§ 22500 Teachers' Retirement Membership

• •If you were part of the California State Teachers’ Retirement System before July 1, 1996, you’re automatically in the Defined Benefit Program.
• •This program follows tax rules from a federal law called Section 401(a).
• •The rule was updated in 2000 and started being used in 2001.

A teacher named Mrs. Smith started working in California in 1990 and was part of the retirement system.

Because Mrs. Smith was already in the system before July 1, 1996, she is automatically in the Defined Benefit Program, which means she gets retirement benefits based on her salary and years of work.