RETIREMENT FAQs

CTA/NEA-R vs. CRTA

There is only one retirement group available to members of CTA that is affiliated with CTA and NEA. That group is CTA/NEA-Retired (CTA/NEA-R). This group is part of CTA and its mission is to lobby for benefits and programs for retired and active education members.

Confusion exists because there is another group for retirees, California Retired Teachers Association (CRTA). CRTA is not a part of CTA or NEA. In fact, its name is somewhat misleading because it is an organization of administrators as well as teachers. Many of the leaders of CRTA are retired administrators.

CTA/NEA-R has four representatives on CTA State Council, one for each of the four CTA regions. It sends delegates to the leadership conferences of NEA Retired and the annual NEA Representative Assembly. Representatives are also sent to monthly meetings of STRS in an attempt to influence and shape policy and legislation sponsored by STRS to benefit both retired and active members. Simply put, CTA/NEA-R is united with all of us and is another integral part of CTA and NEA.

CTA/NEA-R publishes a Newsletter and is in the process of establishing local chapters and developing programs for our growing retired membership. Retired members continue to have most of the benefits that active members have including receiving "The Educator" and "NEA Today" as well as receiving publications designed for retired. Insurance programs and Group Legal Services are also available to retired members of CTA/NEA-R.

Active members can sign up as CTA/NEA-R Life Members at any time for a one-time payment of $220. (Their status is pre-retired subscriber.) Retired members can join as CTA/NEA-R Life Members or on an annual basis for $27 per year payable by payroll deduction through STRS or by check.

Cyndi