■ Please see our Frequently Asked Questions, updated 12/18/2020.
■ Video update for Active Members, posted 5/19/2020.
■ MTRS offices are closed to the public until further notice, essential services continue.
■ Retirees and Survivors, no delay to your monthly benefit.
■ Continue to mail Retirement Applications and any paperwork to the appropriate office.
■ For urgent matters, email GenInfo@trb.state.ma.us or call the Charlestown (617-679-6877) or Springfield (413-784-1711) office.
As you know, there are federal and state limits on the amount of pensionable earnings (“regular compensation”) that can be used in computing benefits for active members of public retirement systems with effective membership dates after 12/31/1995. What this means for employers For any me...
Legislation extends waiver of earnings and hours restrictions for most retired public employees through 2021. In April, Chapter 53 of the Acts of 2020 waived earnings and hours restrictions for many retired public employees working in the public sector for calendar year 2020, during the Governor’s S...
MyTRS will be offline from 6pm Monday, December 14 through 6am Tuesday, December 15 for server maintenance. Please plan accordingly. Questions? Please feel free to contact Robert George ...
1) Group insurance rate changes for January: Please send your new senior rates to us ASAP so everyone’s changes can be processed on time If you have already submitted your group insurance rate changes for January, thank you. If not, immediately complete our Group Rate Premium Change form and e...
MyTRS will be offline from 6pm Friday, November 20 to 6am Monday, November 23 for server maintenance. Please plan accordingly. Questions? Please feel free to contact Robert George. ...
With the 2020-2021 school year starting, the MTRS has been receiving questions from employers about benefits paid under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“FFCRA”). We have listed the most common questions and answers below to help provide guidance for employers. Q: If we are p...
2019 annual statements were mailed on September 30 to the home addresses of our more than 109,000 active and inactive members. For your reference, and in support of your continuing and valued efforts to have unenrolled members complete the MTRS online enrollment process, we are also taking this oppo...
MyTRS will be offline from 6pm Friday, September 25 to 6am Monday, September 28 for server maintenance. Please plan accordingly. Questions? Please feel free to contact Robert George. ...
Updated 9/15/20 at 3:35pm MyTRS will be offline from 6pm to 9pm for server maintenance, we apologize for the short notice. Questions? Please feel free to contact Robert George ...
From 9pm on Friday, September 4 through 6am on Monday, September 7, MyTRS will be offline for maintenance. During this time, MyTRS will not be available to newly enrolling members, and a message advising members that MyTRS is temporarily offline will appear on our “Welcome to MyTRS” and ...
With the 2020-2021 school year starting shortly, we would like to offer some reminders to help you have a successful reporting year. 1. September deduction report audits An audit will be performed reviewing the salaries and position codes reported in your September report, you may be asked to confir...
Step 1: Ensure that your employees are eligible for MTRS membership BEFORE you register your new hires in MyTRS, make sure that they are eligible for MTRS membership by reviewing our eligibility criteria. Key reminders Employees must meet all four regulatory eligibility requirements with the excepti...
1. Employee receiving a lump sum payment? Set the pay duration to “LS” in your payroll software. Change the pay duration field to “LS” in your payroll software prior to exporting your May deduction report to ensure that employees are setup correctly for the June report. 2. Fo...
The MTRS is hearing that due to the anticipated economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, school district employers may be considering local cost saving measures and wondering how they would impact their employees’ retirement benefits. If your district is considering such measures, we encourag...
The MTRS has been working with representatives from the State Comptroller’s office, the Public Employees’ Retirement Administration Commission (PERAC), and KPMG to issue the GASB Statement No. 68 schedules for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2019 to be used by our employer units in their FY2020 finan...
As the MTRS continues to provide essential services remotely, we appreciate your assistance in providing benefits to your employees and retirees during this difficult time. New State and Federal laws impact post retirement restrictions and paid sick leave Legislation temporarily changes earnings and...
