both, so their multipliers are lower: 2% every year in TRS 1 and TRS 2, and 0.7% to 0.9% plus the career factor in TRS 4. TRS Basics 1-3 p. 1; TRS 4 SPD p. 6
What you pay in
- Non-university, joined before Jan. 1, 2022: 12.855% of pay (9.105% pension + 3.75% retiree health). KRS 161.540(1)(a); TRS Basics 1-3 p. 1
- University, joined before Jan. 1, 2022: 10.4% of pay (7.625% pension + 2.775% retiree health). KRS 161.540(1)(b) (eff. June 27, 2025)
- Non-university, joined on or after Jan. 1, 2022 (TRS 4): 14.75% of pay (9% foundational + 2% supplemental + 3.75% retiree health). KRS 161.540(1)(c); TRS Basics 4 p. 1
- University, joined on or after Jan. 1, 2022 (TRS 4): 9.775% of pay (5% foundational + 2% supplemental + 2.775% retiree health). KRS 161.540(1)(d); TRS Basics 4 p. 1
TRS Basics 1-3 (Dec. 2021), p. 1: 8.185%. The bulletin predates the 2025 amendment, so the current statute is shown. Not used in any calculation.
TRS 4: two parts
The foundational benefit is the pension. Its multiplier is an age factor (1.7% up to age 60, rising each month to 1.9% at 65 for school districts) plus a career factor for 20 or more years. See the benefit formula.
The supplemental benefit is a savings account. TRS 4 also has a supplemental benefit (a savings component): mandatory contributions plus any voluntary contributions, with interest credited each June 30. At retirement or later it can be annuitized (minimum the greater of $10,000 or 10% of the balance), rolled over, paid directly (at least 20% federal withholding), or a combination. If refunded while vested, the member also gets employer supplemental contributions and interest. Not calculated here. TRS 4 SPD pp. 8-10, 15-16; TRS 4 Service Retirement bulletin p. 2
Risk controls. If the TRS 4 foundational benefit's funding level falls below 90%, the board must use one or more of: the stabilization reserve; redirecting future supplemental contributions to the foundational benefit; or prospectively adjusting interest credits, the retirement factors, the age and service requirements, the COLA, or disability provisions for TRS 4 members. KRS 161.633(3); TRS 4 SPD p. 9, Risk controls
If you took a refund and came back
A withdrawn account can be reinstated after at least one year back in a TRS-covered position by repaying the amount withdrawn plus interest. TRS 4 SPD p. 11; KRS 161.470(3) If you don't reinstate, you start again under the account type for the date you came back. See buying service credit.
Find your type and run your numbers in the calculator. TRS 4 members can also see the 57, 60 and 65 rules.
Questions
How do I know my TRS of Kentucky account type?
It's set by the date you first entered TRS of Kentucky. Pathway and your annual statement show it.
Does it matter if I work for a university?
Yes. University members pay into Social Security as well as TRS of Kentucky, so their multipliers are lower.
What is different about TRS 4?
TRS 4 has a foundational benefit (a pension with an age factor and a career factor) plus a supplemental benefit account. It also has later retirement ages: age 57 with 30 years, age 60 with 10 years, age 65 with five years.
Source: TRS Summary Plan Descriptions and Service Retirement bulletins, TRS 4 SPD January 2022; TRS 1-3 SPD 2011; Service Retirement bulletins March 2023, TRS 1-3 Service Retirement bulletin pp. 1, 1-2, 2; TRS 1-3 SPD (2011) pp. 38, 39, 55, 56-57; TRS 4 SPD pp. 6, 8, 8-10, 9, 10-11, 13, 15-16, 17; TRS 4 Service Retirement bulletin pp. 1, 2. Also: TRS Basics 1-3 pp. 1, 2; 2026 Turning 65 booklet p. 4; 2027 KEHP rate chart p. 1; TRS Basics 4 p. 1; TRS Basics 1-3 and 4 p. 1; KRS 161.220, 161.470, 161.540, 161.600, 161.620, 161.633, 161.675. Last reviewed .