Retired Texas teachers get sweeping Senate support to increase benefits

Hundreds of thousands of retired Texas teachers could get a $7,500 check and a one-time cost-of-living adjustment through a bill with sweeping support from the state’s Senate.

The checks would be sent to the about 186,000 retired educators aged 75 and over.

“This group of retired educators has struggled financially for many years due to fixed lower retirement benefits,” Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said in a statement.

The Senate proposes using money from the state’s record-high $33 billion surplus to create a 2% cost-of-living adjustment for educators who have been retired two to 9 years and a 4% adjustment for those who have been retired at least 10 years.

Sen. Joan Huffman, a Republican from Houston who chairs the Senate’s finance committee, filed the bill on Friday. All 31 Texas Senators support the proposed draft.

The plan won’t require additional contributions from current educators or school districts, Patrick added.

“The state will fund this entire program using money from our surplus to give back to educators who have given so much for our students,” he said.

In order to qualify for the increased benefits, those who are members of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas must have retired on or before December 31, 2021.

“This is absolutely a priority for me, the Lt. Governor and the entire Senate,” Huffman said in a statement. “I look forward to working with my colleagues to get it passed.”