The rules
- Private employers: work as much as you like.
- Early retirees (under 65): no work for a PERSI employer within 90 days of retiring, in any capacity, including substitute teaching, and no promise of a job. Otherwise the retirement is cancelled and payments must be repaid with interest.
- Everyone: working 20 hours a week or more (teachers: a half-time contract or more) for 5 months in a row or more for a PERSI employer makes you an active member again. Payments stop and are recalculated when you leave.
The handbook (2019) describes the early-retiree 90-day rule for the same employer; the Oct. 2022 flyer quotes 59-1356(1) as any employer participating in PERSI. The newer flyer is used.
Member Handbook (2019), p. 34 (2019); Working After Retirement flyer (Oct. 2022), quoting Idaho Code 59-1356(1)- If you retire early (before 65) and are rehired by any PERSI employer within 90 days, or were promised a job, your retirement is cancelled and payments must be repaid with interest. Substitute teaching counts.Working After Retirement flyer (Oct. 2022), quoting Idaho Code 59-1356(1)
- Any retiree who works for a PERSI employer 20 hours or more a week (teachers: a half-time contract or more) for 5 consecutive months or more becomes an active member again. Payments stop and are recalculated when you leave.Working After Retirement flyer (Oct. 2022); IDAPA 59.01.01.536-540
- Retired teachers and administrators can return to a certificated school district job and keep their benefit if they retired at 60 or older (after July 1, 2017), receive an unreduced benefit, never took an early retirement incentive, truly left their job and had no prearranged rehire. It does not apply to colleges.Certified Instructional Staff or Pupil Service Staff: Return to Work flyer (June 2019); Idaho Code 59-1356(4)
- Check with PERSIMembers who retired before Jan. 1, 2022 may return to work without the limit. PERSI's web page says a 2026 law (SB 1276) extended this to those who retired before Jan. 1, 2026, from July 1, 2026. Check with PERSI.Known only from PERSI's web page summary; the bill text was not downloaded.Working After Retirement flyer (Oct. 2022); Working After Retirement web page
The teacher exception, in full
Teachers and administrators (Instructional Staff or Pupil Service Staff certificate) may return to a certificated, at-will position with a school district and keep their benefit if all of these hold: retired at 60 or older with an original retirement date after July 1, 2017 (62 or older for July 1, 2005 to June 30, 2017); never took an early retirement incentive; a bona fide termination; receiving an unreduced benefit; no prearranged rehire. It does not apply to colleges or universities. Certified Instructional Staff or Pupil Service Staff: Return to Work flyer (June 2019); Idaho Code 59-1356(4) and 33-1004H as cited there
- Retired at 60 or older with an original retirement date after July 1, 2017, or at 62 or older for July 1, 2005 to June 30, 2017.
- Holds an Instructional Staff or Pupil Service Staff certificate.
- Never took an early retirement incentive.
- A true (bona fide) termination, with no prearranged rehire.
- Receiving an unreduced PERSI benefit.
- Returns as an at-will employee of a school district, in a certificated job.
Retired before 2022?
Members who retired before Jan. 1, 2022 may return to work beyond the limit without losing their benefit (59-1356(5)). PERSI's web page says SB 1276 (2026) removed the sunset and extended this to people who retired before Jan. 1, 2026, effective July 1, 2026. Check with PERSI Working After Retirement flyer (Oct. 2022); Working After Retirement web page
Known only from PERSI's web page summary; the bill text was not downloaded.
We repeat PERSI's web page summary and label it.
What would settle it: SB 1276 (2026) as enacted.
The calculator shows your 90-day date. For your Choice 401(k) Plan while working, see PERSI's Working After Retirement flyer. Working After Retirement flyer (Oct. 2022)
Questions
Can a retired Idaho teacher go back to work?
Yes, with rules. Early retirees (under 65) must wait 90 days and can't have a job promised. Any retiree who works 20 hours a week or more for a PERSI employer for 5 months in a row becomes an active member again, unless an exception applies.
Is there an exception for teachers?
Yes. Retired teachers and administrators who retired at 60 or older (after July 1, 2017) with an unreduced benefit can return to a certificated school district job and keep their benefit, if all the conditions are met.
Source: PERSI Member Handbook, Handbook revision July 2019. Also: PERSI Working After Retirement flyer and page; IDAPA 59.01.01; PERSI teacher return-to-work flyer (June 2019); Idaho Code § 59-1356 (as PERSI quotes it). Last reviewed .