TESRS

Texas Emergency Services Retirement System

Retiree Benefits

Lifetime Retirement Annuity


At age 55 with at least 15 years of TESRS qualified service, a member is eligible to receive a monthly retirement benefit of 6 times the average monthly contribution paid for each month of the member's qualified service. For example, if the average monthly contribution paid for the member is $36, the member is eligible to receive a monthly benefit of $216. 


A TESRS member may also partially vest in the System. 10 years of qualified service partially vests a member, and makes the member eligible to retire for 50% of their full benefit at the age of 55. For example, if the average monthly contribution paid for a member is $36 and they have 10 years of qualified service, the member is eligible to receive a monthly benefit of $108.


After attaining 10 years of qualified service in the system, your percent vested increases by 10% for every additional year of qualified service:


  • 50% vested: 10 years
  • 60% vested: 11 years
  • 70% vested: 12 years
  • 80% vested: 13 years
  • 90% vested: 14 years
  • 100% vested 15 years


There is no maximum amount of qualified service a TESRS member can obtain, and every additional year of qualified service gained after 15 years compounds the retirement benefit by 6.2%

Surviving Spouse Lifetime Benefit

The surviving spouse of a retired TESRS member is eligible to receive a monthly benefit equal to two-thirds of the monthly benefit the retiree was receiving at the time of death.


If a vested member dies after terminating service, then the surviving spouse is eligible to receive two-thirds of the monthly pension the decedent would have been eligible to apply for on the later date of the following: the date the decent would have reached age 55, or the date the surviving spouse applies for the annuity.


Active Member Benefits

On-Duty Disability

 

If a member is injured while on-duty, the member receives at least $400.00 a month as long as the member is unable to perform his/her duties for the participating department and the duties of any other occupation for which the person is reasonably suited by education, training, and experience. Both criteria must be met. The amount of the monthly disability increases $50.00 for every $12.00 increase over the minimum $36/month contribution rate paid by the department.


On-Duty Death

 

Beneficiaries receive a lump-sum payment of $100,000.00. This is in addition to state and federal benefits for an on-duty death. This lump-sum payment goes to whomever is listed on the member’s enrollment form.  


In addition to the lump-sum beneficiary benefit for on-duty death, the spouse and minor children share a monthly pension equal to the service retirement annuity that the decedent would have been entitled to receive. (The member is automatically vested with 15 years of service in a line-of-duty death, if the member has less than 15 years of service.) 

 

Off-Duty Death

 

If an active TESRS member's death occurs when the member is not performing emergency service for the department, the member's designated beneficiaries of record are eligible to receive a lump-sum cash benefit.


If the active member is vested and age 55 or older at the time of off-duty death, and their sole designated beneficiary is their spouse, the surviving spouse is is eligible to receive a lump-sum cash benefit, or can elect to receive two-thirds of the monthly pension the decedent would have received if the decedent had retired on the date of death.