As the MTRS continues to provide essential services remotely, we appreciate your assistance providing benefits to your employees and retirees during this difficult time. Three processing reminders for the spring season Group insurance rate changes for July 1, 2020: Beat the rush! Deadline reminder: ...
Dear School District Superintendents, Charter School and Education Collaborative Directors, Business Managers, Payroll Officers, Personnel Administrators and Town Treasurers, As we all continue to monitor the evolving impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), the MTRS is implementing modifications...
Deadline for finalizing 2019 reports is March 27, 2020 The deadline for finalizing the 2019 calendar year deduction reports is Friday, March 27, 2020. We will notify Superintendents of “severely delinquent” employers with 4 or more months of deduction reports that have not reached “...
As you know, there are federal and state limits on the amount of pensionable earnings (“regular compensation”) that can be used in computing benefits for active members of public retirement systems with effective membership dates after 12/31/1995. What this means for employers For any me...
As the busy holiday and W-2 seasons approach, now is an ideal time to add your 2020 payroll calendar(s) in MyTRS. Two critical reminders when adding your 2020 calendar(s): Do not delete or overwrite any of your previous years’ calendars. Please follow the exact steps in the Guided Practice to ...
The Massachusetts Teachers’ Retirement System (MTRS) has been asked by the Pension Reserves Investment Management (PRIM) Board to assist them in the statewide election for a representative of the Massachusetts Teachers’ Retirement System to the PRIM Board. As you may know, active and ret...
As we mentioned in our e-mail of July 31, 2019, we are now conducting an election for the two members of the Board who are elected by the active and retired members of our system. This election is held once every four years. If any of your employees who are MTRS members believe that they […]...
We are excited to announce a new feature in MyTRS that allows your district’s Employer Services Representative to return a deduction report in “Pending” status back to “Initial” status in order for you to be able to make required corrections or adjustments. If your repo...
1) Group insurance rate changes for January: Beat the rush! Please send your new senior rates to us ASAP so everyone’s changes can be processed on time If you have already submitted your group insurance rate changes for January, thank you. If not, at your earliest convenience, please complete ...
With the 2019-2020 school year underway, we would like to offer some reminders to help you have a more successful reporting year. 1. September deduction report audits We will be reviewing the salaries and position codes reported in your September report, and may ask you to confirm or edit the provid...
UPDATED AS OF 10/24/2019 For MTRS Tier 1 members (established membership BEFORE April 2, 2012) As we recently announced, we will be presenting our popular “Ready for Retirement” seminar at 9 locations across the Commonwealth. Please remind your soon-to-be-retiring employees that we’...
Be sure to register at least five business days before your preferred session. Space is limited, so if you register and cannot attend, please notify us as soon as possible. If needed based on demand, we will schedule additional sessions and notify you of their availability. Feel free to share this e...
Effective immediately, the mailing address for all monthly deduction reporting payments by check has changed to: Massachusetts Teachers’ Retirement System PO Box 358020 Pittsburgh, PA 15251-5020 Our bank will be accepting payments at the old address for at least a few weeks so if you have rece...
As you may know, the Massachusetts Teachers’ Retirement Board is comprised of seven members, two of whom are elected by the members of the Massachusetts Teachers’ Retirement System for four-year terms. Since the terms of our incumbent elected members expire on December 31, 2019, the Boar...
Step 1: Ensure that your employees are eligible for MTRS membership BEFORE you register your new hires in MyTRS, make sure that they are eligible for MTRS membership by reviewing our eligibility criteria. Key reminders Employees must meet all four regulatory eligibility requirements. (Exceptions: Th...
On Tuesday, June 25, annual statements were mailed to the home addresses of our more than 109,000 active and inactive members. For your reference, and in support of your continuing and valued efforts to have unenrolled members complete the MTRS online enrollment process, we are also taking this oppo...
