Decades of UFT advocacy bore fruit for the union’s paraprofessionals in 2021 when the governor signed a new state law ensuring all UFT-represented full-time paraprofessionals — on the job from that date forward — would automatically become members of the Teachers’ Retirement System (TRS). After they retire, TRS members receive a pension check every month for the rest of their lives.

TRS’ Qualified Pension Plan (QPP) is a defined-benefit plan that guarantees a specific benefit at retirement. Unlike 401(k) savings plans, the retired paraprofessional gets a guaranteed monthly amount regardless of the fluctuations of the stock market.

Once paraprofessionals are enrolled in TRS, they receive:

• The right to borrow from their TRS account after one year of TRS membership.
• The right to participate in TRS’ Tax-Deferred Annuity (TDA) program.
• If they have at least 10 years of credited service and disability forces them to retire early, they may be eligible for disability retirement income.
• The right to apply for accident disability retirement benefits.
• Benefits for their family if the paraprofessional passes away after one year of service.

You contribute a portion of your paycheck each month to your pension. If you belong to Tier 4 of the pension system, your pension contribution is determined by your date of membership in TRS. If you were appointed as a full-time paraprofessional on or after April 1, 2012, you belong to Tier 6, which uses a salary scale to determine the annual contribution rate. Paraprofessionals who earn under $45,000 contribute 3% of their salary toward their pension, while those earning between $45,001 and $55,000 contribute 3.5% of their salary. Speak to a UFT pension consultant for details.

When a substitute paraprofessional is appointed as a full-time paraprofessional, they are now automatically enrolled in TRS as Tier 6 members. If you were previously employed by New York City or New York State, you have the option to purchase service credit.

The size of your monthly pension check will be calculated using a formula based on years of service and your final average salary (FAS), which is the highest three years. A UFT pension consultant can help you estimate your pension benefit.

Paraprofessionals who become full-time teachers (see Q&A on the Issues on career advancement opportunities for paraprofessionals) increase their pension benefit. For a paraprofessional-turned-teacher, the number of years they worked as a paraprofessional while enrolled in TRS is considered part of their total number of years of service for pension calculation purposes, while the final average salary is based on their higher earnings as a teacher.

Paraprofessionals automatically belong to the Social Security system. When you retire, you are able to collect a TRS pension as well as Social Security benefits at the appropriate time. From your membership in Social Security, you also get:

• Social Security payments to eligible dependents after your death.
• Social Security payments to eligible dependents should you become disabled.

To further prepare for retirement, you should consider enrolling in TRS’ TDA program, a voluntary savings program funded by your own contributions.

If you have any questions regarding your pension or your retirement, please call the union at 212-331-6311 and ask to speak to a UFT pension consultant. You may also contact TRS directly at 888-869-2877. Throughout your career, you can request a preliminary pension consultation, and as you near retirement, you have the same right as all other UFT members to a confidential final pension consultation.

This column is compiled by Tom Brown, Victoria Lee and Christina McGrath, teacher-members of the New York City Teachers’ Retirement Board.