Returning to Work Full-time, Salaried

If you are a PSERS retiree who becomes an active member again, that is, return to service in a Pennsylvania public school, the value of your annuity will be “frozen” by PSERS.  When the value of your annuity is frozen your monthly retirement benefits stop until the day you retire.  You also start making contributions to your PSERS account and earning service credits for the length of this employment period.  These rules also apply if you are a multiple service retiree and begin employment covered by SERS.

Approval to work while collecting a pension is only valid during the school year the approval is applied. The approval terminates earlier if indicated in the approval or rules mandated by PSERS.

Returning to Work As Needed

You may return to a Pennsylvania public school employment without the loss of your monthly pension payment provided you have approval from PSERS to work while collecting a pension. The SDP typically receives a blanket approval for members collecting a pension to work temporarily. This means you do not need individual approval to work and collect a pension if you are working temporarily. PSERS refers to temporary work as working no more than 5 working days in one location. For example, a member returning to work as a Principal temporarily for School A means working in that location no more than 5 work days. If needed, the member may also work 5 days in School B. Members may also work some of the 5 days in one location and some of the 5 days in another. For instance, that same member returning as a Principal may work 2 days at School A and 3 days at School B while still permitted to work the difference in the 5 days at each location.

Members collecting a pension to work long-term (more than 5 days) will require individual approval from PSERS. This can only be obtained from PSERS by the Office of Talent. However, it is the responsibility of the Talent staff and member to ensure an approval has been obtained prior to work

Working and Collecting a Pension without Approval

It is strongly recommended that if you will be working more than 5 days while collecting a pension, that you ensure you receive approval from PSERS. Working while collecting a pension and without approval, may result in freezing future pension payments and being responsible to pay back all pension payments received while working without approval. Once approval is obtained by the Talent staff member, a copy should be provided to you.

Pension Contributions While Collecting a Pension

Members are not permitted to contribute while also collecting a monthly pension payment. This is referred to as “double dipping,” and is strongly enforced.