MyTRS will be offline for maintenance tonight, 6–9pm, and tomorrow, 9am–6pm. During this time, MyTRS will not be available to members, and a message advising members that MyTRS is temporarily offline will appear on our Member sign in and Enroll in the MTRS pages. Questions? Contact your districtR...
From 6pm on Friday, May 31 through 6am on Monday, June 3, MyTRS will be offline for maintenance. During this time, MyTRS will not be available to newly enrolling members, and a message advising members that MyTRS is temporarily offline will appear on our “Enroll in the MTRS” page. Questi...
For any employee who will receive a lump sum payment for the summer, use the pay duration code of “LS” in your payroll software. Also, be sure to do this before you export your June deduction report from your payroll system. As a best practice, we recommend that you enter these LS codes ...
Deadline reminder: For your July 1st group rate changes to be processed in time to be reflected in our retirees’ June 30th checks (in payment of the July 1st premium), you must submit them no later than May 31st. If you have not yet submitted your group insurance rate changes for July premiums...
Be sure to register at least five business days before your preferred session. Space is limited, so if you register and cannot attend, please notify us as soon as possible. If needed based on demand, we will schedule additional sessions and notify you of their availability. Feel free to share this e...
As we recently announced in our e-mail of April 11, in May we will be holding “Your MTRS Benefits” educational seminars throughout the Commonwealth. Please help us publicize our programs by reminding your employees who are MTRS members that they are being offered, and that this is a prim...
In May, we will be presenting “Your MTRS Benefits,” our two-hour retirement education program for all MTRS members who want to learn about the MTRS retirement plan and benefits. Please help us publicize our programs by letting your employees who are MTRS members know that they are being ...
Group insurance rate changes for July 1, 2019: Beat the rush! Deadline reminder: For your July 1st group rate changes to be processed in time to be reflected in our retirees’ June 30th checks (in payment of the July 1st premium), you must submit them no later than May 31st. If you have already...
Over the last few months, we have worked with representatives from the State Comptroller’s office, the Public Employees’ Retirement Administration Commission (PERAC), and KPMG to issue the GASB Statement No. 68 schedules for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2018 to be used by our employer ...
It’s the start of a new year and that means it’s time to add your 2019 payroll calendar(s) in MyTRS. If you haven’t done this already, be sure to add your calendar(s) BEFORE you import your January report. When adding your 2019 calendar(s)… Do not delete or overwrite any of your pr...
In July 2018, in an effort to improve our online registration and enrollment processes for employers and members alike, we asked school district representatives who register our members in MyTRS for feedback on the process. As a result of your comments, we have made the following changes, which will...
As you know, there are federal and state limits on the amount of pensionable earnings (“regular compensation”) that can be used in computing benefits for active members of public retirement systems with effective membership dates after 12/31/1995. What this means for employers For any me...
1) Group insurance rate changes for January: Beat the rush! Please send your new senior rates to us ASAP so everyone’s changes can be processed on time If you have already submitted your group insurance rate changes for January, thank you; if not, at your earliest convenience, please complete ...
Be sure to register at least 5 business days before your preferred session. Space is limited, so if you register and cannot attend, please notify us as soon as possible. If needed based on demand, we will schedule additional sessions and notify you of their availability. Feel free to share this e-ma...
“Ready for Retirement” seminars starting soon—Woburn program just added For MTRS Tier 1 members (established membership BEFORE April 2, 2012) As we recently announced, we will soon be presenting our popular “Ready for Retirement” seminar at 9 locations across the Commonwealth...
“Ready for Retirement” seminars coming soon— please spread the word! For MTRS Tier 1 members (established membership BEFORE April 2, 2012) In November, we will be presenting our popular “Ready for Retirement” seminar at 9 locations across the Commonwealth. Please remind your ...
Payroll deduction reporting updates Deadline for 2018 reports: March 8, 2019 We have recently begun notifying the superintendents of districts that are severely delinquent in deduction reporting of their district’s status, and we will send additional notices to delinquent districts in the comi...
