Teaching After Retirement

Bona Fide Break in Service

If you return to non-covered or part-time employment with your former employer, you must have a bona fide break in service of at least 30 days from the effective date of your retirement to continue receiving your retirement benefit. This 30-day break must be over a period you normally would work. Summer breaks do not count toward satisfying the 30-day break in service.

To determine if you have satisfied the 30-day break, count 30 days from the end date of your last working contract before retirement, excluding the summer break. Examples:

Contract period: August 1, 2006 - May 31, 2007
The end date of this contract is May 31, 2007. Therefore, this retiree may return to the same employer in a non-covered or part-time position no earlier than September 1, 2007.

Contract period: August 25, 2006-June 20-2007
The end date of this contract is June 20, 2007. Therefore, this retiree may return to the same employer in a non-covered or part-time position no earlier than September 25, 2007.

School Board ERIPs for Teachers

Teachers considering an early retirement incentive program (ERIP) offered by their school boards should be aware that:

VRS retirement benefits will continue if you have a bona fide break in service of at least 30 days immediately following the effective date of retirement during a normal work period and return to the classroom on a non-covered, part-time basis.
Retirement benefits will cease if you return to a position that qualifies as covered employment under VRS.

Critical Teaching Shortage

If you are receiving a retirement benefit from VRS and are certified to teach in Virginia, you can continue to receive your retirement benefits while teaching full time in a critical shortage area. To be eligible, you must:

Teach in designated critical teacher shortage areas.
Have a bona fide break in service of at least 12 months following the effective date of your retirement and not have worked in any capacity for a VRS-participating employer, even on a part-time basis, during that period.
Not have retired under a local school system’s early retirement incentive program (ERIP), unless you are receiving an unreduced VRS retirement benefit. Any period of work you perform to satisfy the requirements of an ERIP will extend the number of months required to satisfy the bona fide break in service required for compliance with this program.
Not have taken a refund of your contributions or deferred your retirement.