Working After Retiring From MPSERS: 9 Months and $15,100

Quick check

Your retirement effective date The job would start on Expected pay from Michigan public school work this calendar year I fully left my job when I retired (no promise of rehire, no work in my retirement month) I was already working at a Michigan public school as a retiree on July 25, 2022 The job is at one of the seven universities in MPSERS I retired as a superintendent and the job is a superintendent job

A rough check from ORS's rules, not a ruling. ORS says to check its website before you accept a position. Planning Your Retirement (R0613C, 5/26), pp. 47, 49

The rule

A retiree employed at a reporting unit (directly, through a contractor, or as an independent contractor) forfeits the pension and health subsidy for each month employed, unless an exception applies. Payments resume without recalculation the month after the job ends. ORS web page: Working After You Retire, Temporary forfeiture of retirement benefits; MCL 38.1361(1), (11)(b) as amended by 2023 PA 147 (effective Oct. 10, 2023)

A complete severing of the employment relationship with no promise of reemployment; no work (even volunteer) for a Michigan public school reporting unit or the State of Michigan in the month of the retirement effective date. Planning Your Retirement (R0613C, 5/26), pp. 9, 47; ORS web page: Working After You Retire, Bona fide termination; MCL 38.1361(11)(a)

The exceptions

Bona fide termination and retired at least 9 consecutive months before the new employment. This statutory exception has no sunset; the ORS page describes only the 6-month / $15,100 rules that apply until Oct. 10, 2028. 2023 PA 147 (effective Oct. 10, 2023), sec. 61(5); MCL 38.1361(5)
Until Oct. 10, 2028: bona fide termination and either retired at least 6 consecutive months, or earnings of $15,100 or less in a calendar year as a retiree. A retired superintendent can use the $15,100 route only in a position other than superintendent; after 6 months any position. ORS web page: Working After You Retire ('These rules will be in effect until Oct. 10, 2028'); ORS employer FAQ on PA 147, Q3; Planning Your Retirement (R0613C, 5/26), p. 47; 2023 PA 147 (effective Oct. 10, 2023), sec. 61(6)-(7) ('Until 5 years after the effective date')
A retiree who was employed at a reporting unit as a retiree on July 25, 2022, and had a bona fide termination, may work with no earnings limit and no effect on the pension or subsidy. ORS web page: Working After You Retire; 2023 PA 147 (effective Oct. 10, 2023), sec. 61(3); MCL 38.1361(3)
Work at any of the seven universities that are reporting units, after a bona fide termination, has no earnings limit and no effect on the pension or subsidy. ORS web page: Working After You Retire, University employment; 2023 PA 147 (effective Oct. 10, 2023), sec. 61(4)

The six-month clock

If benefits are forfeited, the six-month clock restarts from the day you stop working at the reporting unit; benefits resume the 1st of the next month. If you stay under $15,100, the earnings limit ends six months after your retirement effective date and does not restart. ORS web page: Working After You Retire, Retired six consecutive months (two examples)

ORS examples: retired December 1, 2024

Went over the limit and stopped working June 15, 2025: benefits come back July 1, 2025, and there's no limit from December 15, 2025.
Stayed under the limit: no limit from June 1, 2025.

ORS web page: Working After You Retire, Retired six consecutive months (two examples)

While benefits are forfeited you pay the entire insurance premium; the pension and subsidy resume without recalculation. ORS web page: Working After You Retire, Temporary forfeiture of retirement benefits

Work with no limit

No earnings limit for private-sector jobs, private or parochial schools, public schools in another state, any university, or a Michigan public college that is not in MPSERS. ORS web page: Working After You Retire, Work that won't affect your retirement benefits

Other points

Service and pay from post-retirement work under these exceptions cannot be used to recompute the pension. ORS web page: Working After You Retire, Pension recalculation; 2023 PA 147 (effective Oct. 10, 2023), sec. 61(8)
The working after retirement rules also apply to PHF and DC members. IRS rules bar contributing to and taking a distribution from the same 401(k) or 457 plan unless you meet certain age requirements. Planning Your Retirement (R0613C, 5/26), p. 47, Working with the PHF or a DC Plan
Disability retirees need ORS approval before returning to work. ORS web page: Working After You Retire, Disability pension

Related guides

Work after retirement doesn't add to your pension, so if you want a bigger check, compare working one more year before you retire. Losing a month's pension also means paying the full retiree health premium that month. Check your tax withholding if your income changes.

What the sources say

If you work for a Michigan public school employer after retiring (directly, through a contractor or as an independent contractor), you lose that month's pension and health subsidy unless an exception applies.ORS web page: Working After You Retire, Temporary forfeiture of retirement benefits; MCL 38.1361(1), (11)(b)
You keep your pension if you had a genuine break from employment and have been retired at least 9 months in a row before the new job.2023 PA 147, sec. 61(5); MCL 38.1361(5)
Until Oct. 10, 2028, you also keep it after a genuine break if you've been retired at least 6 months in a row, or earn no more than $15,100 in a calendar year as a retiree. Retired superintendents can use the $15,100 route only in a job other than superintendent.ORS web page: Working After You Retire; ORS employer FAQ on PA 147, Q3; Planning Your Retirement (R0613C, 5/26), p. 47; 2023 PA 147, sec. 61(6)-(7)
Work after retirement doesn't increase your pension.ORS web page: Working After You Retire, Pension recalculation; MCL 38.1361(8)
ORS says the easiest way to see how a job may affect your pension is its website: check before you accept the position.Planning Your Retirement (R0613C, 5/26), pp. 47, 49
If you were working at a Michigan public school as a retiree on July 25, 2022 after a genuine break, you can keep working with no earnings limit.ORS web page: Working After You Retire; 2023 PA 147, sec. 61(3)
If you go over the limit, your pension and subsidy stop while you work and the 6-month clock starts over from the day you stop. If you stay under the limit, the limit ends 6 months after your retirement date.ORS web page: Working After You Retire, Retired six consecutive months
There is no limit for private-sector jobs, private or parochial schools, public schools in other states, any university, or a Michigan public college that isn't in MPSERS.ORS web page: Working After You Retire, Work that won't affect your retirement benefits

Questions

Can I work for a Michigan school after I retire from MPSERS?

Yes, but you lose your pension and health subsidy for each month you work for a Michigan public school employer unless an exception applies. After a genuine break, you're safe once you've been retired 9 months in a row. Until October 10, 2028, you're also safe after 6 months, or if you earn $15,100 or less in a calendar year.

Does the $15,100 limit apply to private jobs?

No. There's no limit for private-sector jobs, private or parochial schools, public schools in another state, any university, or a Michigan public college that isn't in MPSERS.

Does working after retirement raise my pension?

No. Service and pay from work after retirement can't be used to recompute your pension.

Unofficial guide. MPSERS and the Office of Retirement Services decide. Nine-month rule: 2023 PA 147 (effective Oct. 10, 2023), sec. 61(5); MCL 38.1361(5)

Source: Planning Your Retirement (R0613C), Michigan Office of Retirement Services, Rev. 5/26, pp. 9, 47, 49. ORS web pages saved Nov. 12, 2026: Working After You Retire. Michigan law, 1980 PA 300: MCL 38.1361. 2023 PA 147. ORS employer pages saved Nov. 12, 2026: PA 147 of 2023 FAQ. Last reviewed Nov. 12, 2026.