Congratulations on making the decision to begin your retirement! At this point, you should have reviewed all the information under Considering Retirement and visited with an ATRS Counselor regarding information specific to you and your account.
The information provided in this section, with support from an ATRS Counselor, will assist you with the application process and get you well on your way to begin your long-awaited and well-deserved retirement.
Submitting a Retirement Application
You may download and print a Retirement Application from our Forms Page or you may request a packet by contacting ATRS at (501) 682-1517 or info@artrs.gov.
ATRS must receive your application atleast one calendar month prior to the effective retirement date. For example, a July 1 retiree's application must be received by ATRS on or before May 31. The application may be delivered by fax, email, personal delivery, private express courier (e.g UPS or Federal Express), or by the U.S. Postal Service.
If the application is sent through a courier or the U.S.P.S, ATRS will treat the postmark date or the date recorded on the transmittal receipt as the date of receipt by ATRS. For all other types of delivery the date of receipt will be the date the application arrives at ATRS.
PLEASE NOTE: You can submit your retirement application with ATRS no earlier than four (4) months prior to your effective date of benefits and no later than one (1) month prior to your effective date of benefits with the understanding that if you change your mind you can simply provide a written request to withdraw your application!
Mailing/Delivery Address
Arkansas Teacher Retirement System
1400 W. 3rd Street
Little Rock, AR 72201
FAX Number
501-682-2359
Email
info@artrs.gov
| Retirement Date | Earliest Filing Date | Latest Filing Date |
| January 1 | September 1 | November 30 |
| February 1 | October 1 | December 31 |
| March 1 | November 1 | January 31 |
| April 1 | December 1 | February 28 |
| May 1 | January 1 | March 31 |
| June 1 | February 1 | April 30 |
| July 1 | March 1 | May 31 |
| August 1 | April 1 | June 30 |
| September 1 | May 1 | July 31 |
| October 1 | June 1 | August 31 |
| November 1 | July 1 | September 30 |
| December 1 | August 1 | October 31 |
Upon receipt of your retirement application, ATRS will send you a letter acknowledging receipt of the application and will inform you of any needed or missing required documents (see ATRS Retirement Checklist). ATRS staff will be available to assist you in making changes in your retirement application even after it is filed.
Withdrawing a Retirement Application
To withdraw an application, the applicant must provide a written request to ATRS. Applicants have up to *two (2) months from their effective retirement date to withdraw their retirement application and remain active. Any benefit payments made by ATRS must be returned promptly. After two (2) months, the decision to retire is irrevocable.
*Due to IRS regulations, if you are a T-DROP retiree and elect to have all or part of your T-DROP balance distributed to an outside administrator or as a cash distribution, your eligibility to revoke your retirement would be limited to the time up to the point the distribution leaves the possession of ATRS. Typically, ATRS processes outside administrator and cash distributions near the end of July or early August. So, with that in mind, your ability to revoke your retirement would typically be a shorter period rather than the two month grace period described above.
Changing Annuity Options
A new retiree has one (1) year after his or her effective retirement date to make changes in his or her annuity election. However, from a member's effective date, a member may only change the Option election once during the first year of retirement. If the election change reduces the member's payable monthly benefit, the member must promptly reimburse ATRS any overpayment with interest.
If a retiree is newly married at the time of retirement or marries after retirement, the member may elect to cover the spouse after being married one (1) full year. Upon meeting the one (1) year marriage requirement, the member has six (6) months to file an election to cover the spouse under Option A or Option B. (See Review of Annuity Options)
Important After retirement and upon the death of a beneficiary or the divorce or marriage dissolution from a spouse designated as a beneficiary, a retiree may cancel any optional plan elected at retirement and return to the straight life annuity.
Please contact an ATRS Counselor at (501) 682-1517 or info@artrs.gov with any questions regarding your retirement.