Bottom line
The TRS SSP is a separate optional 457(b) account that supplements the pension. Eligible newer members at participating employers can be automatically enrolled at 3% unless they opt out or change the election.Key facts
- The Illinois TRS Supplemental Savings Plan is a 457(b) deferred compensation plan separate from the defined-benefit pension
- Eligible members first employed in a TRS-covered position on or after January 1, 2023 can be automatically enrolled at 3% of pre-tax compensation
- Active full-time or part-time contractual TRS members at participating employers may participate, while retired and inactive members cannot contribute
What the SSP adds to the regular TRS pension
The Illinois TRS Supplemental Savings Plan is a separate 457(b) deferred compensation account designed to supplement the defined-benefit pension. Pension contributions and pension service still operate under the regular TRS rules. SSP contributions instead go into an individual account administered by Voya, and the participant chooses how those assets are invested. The account therefore adds a savings component without replacing the pension formula or converting TRS into a defined-contribution-only system.
Eligibility is narrower than simply being connected to a school. TRS says active full-time or part-time contractual members of participating employers can participate. Retired and inactive members are not eligible to contribute. Employers must adopt the SSP for their eligible employees to use it. Before changing a contribution election, first verify that your employer appears on TRS’s participating-employer list and that TRS classifies your position as SSP-eligible.
How automatic enrollment works for newer TRS members
TRS implemented automatic enrollment for eligible members first employed in a TRS-covered position on or after January 1, 2023. If the employer participates and the member does not cancel or make another election before the automatic-enrollment effective date, TRS says 3% of pre-tax compensation is deferred to the SSP each pay period. New members receive notices and generally have 30 days after their information is processed to make an enrollment or opt-out choice before automatic deductions begin.
Automatic enrollment does not make participation mandatory. An eligible member can opt out or choose a different contribution election under the plan process. TRS also states that automatically enrolled participants may have a special 90-day window from the first automatic contribution to request a permissible withdrawal of those automatic contributions, subject to the plan’s rules. That special withdrawal is different from the general distribution rules that apply later.
| Feature | Current SSP rule | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Plan type | 457(b) deferred compensation plan | Separate from the TRS pension |
| Automatic-enrollment group | Eligible members first employed on/after Jan. 1, 2023 | Employer must participate |
| Default contribution | 3% of pre-tax compensation | Member can opt out or change election |
| Pre-enrollment decision window | Generally 30 days after processing/notice | Use the effective date in your notice |
| Permissible withdrawal | Up to 90 days after first automatic contribution for eligible auto-enrolled participants | Different from normal withdrawal rules |
How to review an SSP election before changing payroll
Begin with the actual payroll percentage or dollar election shown in the SSP participant system. If you work for more than one participating employer, TRS plan materials warn that a contribution election can apply across eligible compensation at multiple employers, so review the combined deduction rather than looking at one paycheck in isolation. Also confirm whether your contributions are pre-tax, Roth after-tax if available under your election, or a mix permitted by the current plan.
Then review investment direction and plan fees in the current SSP materials. Automatically enrolled contributions default to the target-date fund closest to the participant’s expected retirement date at age 65 unless the participant changes the investment. The plan highlights also describe administrative fees and distribution options that can change over time. Use the current participant disclosure rather than an old flyer when deciding how the account fits beside the guaranteed pension benefit.
Why automatic enrollment is still voluntary participation
Automatic enrollment changes the default action, not the member’s ultimate choice. Eligible newer members at participating employers are scheduled for a 3% pre-tax contribution if they do nothing, but TRS allows them to opt out or make another election before the effective date in the notice. The design is intended to start saving automatically while preserving the ability to choose whether and how much to contribute within plan limits.
This distinction matters when reading a pay stub. A new 3% deduction may be the result of automatic enrollment rather than a separate pension contribution increase. The SSP deduction funds the individual 457(b) account, while regular TRS pension contributions continue under pension law. If the deduction is unexpected, check the automatic-enrollment notice and the participant website before asking payroll to treat it as an error.
| Feature | Current SSP rule | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Plan type | 457(b) deferred compensation plan | Separate from the TRS pension |
| Automatic-enrollment group | Eligible members first employed on/after Jan. 1, 2023 | Employer must participate |
| Default contribution | 3% of pre-tax compensation | Member can opt out or change election |
| Pre-enrollment decision window | Generally 30 days after processing/notice | Use the effective date in your notice |
| Permissible withdrawal | Up to 90 days after first automatic contribution for eligible auto-enrolled participants | Different from normal withdrawal rules |
The 30-day and 90-day periods solve different problems
The first window occurs before automatic enrollment takes effect. TRS says eligible new members receive an automatic-enrollment notice identifying an effective date and have an opportunity to opt out or make a different election before deductions start. The employer FAQ describes the effective date as 30 days after the member’s information is received and processed by the recordkeeper, so the date printed on the notice is more useful than estimating from the first workday.