For employers and members: Beware of sales solicitations that say “MTRS” We are not affiliated with, nor do we endorse, any commercial companies Occasionally, financial planning companies will use “MTRS” in their advertising or presentation materials, or otherwise imply that ...
As you know, there are federal and state limits on the amount of pensionable earnings (“regular compensation”) that can be used in computing benefits for active members of public retirement systems with effective membership dates after 12/31/1995. What this means for employers For any me...
Dear School District Superintendents, Charter School and Education Collaborative Directors, Business Managers, Payroll Officers, Personnel Administrators and Town Treasurers, We are writing to advise employers that our regulatory agency, the Public Employee Retirement Administration Commission (PERA...
Dear School District Superintendents, Charter School and Education Collaborative Directors, Business Managers, Payroll Officers, Personnel Administrators and Town Treasurers, Please note these three reminders regarding retiree insurance processing: 1) Group insurance rate changes for July 1, 2018: B...
Dear School District Superintendents, Charter School and Education Collaborative Directors, Business Managers, Payroll Officers, Personnel Administrators and Town Treasurers, Over the last few months, we have worked with representatives from the State Comptroller’s office, the Public Employees’ Reti...
Dear School District Superintendents, Charter School and Education Collaborative Directors, Business Managers, Payroll Officers, Personnel Administrators and Town Treasurers, We are writing to advise employers that the Supreme Judicial Court has affirmed a determination by the Contributory Retiremen...
Dear School District Superintendents, Charter School and Education Collaborative Directors, Business Managers, Payroll Officers, Personnel Administrators and Town Treasurers, As you know, your employees who are joining the MTRS for the first time, or who are already members and are changing district...
Dear School District Superintendents, Charter School and Education Collaborative Directors, Business Managers, Payroll Officers, Personnel Administrators and Town Treasurers, Please note our annual fall reminders regarding retiree insurance processing: Group insurance rate changes for January: Beat ...
Dear School District Superintendents, Charter School and Education Collaborative Directors, Business Managers, Payroll Officers, Personnel Administrators and Town Treasurers, With the new school year about to begin, MTRS enrollment season is in full swing. Below are some tips and reminders for succe...
Dear School District Superintendents, Charter School and Education Collaborative Directors, Business Managers, Payroll Officers, Personnel Administrators and Town Treasurers, Please note these two important updates regarding: the deadline for finalizing all calendar year 2016 deduction reports; and ...
Dear School District Superintendents, Charter School and Education Collaborative Directors, Business Managers, Payroll Officers, Personnel Administrators and Town Treasurers, Please note these three timely fall reminders regarding retiree insurance processing: 1) Group insurance rate changes for Jan...
Dear School District Superintendents, Charter School and Education Collaborative Directors, Business Managers, Town Treasurers, Personnel Administrators and Payroll Officers, Please note these two timely updates: 1) The deadline for finalizing all calendar year 2015 deduction reports was Friday, Mar...
Dear School District Superintendents, Charter School and Education Collaborative Directors, Business Managers, Town Treasurers, Personnel Administrators and Payroll Officers, Please note these two important updates regarding: the deadline for finalizing all calendar year 2015 deduction reports; and ...
Dear School District Superintendents, Charter School and Education Collaborative Directors, Business Managers, Payroll Officers, Personnel Administrators and Town Treasurers, Please note these three timely updates regarding retiree insurance processing: 1) Global insurance rate changes for January: ...
Dear School District Superintendents, Charter School and Education Collaborative Directors, Business Managers, Town Treasurers, Personnel Administrators and Payroll Officers, In October, we added Retiree Insurance functions to the employer self-service area in MyTRS, and asked a small number of dist...
