Working After Retirement

After you retire from the Virginia Retirement System (VRS), you can work for any employer that does not participate in VRS and continue to receive your retirement benefits.

If you return to covered employment with a VRS-participating employer, your retirement benefits will cease, and you will again become an active member. Covered employment is any full-time permanent position that provides VRS benefits. Some part-time permanent positions with state agencies and public colleges and universities also are covered under VRS.

Non-covered employment with VRS-participating employers includes temporary, part-time hourly and adjunct faculty positions. In most cases, you can accept non-covered employment with a VRS-participating employer and continue to receive your retirement benefits. If you return to non-covered employment with the same employer, you must have a bona fide break in service of at least one full calendar month after your retirement date over a period you normally would work.

Before You Go Back to Work

Contact VRS to determine the effect of accepting covered or non-covered employment on your benefits. Also consult these Web pages and your Retiree Handbook for more information.

If you are receiving Social Security benefits, call the Social Security Administration (SSA) at 1-800-772-1213, visit the Social Security Administration Web Site or contact your local SSA office. Earnings during retirement could affect your eligibility for Social Security.

If you return to covered employment after being retired, you and your employer must submit a Request for Termination of Monthly Benefit (VRS-7) to VRS immediately upon your re-employment to prevent an overpayment of your retirement benefit.

Retiring Again

When you retire again, you must submit a new retirement application and retire under the same benefit payout option you selected the first time you retired.

Your monthly benefit will be recalculated based on the additional service you earned during re-employment and any changes in your average final compensation (AFC).

If you received a COLA during your first retirement, the COLA will not resume when you retire again. You will become eligible for a COLA effective July 1 of the second calendar year after your subsequent retirement date.