Returning to work hours
Some retirees can now work up to 1,040 hours and continue receiving benefits
In 2022 the Washington State Legislature approved ESHB 1699 which created an exemption to retiree return to work rules.
The exemption allows some retirees from the Teachers’ Retirement System (TRS), the Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS), and the School Employees’ Retirement System (SERS) to work up to 1,040 hours per year and maintain their pension benefits. Review the charts below to see if you qualify for the exception.
The exception is in place from March 23, 2022 — July 1, 2025.
The term nonadministrative, for this exception, refers to returning to work at a school district in a position that: (a) Does not require an administrative certification, as defined by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, (currently positions requiring the certification include: principal, vice principal, program administrator, conditional administrator, superintendent or program administrator certifications); or (b) Does not evaluate staff.
With the addition of this exception, return to work rules have grown quite complex for retirees and their employers. DRS is working hard to update our systems, website, letters and Washington Administrative Code to reflect those changes.
Review these charts to see if you qualify for the exception.
Select the plan you retired from:
PERS Plan 1
| Position you are returning to | Employer you are returning to | Return-to-work wait period | Total hours when benefits stops |
|---|---|---|---|
| SERS eligible — non-administrative | School district | 100 days | 1,040 hours |
| TRS eligible — non-administrative | School district | 100 days | 1,040 hours |
| Nursing — non-administrative | State agency or higher education | 30 days | 1,040 hours |
PERS Plan 2 or 3 – including those who retiree with 2008 ERF
| Position you are returning to | Employer you are returning to | Return-to-work wait period | Total hours when benefits stops |
|---|---|---|---|
| SERS eligible — non-administrative | School district | 100 days | 1,040 hours |
| TRS eligible — non-administrative | School district | 100 days | 1,040 hours |
| Nursing — non-administrative | State agency or higher education | 30 days | 1,040 hours |
SERS – including those who retiree with 2008 ERF
| Position you are returning to | Employer you are returning to | Return-to-work wait period | Total hours when benefits stops |
|---|---|---|---|
| SERS — non-administrative | School district | 30 calendar days | 1,040 hours |
| TRS eligible — non-administrative | School district | 30 calendar days | 1,040 hours |
TRS Plan 1
| Position you are returning to | Employer you are returning to | Return-to-work wait period | Total hours when benefits stops |
|---|---|---|---|
| SERS eligible — non-administrative | School district | 30 days | 1,040 hours |
| TRS eligible — non-administrative | School district | 30 days | 1,040 hours |
| TRS eligible — district superintendent or in-school administrator in a second-class school district, retired before Jan. 1, 2022 | School district | 30 days | 1,040 hours |
TRS Plan 2 or 3 – including those who retired with 2008 ERF
| Position you are returning to | Employer you are returning to | Return-to-work wait period | Total hours when benefits stops |
|---|---|---|---|
| SERS eligible — non-administrative | School district | 30 days | 1,040 hours |
| TRS eligible — non-administrative | School district | 30 days | 1,040 hours |
| TRS eligible — district superintendent or in-school administrator in a second-class school district, retired before Jan. 1, 2022 | School district | 30 days | 1,040 hours |
Second-class school districts (2021-22 school year)
This list is provided by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.| Adna | Inchelium | Pateros |
| Almira | Index | Paterson |
| Asotin-Anatone | Kahlotus | Pe Ell |
| Benge | Kalama | Pioneer |
| Bickleton | Keller | Pomeroy |
| Boistfort | Kettle Falls | Port Townsend |
| Brewster | Kiona-Benton | Prescott |
| Bridgeport | Kittitas | Queets-Clearwater |
| Brinnon | Klickitat | Quilcene |
| Cape Flattery | La Center | Rainier |
| Carbonado | La Conner | Raymond |
| Cascade | LaCrosse Joint | Reardan |
| Cashmere | Lake Chelan | Republic |
| Castle Rock | Lake Quinault | Ritzville |
| Centerville | Lamont | Riverside |
| Chewelah | Liberty | Roosevelt |
| Chimacum | Lind | Rosalia |
| Cle Elum-Roslyn | Loon Lake | Royal |
| Colfax | Lopez Island | San Juan |
| College Place | Lyle | Satsop |
| Colton | Mabton | Selkirk |
| Columbia (Stev) | Mansfield | Shaw Island |
| Columbia (Walla) | Manson | Skamania |
| Colville | Mary M Knight | Skykomish |
| Concrete | Mary Walker | Soap Lake |
| Conway | McCleary | South Bend |
| Cosmopolis | Medical Lake | South Whidbey |
| Coulee-Hartline | Meridian | Southside |
| Coupeville | Methow Valley | Sprague-Lamont |
| Crescent | Mill A | St. John |
| Creston | Montesano | Star |
| Curlew | Morton | Starbuck |
| Cusick | Mossyrock | Stehekin |
| Damman | Mount Adams | Steptoe |
| Darrington | Mount Baker | Stevenson-Carson |
| Davenport | Mount Pleasant | Summit Valley |
| Dayton | Naches Valley | Taholah |
| Dieringer | Napavine | Tekoa |
| Dixie | Naselle-Grays River | Tenino |
| Easton | Nespelem | Thorp |
| Eatonville | Newport | Toledo |
| Elma | Nine Mile Falls | Tonasket |
| Endicott | Nooksack Valley | Touchet |
| Entiat | North Beach | Toutle Lake |
| Evaline | North River | Trout Lake |
| Evergreen (Stev) | Northport | Union Gap |
| Finley | Oakesdale | Valley |
| Freeman | Oakville | Vashon Island |
| Garfield | Ocean Beach | Wahkiakum |
| Glenwood | Ocosta | Waitsburg |
| Goldendale | Odessa | Warden |
| Grand Coulee Dam | Okanogan | Washtucna |
| Granger | Omak | Waterville |
| Grapeview | Onalaska | Wellpinit |
| Great Northern | Onion Creek | White Pass |
| Green Mountain | Orcas | White Salmon |
| Griffin | Orchard Prairie | Wilbur |
| Harrington | Orient | Willapa Valley |
| Highland | Orondo | Wilson Creek |
| Hockinson | Oroville | Winlock |
| Hood Canal | Palisades | Wishkah Valley |
| Hoquiam | Palouse | Wishram |
| Zillah |
