Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System
Jill Bachus, Director

Overview

The Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System (TCRS) is a defined benefit pension plan that covers state employees, higher education employees, K-12 public school teachers, and employees of political subdivisions who have elected to participate in the plan.  This means that the amount of any future retirement benefits is determined by a benefit formula rather than an account balance.

The TCRS provides retirement benefits as well as death and disability benefits to plan members and their beneficiaries.  Benefits are determined by a formula using the member’s high five-year average salary and years of service.  Members become eligible to retire at the age of 60 with five years of service or at any age with 30 years of service.  A reduced retirement benefit is available to vested members with five years of service who become disabled and cannot engage in gainful employment.  There is no service requirement for disability that is the result of an accident or injury occurring while the member was in the performance of duty.