TSC Introduces New Pension Benefits For Resigned And Dismissed Teachers

Thousands of former teachers across the country are set to benefit from a major policy shift by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) after the commission announced that educators who resigned or were dismissed from service from 2018 onwards will now qualify for terminal benefits.

The landmark directive marks a significant departure from TSC’s previous policy, under which teachers who exited the profession through resignation or dismissal automatically forfeited their pension and gratuity payments.

For years, many former educators left service without receiving retirement benefits despite having served in schools for long periods.

Under the new policy, however, teachers who left employment on or after April 6, 2018, will now be eligible to apply for the benefits they were previously denied.

The decision is expected to bring relief to thousands of former teachers and families of deceased educators who had unsuccessfully pursued compensation over the years.

The reforms are contained in Circular No. 12/2025 dated August 18, 2025, which operationalises provisions contained in the 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

The circular outlines new procedures for the processing of gratuity and pension claims and gives former teachers an opportunity to reclaim benefits that had long been considered lost.

Acting TSC Chief Executive Officer Evaleen Mitei directed all affected former teachers, as well as beneficiaries of deceased teachers, to begin submitting their applications through TSC Sub-County offices across the country.

According to the commission, the process will involve several stages of verification before payments are approved and forwarded for release through the National Treasury.

Applications received at Sub-County offices will first be scrutinised by Sub-County Directors before being escalated to County Directors for further validation. Once verified, the claims will then be forwarded to the TSC headquarters for final processing and coordination with the Treasury.

TSC said the new policy is aimed at improving teacher welfare management while also helping the commission clear a growing backlog of unresolved terminal benefits cases that have accumulated over the years.

The move is also expected to restore confidence among teachers regarding the security of their retirement benefits, regardless of how they exit service.

Former teachers seeking the payments have been advised to submit several mandatory documents to facilitate processing. These include copies of national identity cards, Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) PIN certificates, bank or Sacco account details, pension and gratuity forms, as well as employment records related to their period of service.

The commission further noted that male teachers employed before December 31, 2020, must provide their earliest payslip showing deductions under the Widows and Children Pension Scheme (WCPS).

Teachers who previously served under Untrained Teacher (UT) terms will also be required to attach National Social Security Fund (NSSF) statements as part of the verification process.

For families and beneficiaries of deceased teachers, additional documentation will be necessary before claims can be processed. TSC said beneficiaries must provide death certificates, letters from area chiefs confirming dependents, certified copies of identification documents, and birth certificates for children aged 24 years and below.

The commission warned that incomplete or inaccurate documentation could significantly delay processing and urged applicants to ensure that all forms are correctly filled out and verified before submission.

Officials also encouraged affected individuals to visit the nearest TSC County or Sub-County office for personalised assistance and guidance regarding the application requirements.

Education stakeholders have welcomed the policy change, describing it as a long-overdue decision that recognises the contributions made by teachers even after they leave the profession.

Many former educators had previously complained that losing pension and gratuity benefits after resignation or dismissal was punitive and left them financially vulnerable after years of service.

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