KCS wants to make your transition into retirement as smooth as possible. We have come up with a list of a few things to remember.
- Employees must meet and/or complete paperwork with the Knox County Retirement and Pension Office
- Knox County Government will officially retire the employee the 1st day of the month following your last check
- To continue the benefits of life, health, dental, and vision insurance you will need to speak with a member of the KCS Benefits Department
- If you wish to return to KCS as a retiree you must wait 60 calendar days from the date of your last paycheck.
Retirement Deadlines
100 DAY RETIREMENT DEADLINES
for the 2025-2026 School Year
| Letter Due Date | Last Day of Work | No. of Contract Days |
| September 11, 2025 | December 19, 2025 | any - semester end |
| September 22, 2025 | December 31, 2025 | any - semester end |
| February 10, 2026 | May 21, 2026 | 189 |
| February 11, 2026 | May 22, 2026 | 196 |
| February 11, 2026 | May 22, 2026 | 200 |
| February 22, 2026 | June 1, 2026 | 205, 211, 216, 221 |
| March 8, 2026 | June 16, 2026 | 232 |
| March 16, 2026 | June 24, 2026 | 242 |
| March 22, 2026 | June 30, 2026 | 255 |
The above dates are for those working until the end of a contract. If you choose to retire at another time throughout the year, the 100 day deadline still applies in order to receive the sick leave incentive. Your retirement commitment letter must be in the Retirement Office 100 calendar days prior to your last day of work.
You may fax the commitment letter to 865-594-9523 or send it via school mail to the Benefits Office, 5th Floor, UT Tower. If you would like a confirmation receipt, please state that on the form.
Once you have sent in your commitment letter, classified employees should contact the Knox County Pension Board at 865-215-2323 or retirement@knoxcounty.org. Classified employees choosing to continue insurance at retirement (health, dental, vision, or life) should also contact the Benefits Department for the appropriate forms.
Voluntary 457
As a classified employee and a participant in the Asset Accumulation Plan, you are eligible to contribute into a Voluntary 457(b). You may elect to contribute an additional percentage of pay on a pre-tax basis into any one of the four vendors under the Knox County Retirement & Pension Board. Your contributions would be matched based on your years of service. Please note that your contributions would be subject to the annual IRS limit guidelines.
| Years of Service | Employer Matching Contributions |
| Less than 5 years | 0% |
| 5 - 9 years | Up to 2% |
| 10 - 14 years | Up to 4% |
| 15 or more years | Up to 6% |
Beneficiaries
If you are experiencing a change in status such as marriage, divorce, or if your beneficiary passes away, please remember to change your beneficiary information as soon as possible.
Contact:
| Knox County Retirement & Pension Board |
|
City County Building, Room 371 400 Main Street Knoxville, TN 37902 |
| retirement@knoxcounty.org |
| Phone: 865-215-2323 |
| https://www.knoxcounty.org/retirement/ |