The second window is a special permissible withdrawal after automatic contributions have begun. Current plan materials state that an automatically enrolled employee may request a withdrawal within 90 days of the initial automatic contribution. That request stops automatic contributions and returns the eligible amount subject to gains, losses, fees and tax treatment described by the plan. An affirmative contribution or investment election can affect eligibility for that special withdrawal.
Investment risk belongs to the SSP account, not the pension formula
The SSP is an investment account. TRS says participants choose how the assets are invested, with automatically enrolled contributions initially directed to the age-appropriate target-date retirement fund unless the member changes the allocation. Account value can therefore rise or fall with investment performance and fees. That behavior is different from the defined-benefit pension, whose monthly amount is determined by the statutory pension formula rather than the market value of an individual investment account.
When projecting retirement income, keep the two streams separate. Estimate the pension using TRS service, salary and tier rules, and review the SSP using account balance, contribution rate, investment allocation and withdrawal choices. Adding the two only at the final household-income stage makes it easier to see which assumptions are guaranteed plan rules and which depend on future investment results.
What to check when employment changes
TRS states that retired and inactive members cannot keep contributing to the SSP, so a termination or change in eligible employment affects new payroll contributions. The existing account does not become part of the pension merely because contributions stop. The plan provides distribution and rollover options under its rules, and current plan highlights list several withdrawal categories. A participant should review the current plan document before moving money after employment ends.
If you move to another Illinois TRS-covered employer, verify whether the new employer participates in the SSP and how your existing election will be applied. Multiple-employer situations can create deductions from more than one payroll. Keep beneficiary information current as well, because the SSP has its own beneficiary designation process separate from the pension beneficiary record. A pension beneficiary update should not be assumed to update the SSP account automatically.
Before you make a decision
- Confirm that your employer has adopted the TRS SSP.
- Read the automatic-enrollment effective date on your Voya/TRS notice.
- Verify the contribution amount across every participating employer you work for.
- Review the investment allocation instead of leaving the default unexamined.
- Keep the SSP beneficiary designation separate and current.
- Check the current plan document before requesting a withdrawal or rollover.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Illinois TRS Supplemental Savings Plan?
The SSP is an optional 457(b) deferred compensation plan that supplements the regular TRS defined-benefit pension. Contributions go into an individual account administered by Voya, and the participant directs investments. The SSP does not replace pension service credit or the statutory pension formula.
Who is automatically enrolled in the Illinois TRS SSP?
Eligible active full-time or part-time contractual members first employed in a TRS-covered position on or after January 1, 2023 can be automatically enrolled if their employer participates. If they do not opt out or change the election, the default contribution is 3% of pre-tax compensation.
Can I opt out of the TRS SSP automatic 3% contribution?
Yes. TRS describes SSP participation as optional. An eligible member can cancel scheduled automatic enrollment or make a different contribution election before the effective date shown in the notice. After automatic contributions begin, plan materials also describe a limited 90-day permissible-withdrawal process for qualifying auto-enrolled participants.
Can retired Illinois TRS members keep contributing to the SSP?
No. TRS states that retired and inactive members are not eligible to contribute. The existing SSP account can remain subject to the plan’s distribution, rollover and investment rules, but new payroll deferrals require eligible active employment with a participating employer.
Is the Illinois TRS SSP account guaranteed like the pension?
No. The pension is a defined benefit calculated under TRS pension rules. SSP assets are invested in an individual 457(b) account and can change with contributions, investment performance and fees. Automatically enrolled funds use a target-date default investment until the participant provides another direction.
Official sources
Sources were reviewed on September 1, 2026. Rules and member records maintained by the retirement system control.
Illinois TRS — Supplemental Savings PlanOfficial source ↗Illinois TRS — SSP member FAQsOfficial source ↗Illinois TRS — SSP employer FAQsOfficial source ↗This article provides general educational information. It is not a benefit determination or financial, tax, or legal advice. Confirm account-specific information with the retirement system.