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The Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) Board of Trustees is scheduled to meet this Friday, April 17. The meeting will be conducted by videoconference in accordance with the Governor’s authorization concerning suspension of certain open meeting law requirements in response to the Covid-19 (coronavirus) disaster. A quorum of members of the Board will still participate in the meeting and the meeting will be audible to the public.

Members of the public will be able to view a live webcast of the TRS Board of Trustees meeting (please note this link will not be live until the meeting comes to order at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, April 17).

Members of the public may provide public comment by registering first with the Board Secretary by submitting an email to Katherine.Farrell@trs.texas.gov identifying the name of the speaker and topic, no later than 8:00 a.m. on April 17, 2020. Ms. Farrell will provide instructions how to participate.

The meeting agenda is available here.

Tim Lee to Host Facebook Live Event About WEP

TRTA Executive Director Tim Lee will host a Facebook live event tomorrow at 3 p.m. He will cover several questions submitted by members about the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP).

The video will be available on TRTA’s Facebook page. You don’t need to have a Facebook account to view the video. The video will also be recorded and available in the videos section of TRTA’s Facebook page.

The Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) Board of Trustees is scheduled to meet this Friday, April 17. The meeting will be conducted by videoconference in accordance with the Governor’s authorization concerning suspension of certain open meeting law requirements in response to the Covid-19 (coronavirus) disaster. A quorum of members of the Board will still participate in the meeting and the meeting will be audible to the public.

Members of the public will be able to view a live webcast of the TRS Board of Trustees meeting (please note this link will not be live until the meeting comes to order at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, April 17).

Members of the public may provide public comment by registering first with the Board Secretary by submitting an email to Katherine.Farrell@trs.texas.gov identifying the name of the speaker and topic, no later than 8:00 a.m. on April 17, 2020.  Ms. Farrell will provide instructions how to participate.

The meeting agenda is available here.

Applying for Federal Stimulus Payment Information for Non-Filers 

If you don’t file taxes, you may use the “Non-Filers: Enter Your Payment Info Here” application to provide simple information so you can get your federal stimulus payment.

You should use this application if:

• You did not file a 2018 or 2019 federal income tax return because your gross income was under $12,200 ($24,400 for married couples). This includes people who had no income.
• You weren’t required to file a 2018 or 2019 federal income tax return for other reasons

You can provide the necessary information to the IRS easily and quickly for no fee through Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info.

• The IRS will use this information to determine your eligibility and payment amount and send you an Economic Impact Payment. After providing this information you won’t need to take any additional action.

If you receive these benefits, the IRS already has your information and you will receive $1,200. Do not use this application if you receive:

• Social Security retirement, disability (SSDI), or survivor benefits
• Railroad Retirement and Survivor Benefits

Dear TRTA members and friends,

I want to thank you for your overwhelming and immediate response to my urgent call for help yesterday. Many of you responded to my plea for donations to the Texas Retired Teachers Foundation (TRTF) to help educators of the past, present and future, and especially for retirees experiencing critical emergencies right now.

Yesterday, you helped the Foundation raise more than $12,000 in a matter of hours! I know others also attempted to donate but were unable to get through on the system to make a donation online. We had so many generous donors accessing the system at once that it was temporarily overloaded.

I want to thank you again and ask that if you are still considering making a donation and were not able to do so yesterday to try our online system again today or give us a call at the office at 1.800.880.1650 and ask for Sarah. She is able to accept donations over the phone.

I want you to know that TRTF also received numerous emails asking for help. We have many retirees struggling as a result of COVID-19 and this pandemic, by definition, is certainly a disaster for retirees who have lost their part-time jobs as substitute teachers or suffered from this debilitating illness.

As a non-profit, we depend on donation revenue to keep our programs functioning. We cannot continue our important work without your support. Your investment makes a difference in the lives of retirees who have no other avenue right now to find immediate help. Even $5 goes a long way. Thank you for being a friend to TRTF.

TRTF is currently accepting applications for assistance. We are asking all applicants to submit their requests and paperwork electronically at this time. Please send all requests to help@trtf.org.

I also want to let all TRTA members know that this week, I will not be doing a Facebook live event. This Friday is Good Friday, and the TRTA state office will be closed. I know many of you cannot be with your family members right now because of social distancing and shelter-in-place orders. You are all in my heart, thoughts, and prayers this Easter weekend.

Please take some time to read some good news from the Foundation as well. Yesterday, TRTF announced its 2020 Beginning Teacher Scholarship and Classroom Assistance Grant recipients during this Facebook live event. Click on the previous links to learn more about the future educators and current teachers who are making a difference today for students all across Texas!

Sincerely,

Tim Lee

TRTF State Coordinator (of behalf of the TRTF Board of Trustees) and TRTA Executive Director