New York City Department of Education offers its teachers an excellent, comprehensive benefits package.
Medical Coverage
New York City public school teachers are able to select from a wide variety of comprehensive medical coverage plans at varying individual and family costs, with several plans requiring no employee contribution. Coverage for teachers and their spouses, domestic partners, and/or dependants begins on the first day of employment. For more information regarding current plans (subject to change) please click here. For information on current employee contribution rate, please click here.
Dental, Vision, and Prescription Drug Coverage
Teachers and their eligible dependents are entitled to dental, vision, and prescription drug benefits through the United Federation of Teachers Welfare Fund. For more information on those benefits please click here.
Retirement Benefits
Teachers in the New York City public schools become members of the Teachers’ Retirement System (TRS) as of their appointment date. This pension system provides a monthly allowance in retirement based on your years of service and participation. Membership is mandatory for all teachers in NYC public schools and contributions of 4.85% of your gross salary begin automatically with your first paycheck, continuing for the first ten years of service. Generally, members attain vested status (become eligible to receive a retirement allowance at age 55) after completion of five years of active service.
In addition to the basic Qualified Pension Plan, the Tax Deferred Annuity is a voluntary savings plan for teachers. This plan provides an opportunity to save funds for retirement on a tax-deferred basis. As an optional retirement savings program, enrollment is at your discretion and you can choose to participate at any time. A payroll deduction is taken in pre-tax dollars and placed in an annuity which is available at retirement. New hires may also elect to direct these payroll deductions into a mutual fund investment. For more detailed information, click here.
Life Insurance and Disability Insurance
Teachers are entitled to both life and disability insurance through the Teachers' Retirement System. The UFT Welfare Fund offers additional life and disability benefits.
Union Representation
Teachers are represented by the United Federation of Teachers (UFT). Representing more than 200,000 people, the UFT is the sole bargaining agent for most of the non-supervisory educators who work in the New York City public schools. It represents approximately 74,000 teachers and 17,000 classroom paraprofessionals, along with school secretaries, attendance teachers, guidance counselors, psychologists, social workers, education evaluators, nurses, laboratory technicians, adult education teachers, and 32,000 retired members. The UFT negotiates for fair and competitive salaries, enhanced professionalism, and improved working conditions. For more information, go to http://www.uft.org/.