Dear School District Superintendents, Charter School and Education Collaborative Directors, Business Managers, Town Treasurers, Personnel Administrators and Payroll Officers, Please note these two important updates regarding: 1) the deadline for finalizing all calendar year 2014 deduction reports; a...
Dear School District Superintendents, Charter School and Education Collaborative Directors, Business Managers, Payroll Officers, Personnel Administrators and Town Treasurers, Please note that, pursuant to our MyTRS Password Security Policy, you will need to change your password when you sign on to M...
Dear School District Superintendents, Charter School and Education Collaborative Directors, Business Managers, Town Treasurers, Personnel Administrators and Payroll Officers, As you know, because of the extraordinary influx of §3 service purchase applications we received as a result of last year’s i...
Dear School District Superintendents, Charter School and Education Collaborative Directors, Business Managers, Payroll Officers, Personnel Administrators and Town Treasurers, As you begin another busy hiring and MTRS enrollment season, I want to take this opportunity to remind you of the importance ...
Dear School District Superintendents, Charter School and Education Collaborative Directors, Business Managers, Town Treasurers, Personnel Administrators and Payroll Officers, Please take note of these two timely updates: 1) 2013 deduction reports: The deadline for finalizing your calendar year 2013 ...
Dear School District Superintendents, Directors, Business Managers, Payroll Officials, Town Treasurers, Charter School and Education Collaborative Directors, Note: If your district is one of the 47 districts currently participating in the GIC’s Retired Municipal Teacher (RMT) program, this update do...
Dear School District Superintendents, Charter School and Education Collaborative Directors, Business Managers, Town Treasurers, Personnel Administrators and Payroll Officers, Please take note of these three timely updates: 1) 2013 deduction reports: The deadline for finalizing your calendar year 201...
Dear School District Superintendents, Charter School and Education Collaborative Directors, Business Managers, Town Treasurers, Personnel Administrators and Payroll Officers, Please note these important updates regarding: 1) the deadline for finalizing all calendar year 2013 deduction reports; 2) th...
Dear School District Superintendents, Charter School and Education Collaborative Directors, Business Managers, Town Treasurers, Personnel Administrators and Payroll Officers: As a reminder, the federal Internal Revenue Code 401(a)(17) limits the amount of annual pensionable earnings (“regular compen...
Dear School District Superintendents, Charter School and Education Collaborative Directors, Business Managers, Town Treasurers, Personnel Administrators and Payroll Officers, As you know, due to the extraordinary influx of §3 service purchase applications as a result of the interest rate increase th...
Dear School District Superintendents, Charter School and Education Collaborative Directors, Business Managers, Town Treasurers, Personnel Administrators and Payroll Officers, As scheduled, the member self-service module in MyTRS is now available for your newly hired members to use to enroll in the M...
Dear School District Superintendents, Charter School and Education Collaborative Directors, Business Managers, Town Treasurers, Personnel Administrators and Payroll Officers, As explained in our broadcast e-mail of March 13, to help ease the administrative burden on you, and to assist members in qua...
Dear School District Superintendents, Directors, Business Managers, Payroll Officials, Town Treasurers, Charter School and Education Collaborative Directors, As a final reminder, and also clarification of our e-mail of February 15, the application filing deadlines for §3 creditable service purchases...
Dear School District Superintendents, Directors, Business Managers, Payroll Officials, Town Treasurers, Charter School and Education Collaborative Directors, As you know, pursuant to pension reform legislation enacted in November 2011, the interest rate charged on certain service purchases will doub...
Dear School District Superintendents, Directors, Business Managers, Payroll Officials, Town Treasurers, Charter School and Education Collaborative Directors, I am writing to bring you up to date on the progress that districts have made since my e-mail to you of February 16, and also to advise distri...
Dear School District Superintendents, Directors, Business Managers, Payroll Officials, Town Treasurers, Charter School and Education Collaborative Directors, This communication is to report on the progress we are making with the new retirement contribution deduction reporting system and to ask for y...