TRS retirement report, a bi-annual newsletter for retired members, Summer-Fall 2016

www.TRSGA.com 404-352-6500

TRS RETIREE RETIREMENT REPORT
A BI-ANNUAL NEWSLETTER FOR RETIREES
Summer/Fall 2016

Meet Dr. L.C. (Buster) Evans
TRS is excited to introduce our new Executive Director, Dr. L.C. (Buster) Evans! Buster brings a vast amount of experience to the job. Not only is he a husband, father and grandfather, but he was a teacher, coach, Superintendent, and TRS Board member from 2006-2014, including serving as the Board Chair for the last 2 years of his tenure. Buster was an active TRS member for much of his career and is also currently a TRS retiree, so he brings to the position a unique perspective. Prior to accepting his new position with TRS, he served as Assistant Commissioner for Inmate Services at the Georgia Department of Corrections. Buster was appointed to this position by Governor Nathan Deal in 2014 with the specific goal to design and implement educational programs to support Georgia's criminal justice reform initiative. Please help us welcome Buster to the TRS team...we are excited to have him leading the way.
Here are some questions we asked Buster to help everyone get to know him a little better:
What do you enjoy doing when you are not working? We live on a farm, so there are always things to do. I enjoy working outside especially during the fall and spring.
What are the values that drive you? Helping other people through hard work. I believe "being nice" to others matters.
Where did you grow up? I grew up in Macon during the 60s and 70s when Macon was famous for southern rock bands like the Allman brothers.
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We've Gone Social!
We are excited to announce that The Teachers Retirement System of Georgia has gone social! Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter for up-todate news and information.
We will use Facebook and Twitter to publish important news, generate discussions, tell interesting and helpful stories about our members and retirees, and highlight successes at TRS!
www.facebook.com/trsgeorgia/
@TRSGeogia
Teachers Retirement System of Georgia (State of Georgia)

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Meet Buster

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Working After Retirement

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EFT: No More Late Checks

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2016 EFT Payment Schedule

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Online TRS Account

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Health Care Coverage in Retirement

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Helpful Links and Contact Information

INSIDE

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Meet Buster, cont.
Choose a movie title for the story of your life. Taken from the song by Bob Seger "Against the Wind."
Can you play any instruments? I can play the guitar, but don't count on a public performance!
What is the strangest talent you have? I am a trained potter. After having more pieces than we can ever do anything with, I retired from that hobby.
What is something left on your bucket list? I really want to visit the grape growing regions of Italy.
Who was your favorite teacher and why? I had several teachers who made a difference in my life. My favorite though is my wife Debbie. Her enthusiasm for education played a huge role in my decision to become an educator.
What is your favorite sport and who is your favorite sports team? My favorite sport is golf and my favorite sports team is the UGA Bulldogs.
Where is your favorite place to vacation? Every year, for the past 22 years, we have visited Jekyll Island. I would have to say Jekyll would be that place.
If you could meet any historical figure, who would you choose and why? I'd say George Washington. I've visited Mt. Vernon, and I could see myself having lived there.
What's your motto? People don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care.
What is the one thing you cannot do without? Family, books, and coffee!
What's the greatest bit of advice a parent or mentor has given you? Compare yourself to the best, not the worst.
What technology innovation made the most impact on your life? Clearly the personal computer. I have files dating back to the 1980's!

Working After Retirement
Once you are a TRS retiree, you may be reemployed in a TRS-covered position on either a full or parttime basis, under certain terms and conditions, and continue to receive your TRS pension. This applies to both service retirees and disability retirees. Before you accept any position with a TRScovered employer, you should contact TRS to ensure the employment does not adversely affect your retirement.
In order to ensure a TRS retiree working in a TRS-covered position is in compliance with Georgia law, TRS must approve the employment prior to the retiree starting the job. It is your responsibility to inform the employer that you are a TRS retiree, and it is the employer's responsibility to report your employment to TRS. If you do return to work, you MUST have a break-in-service of at least one month after your effective date of retirement.
Salary and Service Limitations
All employment in a TRS-covered position, whether directly or indirectly (i.e. independent contractor, private temporary company, etc.) with a TRS employer, is subject to salary and service limitations as outlined in Georgia law and TRS policy.
No Pre-Existing Agreement
Georgia law requires employers to certify to the TRS Board of Trustees the date on which the employee's employment is or will be severed and that no agreement exists to allow the employee to return to service. This includes service as an independent contractor. Any return to employment or rendering of any paid service, including service for an independent contractor, for any TRS employer during the calendar month of the effective date of retirement shall render the retirement invalid and void the application for retirement.
To learn more, please visit our website or read our Member's Guide.

