If you are a retired Texas teacher, you have probably heard people ask, “Are we getting a raise this year?” It is one of the most searched questions about Texas TRS. The honest answer is that nobody knows yet, because a raise in Texas only happens one way: the Legislature has to pass it.
Here is how it works, what happened last time, and what to watch for in 2027.
Texas TRS has no automatic raise
Many pension plans give a raise every year. CalSTRS adds 2%. Illinois TRS adds 3% for older members. Texas TRS does not. Your monthly check stays the same until lawmakers act.
There is also a money rule. Under state law, TRS can only raise benefits if the pension fund stays on solid footing. In simple terms, the fund must be able to pay off what it owes within about 30 years. When the fund is in good shape, a raise is possible. When it is not, lawmakers have to put in extra money to pay for one.
The last raise: January 2024
In 2023, the Legislature passed a raise and Texas voters approved it in November 2023. It took effect in January 2024. The size depended on when you retired.
| You retired | Raise |
|---|---|
| Before September 1, 2001 | 6% |
| September 2001 to August 2013 | 4% |
| September 2013 to August 2020 | 2% |
| After August 2020 | No raise |
Retirees aged 70 and older at the time also received a one-time extra payment in 2023.
Before that, the last major help was a one-time “13th check” in 2019, worth up to $2,000. Retirees went many years with no permanent raise at all.
Why a raise matters so much in Texas
Most Texas teachers do not pay into Social Security through their school job. For many, the TRS pension is their main income for life. Without raises, that income buys less every year.
Here is what rising prices do to a $3,000 pension with no raise:
| Years after retiring | What $3,000 buys if prices rise 3% a year |
|---|---|
| 5 years | about $2,590 |
| 10 years | about $2,230 |
| 15 years | about $1,930 |
| 20 years | about $1,660 |
After 20 years, the same check buys about half as much as it did on day one.
What happens next
The Texas Legislature meets every two years, in odd-numbered years. Here is the timeline:
- November 9, 2026: Lawmakers can start filing bills for the next session.
- January 12, 2027: The 90th Legislature begins.
- Spring 2027: Bills go through committees and votes. The state budget is set.
- About June 1, 2027: The regular session ends.
- November 2027: If a raise needs a change to the state constitution, voters decide, as they did in 2023.
A raise for 2027 or 2028 could be a permanent increase, a one-time 13th check, or nothing. It depends on the budget, how the fund is doing and how hard retirees push for it.
What you can do
- Watch for bills about TRS benefits once filing opens in November 2026.
- Contact your state representative and senator. Lawmakers hear from retired teacher groups every session, and numbers matter.
- Plan as if there will be no raise. If one comes, it is a bonus. Building your budget around a flat check is the safer path.
What about Social Security?
Many retired Texas teachers have Social Security from other jobs, such as work before teaching or summer jobs. Until 2024, the Windfall Elimination Provision cut that benefit, and the Government Pension Offset cut spousal and widow’s benefits. Both rules are gone now.
That means retired Texas teachers with Social Security will get the 3.6% Social Security raise in January 2027 in full. For some, that is the only raise they will see this year.
If you are not sure whether you have enough work for Social Security, check with the 40-credit checker. If your spouse has a long work record, look at the spousal and survivor calculator too.
Questions people ask
When is the next TRS raise? Not before the 2027 session. If lawmakers pass one, it would most likely start in 2027 or 2028.
Is there a 13th check in 2026? Not as of November 2026. A 13th check needs a law from the Legislature.
Do all retirees get the same raise? Not always. In 2023, people who retired longer ago got a bigger raise, and recent retirees got none.
When does TRS pay each month? On the last business day of the month. See all Texas TRS payment dates and the full Texas TRS raise history.