Working After Service Retirement

If you want to work after you retire and avoid any interruptions in your monthly benefit payments, it is important that you abide by Missouri law and PSRS/PEERS Board of Trustees regulations. The effect of post-retirement employment on your benefit payments depends on whether your employer is a PEERS-covered employer (an employer participating in PEERS) and on the number of hours you work.

In order to be eligible for retirement benefits, any PEERS retiree whose retirement is effective on or after May 1, 2007 may not:

• Work in regular PEERS-covered employment for 60 days following the effective date of retirement, or
• Sign a contract for regular, full-time PEERS-covered employment until after receiving the first PEERS retirement benefit payment.

Members who violate these rules must repay any benefit payments received while ineligible. Contact the retirement system if you have questions on working after retirement. Don't jeopardize your retirement benefits.

There are three basic post-retirement work situations:

1. Working for employers not covered by PEERS
2. Working, in any capacity, for PEERS-covered employers - full-time
3. Working, in any capacity, for PEERS-covered employers - part-time or as a temporary substitute.

The "Critical Shortage" Full-Time Employment Exception

Retirees may work full-time for up to two years at school districts that have declared a critical shortage of employees, without losing PEERS benefits. See the section of your Member Handbook entitled, "The Critical Shortage Full-Time Employment Exception" for more information.

Please refer to your Member Handbook or your Working After Retirement Brochure for more information.