2 Winter 2016

No More Late Benefit Checks: Sign Up for Direct Deposit
Are you a retiree who is currently receiving a paper check delivered to you by the United States Postal Service (USPS)? Don't forget, you can take advantage of having your benefit deposited directly into your bank account each month through Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT).
The option to have your check delivered to you electronically has many benefits, including knowing when you will receive your check and a safer delivery. When you sign up for EFT, your money is deposited into your account on the first business day of the month, preventing your check from becoming delayed, lost, or stolen in the mail.
To sign up to receive payment through EFT, you just need to log into your TRS account.
1. Go to www.TRSGA.com and click on the Account Login button.
2. Click the Retiree link. 3. Sign in to your existing TRS account by
providing your User ID and Password. If you do not have a TRS online account, you will need to create one. Simply click on the Click to Register link under the Sign UpNew Account Registration box on the left of your screen. You will then be asked to provide information to validate your identity and create an account 4. Once you have signed in, click on the Update My EFT Information on the right side of the screen. 5. Complete the online form. You will receive a confirmation letter in the mail after you submit your information. By signing up for EFT you will be joining over 112,000 TRS retirees who know when their check will be directly deposited to their bank accounts. TRS has no control over the USPS and its delivery time, so please take a moment and enroll in EFT. If you have any questions please call (404) 352-6500 or (800) 352-0650.

2016 EFT BENEFIT PAYMENT SCHEDULE

MONTH

PAYMENT DATE

January.......................................................... 4th February.........................................................1st March.............................................................1st April...............................................................1st May...............................................................2nd June................................................................1st July.................................................................1st August............................................................1st September......................................................1st October.......................................................... 3rd November ......................................................1st December.......................................................1st

Retirement & Your Online TRS Account
Don't forget about your online account! After retirement, your online TRS account is a useful tool to find information you may need. Login to access your payment information, update contact information, update EFT information, as well as view your 1099R and account details.

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Health Coverage in Retirement
TRS does not administer health care benefits for retirees, or determine eligibility during retirement. Retirees should direct all questions regarding health insurance to their plan provider.
For retirees eligible to participate in Georgia's State Health Benefit Plan (SHBP), TRS will deduct the monthly premium from your benefit payment, once your enrollment form is approved by the SHBP. TRS does not determine your eligibility for participation in the SHBP and does not provide information on the filing of claims.
Health plan questions should be addressed to the State Health Benefit Plan: (800) 610-1863. You can also visit http://dch.georgia.gov/
Helpful Links and Contact Information
Georgia Department of Community Health www.dch.georgia.gov 800-610-1863
Internal Revenue Service www.irs.gov
Visit the website to locate your local IRS office phone number
Social Security Administration www.ssa.gov 800-772-1213
Georgia Breeze www.gabreeze.ga.gov
877-342-7339
Teachers Retirement System of Georgia www.TRSGA.com 404-352-6500 800-352-0650 404-352-4885 (fax)

Post Retirement Workshops
Did you know TRS offers a post-retirement workshop to our retirees? This workshop is aimed at keeping you informed throughout your retirement about what is going on at TRS, a financial update, as well as any legislation that may affect you. TRS proudly partners with the Georgia Retired Educators Association (GREA) and the Georgia Association of Educators (GAE-Retired) to host a post-retirement workshop.
In addition to uniting retired educators for fellowship, support and service, one area of concentration for GREA is focusing on the needs of Georgia's retired educators by distribution of valuable information. Every summer, GREA hosts a "tour" of their area meetings across Georgia. TRS met with over 1,000 GREA retirees during these area meetings during the summer of 2015. For information on GREA, please visit their website at www.garetirededucators.org.
GAE-Retired supports and promotes GAE programs and services to retiring and retired GAE members and other retired educational employees. One program offered by GAE-Retired is their PreRetirement Seminar where TRS is a presenter. For information on GAE-Retired, please visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/GAERetired.
If you are a member of a local GREA or GAERetired unit, TRS would be happy to present our post-retirement workshop to your group. To schedule a TRS representative for your local GREA or GAE-Retired unit, please contact Mike Zarem at 404-425-6616.

4 Winter 2016