Q: When do temporary employees become eligible for benefits?

A: When looking at temporary employment, it is first necessary to know what temporary employment means. Temporary employment suggests a definite start date and end date. It is not open-ended or indefinite. These individuals are employed directly by the district on a temporary basis. They differ from substitutes in that a substitute fills a position held by an employee who will return to work. In other words, the position is not vacant.

All district employees, including temporary employees, are eligible for Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) membership if their employment is expected to last at least four-and-a-half months in a school year and they will work at least one-half of the standard workload (with special rules for bus drivers). Once an employee reaches that threshold, they are also eligible for TRS-ActiveCare coverage, if that is the district’s health insurance provider.

If an employee is expected to work for the district for at least four-and-a-half months and the employee is not a substitute, the employee is entitled to TRS membership and health insurance benefits. Districts must also provide state personal leave to any employee who is regularly employed, no matter how many hours per day they work.