The state should ensure that pension systems are neutral, uniformly increasing pension wealth with each additional year of work.
Texas's pension system is based on a benefit formula that is not neutral, meaning that each year of work does not accrue pension wealth in a uniform way until teachers reach conventional retirement age, such as that associated with Social Security.
Teachers' retirement wealth is determined by their monthly payments and the length of time they expect to receive those payments. Monthly payments are usually calculated as final average salary multiplied by years of service multiplied by a set multiplier (such as 1.5 percent). Higher salary, more years of service or a greater multiplier increases monthly payments and results in greater pension wealth. Earlier retirement eligibility with unreduced benefits also increases pension wealth, because more payments will be received.
To qualify as neutral, a pension formula must utilize a constant benefit multiplier and an eligibility timetable based solely on age, rather than years of service. Basing eligibility for retirement on years of service creates unnecessary and often unfair peaks in pension wealth, while allowing unreduced retirement at a young age creates incentives to retire early. Plans that change their multipliers for various years of service do not value each year of teaching equally. Therefore, plans with a constant multiplier and that base retirement on an age in line with Social Security are likely to create the most uniform accrual of wealth.
Texas's pension plan is commended for utilizing a constant benefit multiplier of 2.3 percent; however, teachers may retire at age 62 if they qualify for the "Rule of 80," meaning age plus years of service equal at least 80, while other vested teachers may not retire with unreduced benefits until age 65. Therefore, teachers who began their careers by age 32 can reach the "Rule of 80" with 30 years of service by age 62, entitling them to three additional years of unreduced retirement benefits beyond what other teachers would receive who may not retire until age 65. While Texas is commended for changing its provisions in 2013 that place retirement age requirements closer to normal Social Security, retirement eligibility remains based on years of service. Consequently, these provisions, along with the state's early retirement with reduced benefits based on years of service, may still encourage effective teachers to retire earlier than they may otherwise, and they still fail to treat equally those teachers who enter the system at a later age and give the same amount of service.
Teacher Retirement System of Texas, TRS Benefits Handbook, December 2015.
End retirement eligibility based on years of service.
Texas should change its practice of allowing teachers whose age and years of service equal 80 to retire at age 62 with full benefits. If retirement at an earlier age is offered to some teachers, benefits should be reduced accordingly to compensate for the longer duration they will be awarded.
Align eligibility for retirement with unreduced benefits with Social Security retirement age.
Texas allows teachers to retire before conventional retirement age. As life expectancies continue to increase, teachers may draw out of the system for many more years than they contributed. This is not compatible with a financially sustainable system (see pension sustainability goal).
Texas was helpful in providing information that enhanced this analysis.