SECTION 715:10-5-31. Documentation of service

  TRS reserves the right to require documentation of all service years credited to a member's account.

(1)   Members who are claiming eligible service after the school year in which it was actually rendered must verify the claim on the appropriate Teachers' Retirement System form. The specific documentation required will depend on the type of service being purchased. Under no circumstances will affidavits be accepted as documentation.

(2)   The ultimate responsibility for obtaining verification of service is that of the member.

(3)   The correctness of the service must be certified on the appropriate form by an official of the school where the service was rendered. This can be done by the superintendent, business manager, secretary of the school board, or treasurer of the school board at the time the certification is made. The certification must be based upon existing records maintained by the school and certified copies of these records must be attached to the application.

(4)   TRS will also accept federal or state tax records, or Detailed Earnings Information records from the Social Security Administration, as supporting documentation of employment where records cannot be obtained from the employing school, or where the records available are not deemed to be conclusive.

(5)   No credit may be granted unless clear and convincing proof of eligible service has been provided from a source other than the applicant member. A conclusion that clear and convincing proof has not been provided should in no way be construed as a challenge to the member's or any other affidavit's truthfulness and integrity.

(6)   The executive director of TRS shall be empowered to determine the completeness of documents submitted by a member in establishing service credit.

[Source: Amended at 28 Ok Reg 981, eff 5-26-11]