Retire Ready Tennessee: New Phone Support for TCRS and Deferred Compensation Plans

Now you can ask questions and receive information concerning TCRS and your Tennessee Deferred Compensation plan with one phone call.

Call 800-770-8277 to reach Retire Ready Tennessee customer service representatives who are ready to assist you with questions regarding your entire retirement.

You may also access your accounts online at MyTCRS.com or http://www.treasury.state.tn.us/dc/.

FY15 GASB Information is now available.

Payees receiving payment by debit card, please refer to the "Headlines"tab for an important notice.

Great news! Concord's Self-Service is now available to Retirees, Employers and Members. Please click on the Self-Service link to access the login page. We are experiencing high call volume at this time. If you have questions about Member Self Service, please refer to the User Guide or Demonstration Video for assistance.

The Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System (TCRS) is a defined benefit pension plan that covers state employees, higher education employees, K-12 public school teachers, and employees of political subdivisions who have elected to participate in the plan. This means that the amount of any future retirement benefits is determined by a benefit formula rather than an account balance.

The TCRS provides retirement benefits as well as death and disability benefits to plan members and their beneficiaries. Benefits are determined by a formula using the members high five-year average salary and years of service. Members become eligible to retire at the age of 60 with five years of service or at any age with 30 years of service. A reduced retirement benefit is available to vested members with five years of service who become disabled and cannot engage in gainful employment. There is no service requirement for disability that is the result of an accident or injury occurring while the member was in the performance of duty.

Notice: Please click HERE to view the fees associated with the debit cards issued for retirement payments beginning April 30, 2013.

2015 COLA (Cost of Living Adjustment) for TCRS Retirees (May 29, 2015) Retired teachers and state employees who have been on the TCRS retired payroll for at least 12 consecutive months as of July 1, 2015 will receive a 1.0% cost-of-living adjustment. Retirees of local governments that have authorized COLAs will receive the same increase.

Fraudulent Email Targeting Debit Card Holders (January 20, 2015)

The Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System (TCRS) has been made aware that a fraudulent email could be distributed to all TCRS debit card holders. more...

(December 23, 2013) The Tennessee Department of Treasury is informing active Johnson City Power Board employees about a theft of personal information. more...

(December 14, 2013) The Tennessee Department of Treasury is informing active Metro Nashville teachers about a possible theft of personal information. more...

(September 25, 2013) TCRS has been made aware of a misleading mailout sent to TCRS members from a Texas-based company not affiliated with TCRS. This mailing makes incorrect and misleading statements about TCRS. Members should contact TCRS directly with questions about their benefits. more...

(March 28, 2013) The investment committee of the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System (TCRS) Board of Trustees has approved two new commitments within its private equity portfolio and two new commitments within its strategic lending portfolio. more...

Tennessee's State Pension Fund Rated Best in Nation for Investment Strategy (March 19, 2013) Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System (TCRS), the state's retirement fund for state government, higher education and other public employees, is managing its investments better than any other large public pension plan in the country. So says Money Management Intelligence, a publication featuring news, trends and analysis about and for institutional investors. more...

Treasurer Lillard Proposes New Pension Options for State & Teacher Plans (February 25, 2013) State Treasurer David H. Lillard, Jr. is recommending that the General Assembly adopt a number of reforms to the state's retirement plan for public employees. The Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System (TCRS) is a well-funded pension plan. more...

TCRS Newsletters (November 29, 2012) The Active member employee newsletteris now available. Click here to view the current issue of the TCRS Report.

TCRS Board Meetings (November 1, 2012) Information concerning the current and past board meetings can be found here.

Treasurer Lillard Proposes New Pension Options for Local Governments (January 23, 2012) To give local governments more choices for their employees retirement plans, Tennessee State Treasurer David H. Lillard Jr. today proposed several new options to state legislators for their consideration. more...

2012 COLA for Retirees (January 23, 2012) Retired teachers and state employees who have been on the TCRS retired payroll for at least 12 consecutive months as of July 1, 2012 will receive a 3.0% cost-of-living adjustment. Retirees of local governments that have authorized COLAs will receive the same increase.

2011 COLA for Retirees (April 29, 2011) Retired teachers and state employees who have been on the TCRS retired payroll for at least 12 consecutive months as of July 1, 2011 will receive a 1.5% cost-of-living adjustment. Retirees of local governments that have authorized COLAs will receive the same increase.

Important Tax Notice (January 19, 2011) Many of you may have noticed a change in the withholding tax deducted from your TCRS benefit payment in January. In 2009 and 2010 there was a "Making Work Pay" federal tax credit in effect as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The Making Work Pay tax credit expired on 12/31/2010. This means that most retirees will notice an increase in the amount of federal withholding deducted.

In addition, TCRS has received several questions concerning the effect the Social Security rate decrease from 6.2% to 4.2% will have on their monthly pension benefits. This change will not affect TCRS pension recipients since the pension benefits are not subject to the Social Security tax.

At any time, you can change the amount of taxes being withheld from your monthly retirement benefit by completing a Substitute Withholding Certificate for Pension or Annuity Payments form. This form can be downloaded at tcrs.tn.gov. You may also send a letter indicating any changes to TCRS, ATTN: Retired Payroll, 502 Deaderick Street, Nashville, TN 37243-0201.

Tennessee's Retirement Fund in Good Shape Compared to Others (July 25, 2010) Good economic news can be hard to find in the Capitol building, but Tennesseans can breathe a little easier about one corner of the state budget. ...more

(Knoxville News Sentinel article by Josh Flory. Posted July 25, 2010.)

Financial Welfare of TCRS The financial marketplace has been exhibiting a high degree of volatility for several months, mainly due to issues related to the mortgage industry. Several Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System (TCRS) members and retirees have expressed concern. ...more

Recent Letters to TCRS Retirees Approximately 10% of TCRS retirees received a letter dated July 30, 2010 from TCRS where the insurance premium(s) was not shown correctly. The letter provided the amount of the COLA increase, the new gross value of the pension benefit, insurance deductions, tax withholding deductions, other deductions, and the net amount deposited to your checking or savings account.

Unfortunately, the medical insurance deduction shown for retired state employees under the age of 65 was not correct. The medical insurance premium did not change. The premium for July was the same amount as the June premium.

In addition, the letters for retirees enrolled in the long term care plan and dental insurance plan did not show a deduction.

The correct deductions were taken from your pension benefit and the correct amount was deposited in your bank account. The only issue occurred in the printing of the letters.

Please contact our office if you have any questions concerning this issue at (800) 770-8277 or 741-4913.

Public Notices:

TCRS Board of Trustees Meeting Notices

Individuals with disabilities who wish to participate in these proceedings and require an accommodation should contact Bridget Dorse with Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System no less than two (2) days prior to the scheduled meeting date to allow time for the Treasury Department to arrange for an accommodation. You may contact the Treasury Department at 502 Deaderick St., Nashville, TN 37243; (615) 741-7063 or the Board Administrator Bridget Dorse by email at bridget.dorse@tn.gov.

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TN Consolidated Retirement System