TRS walks employers through Supplemental Savings Plan automatic enrollment, reporting and contribution limits

Melissa Keane, a Teachers' Retirement System (TRS) deferred compensation plan analyst, led a training overview of the TRS Supplemental Savings Plan (SSP), emphasizing employer reporting duties, automatic enrollment rules for new members, and contribution‑limit monitoring.

The SSP, launched in 2022 under Illinois law, is a 457(b) defined‑contribution plan intended to supplement the TRS pension. Keane told employers the plan is optional for members but statutorily required to be offered and maintained by TRS. "All employers are required to implement the SSP and must comply with the reporting and administrative functions established by TRS," Keane said, adding that accurate defined benefit (DB) reporting in Gemini is essential because SSP eligibility is determined from the DB report.

Why it matters: employer reporting determines whether a TRS member is automatically enrolled, whether contributions can be distributed when someone separates from service, and whether payroll withholdings comply with IRS limits.

Who is auto‑enrolled and how it works

Keane said employees first employed in a TRS‑covered position on or after Jan. 1, 2023, will be automatically enrolled. The automatic default deferral is 3% of pre‑tax compensation and the default investment is the plan's target‑date fund nearest the participant's age 65. TRS determines eligibility from the DB report submitted through Gemini; districts do not determine eligibility…