Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA)

Reservists and National Guard personnel who are members of the Connecticut Teachers' Retirement System and who enter the military service directly from their teaching position are eligible to receive credit and all other benefits under the Federal Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA).

The following membership continuation options are available:

1. Your Local School District may elect to pay the full TRB contractual salary mandatory 8.25% contributions (7% Regular and 1.25% Health) due on your behalf.
2. You may make personal payments for the full TRB contractual salary mandatory 8.25% contributions (7% Regular and 1.25% Health) due while on active duty.
3. Upon returning to teaching in Connecticut, you may purchase the credit by paying the full TRB contractual salary mandatory 8.25% contributions (7% Regular and 1.25% Health) due with credited interest to the date of payment. You must make application for a Connecticut teaching position or return to a Connecticut teaching position within 90 days of discharge from active duty.

If the mandatory contributions due are paid in one of the above methods, you will be treated as an active member for credited service and pensionable salary purposes.

Your Local School District may voluntarily elect to continue to pay all or a portion of your salary while you are in active duty. Regardless of the total amount of income actually received (salary continuation and/or military compensation), the salary rate used for TRB pension and contribution purposes is based solely on your contractual salary.

Please feel free to contact our office if you have any questions. For further information on the USERRA you may visit the U.S. Department of Labor Web site at www.dol.gov/.