Q: I am a newly tenured, career-change teacher in my fourth year. Prior to teaching, I worked as a New York state employee in various government positions and belonged to the Public Employees Federation. I vested after 10-and-a-half years and changed to another career prior to teaching. I was interested in collecting my pension last year at 55 but was informed I could not because I was a teacher. Can those years of state service be transferred to TRS? If so, what would be the procedure?

A: Yes — and do it as soon as possible so that you will be refunded part of the 3 percent payments you have made to the TRS (after 10 years of public retirement system membership, members no longer pay the 3 percent). 

If you had transferred earlier you would not have had to pay the 3 percent — but at least you will be able to recoup this school year's payments if you file now. Contact the TRS at (800) 348-7298, ext. 6250, and request the forms to transfer from the ERS to the TRS. We suggest that any mailing you do in this regard be sent certified, return receipt.

Q: For the final three-year average salary, would my coaching stipend be included with my teaching salary? Also, would teaching as an adjunct at a SUNY university count toward years served?

A: The answer to your first question is yes. For the second question, if you are a full-time teacher, you are already receiving a full year of service credit.

Therefore, the adjunct service would not add to that. But if you render that service in the three consecutive school years that you select as your FAS years, the salary would be included in the computation.

Q: I am planning on retiring within the next two years. I am 56 and will be just shy of 25 years in June 2010. Is 25 years a benchmark of some kind or does it not make any difference?

A: If you are a Tier 3 or 4 member, you need 30 years of credited service to be eligible for a full pension.  If you retire in 2010, when you are 59, you will receive a reduced pension.

You might wish to consider teaching until you are 62; even though you will not have reached 30 years, you will not be penalized. We suggest that you arrange a video consultation in your geographic area with a TRS rep, who will answer all your questions and explain when it would be most beneficial for you to retire.

Call (800) 348-7298, ext. 6100.