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Thank you, members of the Texas Retired Teachers Association (TRTA) for joining us during Foundation Month, a time to honor the charitable work done by our partner organization, the Texas Retired Teachers Foundation (TRTF). Today, we focus on two of TRTF’s most vital, emergency programs, “A Helping Hand” and the Disaster Relief Fund.

“A Helping Hand”

“A Helping Hand,” launched in 2010, provides public education retirees with charitable assistance for a one-time special need or other short-term hardship. Recipients include anyone who is receiving or is eligible to receive an annuity from the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS). Since its inception, TRTF has awarded over $210,000 in aid to more than 210 recipients.

Disaster Relief

In February 2021, winter storm Uri struck Texas, causing serious damage to homes and other belongings throughout the state. 4.5 million homes and businesses were without power for days, and more than 100 Texans tragically lost their lives.

Thanks to generous donations from TRTA members, the TRTF Disaster Relief Fund raised more than $165,000 to help 660 retired school employees recover from this natural disaster. TRTF provided grants to help repair flood damage caused by broken pipes, replace food that was spoiled when the electricity went out, and pay for unexpected costs incurred when retirees were displaced from their homes.

To date, the Disaster Relief Fund has provided more than $375,000 in aid to over 1,100 active and retired school personnel. TRTF will be prepared should another disaster strike and be ready to offer aid at a moment’s notice with your help.

Disaster Relief recipient Renoka McCracken recently shared her story after suffering damages during the storm in February:

“As a retired teacher I was so blessed to receive a Disaster Relief Short Term grant from TRTF. I would have never dreamed in a million years that TRTA/TRTF could help me in a time of my greatest need, the winter storm of 2021. My home is on Lake Graham, and I use the lake for the watering of everything in my yard. Without power for 60 hours, I was unable to keep the pump house heated, resulting in the pump, PVC pipes, and storage tank all freezing solid. Of course, I also lost most of my food from the refrigerator and freezer. 

As most Texans in the winter nightmare, we felt helpless to take care of our basic necessities. And as a retired teacher on a fixed income, I was not going to be able to fix and replace all that would be needed for me to care for my trees, grass, and plants of 35 years. I remember the day when I read the email from TRTF offering the grants for those of us in need. I truly felt it was a message from heaven to facilitate my healing. What’s more, I received this gift within three days! From my teacher group, TRTA, the organization that I’ve spent many years as a member! 

I was astounded by the planning and care and foresight of people that protected teachers now by protecting my home and my personal needs. I am so honored to be a member of a group that proved to me they truly care about the members they represent. Thank you for the money but thank you more for understanding that many of your teachers needed something different this February!”

Do You, Or Does Someone You Know, Need Help? 

If you are a member of TRTA and you (or someone you know) need(s) assistance, please contact your local unit president or Foundation representative. For additional information, email or call 1.800.880.1650. A local unit directory can be found by clicking here.

All applications are reviewed independently and remain confidential. Recipients’ information will not be shared with the public unless the recipient provides permission to TRTF to share his or her story.

The Foundation provides financial assistance for a variety of needs, including but not limited to medical and dental bills, car and home repairs, energy bills, food, and more. For a complete application packet, including guidelines and instructions, please contact TRTF.

Please Donate

It is time to give big so that we may help our children, schools, teachers, and retirees. TRTF is determined to help. As a 501(c)(3), we are in a unique position to raise donations and deploy them through our unique charitable programs.

Please consider making your tax-deductible charitable contribution to TRTF. You may donate online here or call 1.800.880.1650 and ask for Sarah. TRTF also included its annual appeal letter and donation card in the third quarter issue of The VOICE, in TRTA members’ mailboxes now! You may use the donation card found on page 12 and the enclosed envelope to mail your donation to TRTF today.

Please stay tuned to the Inside Line throughout the month of November as we update you on TRTF’s programs and share stories from individual program recipients.

• TRTA is calling on our entire Texas congressional delegation to support HR 5834, the Equal Treatment of Public Servants Act of 2021
• TRTA members, please click here to send an urgent email action alert to your Representative today!

The Texas Retired Teachers Association (TRTA) is leading with our national partners to reform and end the unfair Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP).

Congressman Kevin Brady (R-TX) supports TRTA efforts and has introduced a new bill to replace the unfair and arbitrary WEP formula with a new proportional formula that puts public servants and other American workers on equal footing.

The Equal Treatment of Public Servants Act of 2021, HR 5834, makes sure that teachers, firefighters, and police officers will receive a Social Security benefit that reflects their actual work history. The bill also provides critical relief to retired public servants who are affected by the WEP.

Use our Action Alert to support WEP reform!

TRTA Big Picture

As TRTA members may recall, Representative Brady has worked on this issue tirelessly for many years and is once again filing a bill to help Texas retired public education retirees, as well as all public workers impacted by the WEP. Brady’s bill would replace the WEP with a new proportional formula that reflects actual work history.

The Equal Treatment of Public Servants Act of 2021 would provide immediate financial relief to retirees currently impacted by the WEP. Future retirees will also see the WEP reduced! Any increase in retirees’ fixed incomes greatly bolsters their retirement security! TRTA and its retired and active members encourage full congressional support of HR 5834.

Why It Matters

Ninety-five percent of school employees in Texas are not fully covered by Social Security, and most are impacted negatively by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) or Government Pension Offset (GPO).

Forty percent of TRTA’s members report being negatively impacted by the current unfair WEP formula.

On average, TRTA members report the WEP reduces their monthly income by approximately $400.

With an average monthly annuity of $2,100, TRS Texas annuitants already struggle financially to meet today’s growing costs.

HR 5834 PERMANENTLY REPEALS THE CURRENT WEP AND REPLACES IT WITH A NEW, FAIRER FORMULA THAT TREATS PUBLIC SERVANTS LIKE THE REST OF AMERICAN WORKERS.

Get Involved and What’s Next

As you very likely agree, Congress is simply not doing enough to solve this issue. TRTA is grateful that various bills have been filed by congressional members to consider WEP reform. Filing bills, though, is NOT solving the problem. It is a start, but we need to get traction on passing something that is meaningful, bipartisan, and can be done now!

TRTA is calling on our entire Texas Congressional delegation to support HR 5834. Having an entire state united on HR 5834 will send a strong message to the House Ways and Means Committee that we can all work together and fix this issue. The people hurt by WEP are tired of losing thousands of dollars every year to this unfair provision, and future retirees will face the same fate if we do not solve this problem.

Only with a strong and united group will we be able to fix WEP today and continue to put pressure on Congress to fix the to the other Social Security issue TRTA wants solved, the Government Pension Offset (GPO).

Please contact your congressman today and ask them to join as a cosponsor on HR 5834!