Back to work after TRS of Georgia: the limits

First, a 1-month break

Georgia law requires a break in service of at least 1 month. Any paid service (including as a contractor) for a TRS-covered employer in the calendar month your retirement takes effect voids the retirement. Retire July 1 -> work no earlier than August 1. Member's Guide p. 23, No Working Immediately After Retirement

Employers must certify your separation date and that no agreement exists for you to return (including as an independent contractor). Member's Guide p. 23, No Pre-Existing Agreement

Part-time work

A service retiree may work less than half-time for a TRS of Georgia employer. Pay can't exceed 49% of the full-time pay for the position; you can't work more than 49% of the position's schedule. Hourly workers follow TRS of Georgia's monthly maximum-hours schedule. The guide also says compensation is limited to less than one-half of the greater of the average annual compensation used in your benefit or your final salary. Member's Guide pp. 23-24, Part Time - Hourly & Salaried

Monthly hour limits, fiscal 2027

Contract work

Working as an independent contractor or through a private entity in a position normally held by a teacher: compensation limited to 1/2 of the greater of the average annual compensation used to calculate your benefit or your final salary at retirement. The employer must submit the contract to TRS of Georgia before it starts. Member's Guide p. 24, Contractual Employment

Full-time work that's allowed

Full-time work that doesn't affect your benefit: private school teaching; teaching in another state; private-sector work not contracted with a TRS of Georgia employer; temporary full-time work up to 3 calendar months per fiscal year (need not be consecutive); Board of Regents ORP (if you didn't retire from BOR, elect ORP within 60 days); Technical College System of Georgia under ERS/PSERS (if you didn't retire from TCSG, elect within 30 days). Member's Guide p. 23, Allowable Employment: Service Retirees - Full-Time Employment

Classroom aide (BOE) in a less than full-time capacity; unlimited substitute teaching (BOE) paid at the daily substitute rate; adjunct professor (BOR) full-time on an unlimited basis at the historical rate of pay. Member's Guide p. 24, Other

SB 150: full-time teaching, 2026 to 2030

From July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2030, a retiree with at least 30 years of service who has been retired at least 12 months may work full-time as a PK-12 classroom teacher in critical-need subjects (statewide: CTAE, Math, Special Education, Science, English Language Arts, Reading and Writing) or district highest-need areas, and keep the benefit. The employer reports within 30 days and pays employee and employer contributions to TRS of Georgia. Member's Guide p. 23, Full-Time Classroom Teacher (Local Board of Education only)

TRS of Georgia requires SB 150 retirees to teach at least 50% of the full-time schedule in a qualifying subject. SB 150 FAQs, p. 1

If you take a job that doesn't fit

If you take a job that doesn't allow you to keep your benefit, you choose to suspend or terminate retirement (default: terminate). Terminate: benefit stops, no COLAs, you become an active member and earn service, must work at least 4 service months, re-apply, may change plan and beneficiary, benefit recalculated; after 2 years back you may repay benefits received plus interest to combine all service. Suspend: benefit stops, no contributions or service, no COLAs, no plan change; benefit restarts at the same amount when the job ends. Member's Guide pp. 24-25, Suspend or Terminate Benefit Payment

If re-employment makes you eligible for SHBP coverage as an active employee, SHBP may require you to end retiree coverage. Member's Guide p. 22, Working After Retirement

Strict salary limits apply to disability retirees; all employment must be reported to TRS of Georgia before you accept it. Member's Guide p. 24, Allowable Employment: Disability Retirees

What the guide says

• You must take at least a 1-month break. Retire July 1 and you can't work for a TRS of Georgia employer until August 1, even as a contractor.Member's Guide p. 23, No Working Immediately After Retirement
• You can work part-time (less than half-time) for a TRS of Georgia employer, earning no more than 49% of the full-time pay for the job. Hourly workers have a monthly hours cap: 992 hours for fiscal 2027.Member's Guide p. 23, Part Time; trsga.com, Schedule of Max Hours
• Unlimited substitute teaching at the daily substitute rate is allowed.Member's Guide p. 24, Other
• Temporary full-time work is allowed for up to 3 calendar months per fiscal year.Member's Guide p. 23, Full-Time Employment
• From July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2030 (SB 150), a retiree with 30+ years who has been retired at least 12 months may teach full-time in critical-need subjects and keep the pension.Member's Guide p. 23, Full-Time Classroom Teacher; p. 28, Appendix C
• If you take a job that doesn't allow your benefit, you choose to suspend it (restarts at the same amount later) or terminate it (you rejoin, earn more service and re-retire).Member's Guide pp. 24-25, Suspend or Terminate Benefit Payment

Questions