The next regular Board Meeting will be held on Thursday, November 18, 2021. The next Investment Meeting of the Teachers' Retirement Board will be held on Thursday, December 2, 2021. Normally, meetings are streamed live on TRS' website and are available for on-demand viewing within two business days.

Under a New York State law enacted on October 29, 2021, City paraprofessionals in the following titles are automatically members of TRS:  Auxiliary Trainer; Bilingual Professional Assistant; Educational Assistant; Educational Associate; and Teacher Aide. The law applies to paraprofessionals hired on or after October 29, 2021, as well as paraprofessionals who are already working in one of the titles. Those paraprofessionals do not need to take any action; TRS will contact them about their membership.

Previously, paraprofessionals had the option to become members of TRS. We are in the process of updating our website materials to reflect the new information.

November is here and TRS' online educational programs continue to be a popular go-to for our members. If you want to learn more about your pension and TDA, review the program descriptions and register on the Educational Programs page today. All programs are virtual.

Annual Benefits Statements for 2021 are now available for members who are in active service or on leave. Members can view their statements in the secure area of our website, and a video shows how to access the statement online.

Account information as of September 30, 2021 is now available in the secure section of our website. In-service members can log in to see their latest account balances, plus loan information and investment elections. Retirees with a TDA account can view their latest TDA account balances, plus investment elections, loans, and RMD information.

The October unit values for the variable-return Passport Funds are now available. Unit values are based on each portfolio's closing market value as of the end of the preceding month.

This year's annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for eligible retirees will be 1.4%, effective with the September 2019 retirement allowance payments. This adjustment is calculated on the lesser of the retiree's maximum fixed retirement allowance or $18,000.

The COLA is provided to service retirees who are at least age 62 and have been retired for at least 5 years, service retirees who are at least age 55 and have been retired for at least 10 years, and certain disability retirees and surviving spouses.

Qualifying members who worked in the World Trade Center Rescue, Recovery, or Cleanup Operations between September 11, 2001 and September 12, 2002 may file a Notice of Participation (code DI40) with TRS. Beneficiaries of qualifying members who died without having filed this form may file the beneficiary version of the Notice of Participation (code DI40b). TRS must receive the Notice of Participation and, if applicable, an Authorization for Release of Health-Related Information (code DI47) by September 11, 2022.

Please see the World Trade Center Presumptive Disability and Death Benefit Laws information sheet for a list of qualifying conditions or impairments of health and other important information.