Election Window FAQs

Use Form 2TR. This form must be completed by you and your employer within the time limit set by state law (La. R.S. 11:932).  See the table for deadlines.

NOTE: TRSL needs the original of both pages of this form. Scanned copies of either page will not be processed. Your employer will mail the form to TRSL.

Anyone who is no longer employed by a TRSL-participating employer or whose position is part-time, seasonal, or temporary employment. Please consult your employer if you’re unsure of your status.

You can retire and begin drawing a benefit at age 62 with at least 5 years of service, or at any age with at least 20 years of service (actuarially reduced).

If you have at least five years of service credit, you can terminate your position, leave your contributions with TRSL and be eligible to apply for retirement at age 62.

Here are some tips for using the calculator:

• Please be aware that your ORP account is not linked to the ORP comparison calculator. The calculator provides a projection of your ORP benefit as a new contributing member to the ORP. It will not take into account any previously accumulated ORP contributions.
• If you use the ORP comparison calculator as a resource to decide whether to switch to the TRSL defined benefit plan or remain in the ORP, you will need to compare the projected TRSL benefit with the ORP retirement projections provided by your financial advisor.
• TRSL Regular Plan Employee Contribution Field: Some ORP participants were previously members of the TRSL defined benefit plan before joining the ORP.
  • If you moved your TRSL contributions to your ORP account when joining the ORP (this is typical): Enter 0 (zero) in this field since you no longer have a contribution balance in TRSL.
  • If you chose to keep your TRSL contributions in TRSL (this is not typical): Enter the contribution amount from your last TRSL Member Statement.
  • If you have never participated in the TRSL defined benefit plan: Enter 0 (zero).

You will join TRSL as a brand-new member in the 2015 Retirement Plan. Your years of service (eligibility credit) will start at 0.00.

If you left contributions with TRSL and did not roll them over to your ORP account, that service credit may be used to increase your monthly TRSL benefit but it cannot be used to attain eligibility for retirement. Pre-ORP service credit also will not count toward eligibility for disability or survivor benefits.

No, the ORP account will always remain separate from the TRSL pension account; the ORP funds cannot be transferred into TRSL and no TRSL credit can be given for the time in which you participated in the ORP. You will continue to be able to manage the funds in your ORP account, but no new contributions can be made to your ORP account. You can receive distributions from your ORP account once you retire from the defined benefit plan or terminate all TRSL-eligible employment.

No. State law does not permit this.

Your accumulated ORP contributions will remain with your ORP carrier, but new contributions into your ORP account will cease and you will instead begin contributing to TRSL’s defined benefit plan. Upon retiring from TRSL, you will have earned a lifetime benefit from TRSL’s defined benefit plan and will also be able to access the funds you previously contributed to the ORP.  Your ORP account will always remain separate from the TRSL pension account; the ORP funds cannot be transferred into TRSL and no TRSL eligibility credit is given for the time in which you participated in ORP.

Questions about annual and sick leave usage, accrual rates and balances should be directed to your human resources personnel.

It depends on whether the leave was accumulated while you were participating in the ORP or during your membership in the TRSL defined benefit plan.

• If accumulated while participating in the ORP: Annual leave and sick leave you earned while in the ORP cannot be converted to service credit. ​​​​​However, leaving the ORP and joining the TRSL defined benefit plan will not impact the amount of annual leave or sick leave you have accumulated. Leave is an employment benefit, not a retirement benefit. Questions about annual leave and sick leave earned while in the ORP – including annual and sick leave usage, accrual rates and balances - should be directed to your human resources personnel.
• If accumulated during membership in TRSL’s defined benefit plan: Once you join the TRSL defined benefit plan, your employer will start reporting the number of sick days you use each year to TRSL.  When you retire, TRSL will use the Unused Sick Leave Conversion Chart to see how much of your unused sick leave earned while in TRSL will convert into service credit.  Up to one year of unused sick leave can be converted to service credit. You may be able to purchase any remaining unused sick leave for conversion to additional service credit. Unused annual leave earned after joining the defined benefit plan may be purchased for additional service credit. There is no specific conversion formula set in statute like there is for sick leave conversion.

Health insurance, including any retiree health insurance through the Office of Group Benefits, is an employment benefit provided to you by your employer. Please contact your employer or the Office of Group Benefits directly with any health insurance questions.