Educate Yourself

Working After Retirement

Can I work after I retire?

As a TRS retiree you can pursue other employment, but doing so could affect the continuation of your monthly benefit. Before accepting employment after retirement, you are urged to contact TRS to discuss your situation. Per Georgia law, audits are routinely conducted, and discrepancies are investigated. If warranted, retirement benefits can be terminated and/or funds collected for benefits wrongly paid.

All TRS retirees may engage in the following types of employment without jeopardizing their monthly benefit:

• Substitute teaching at the substitute daily rate;
• Private school teaching;
• Teaching in a state other than Georgia;
• Employment in the private sector;
• Employment with a State of Georgia agency;
• Self employment;
• Employment in non-TRS covered positions; and
• 'Temporary' employment in a TRS covered position (not to exceed 3 months in a fiscal year).

TRS retirees must report all employment in Georgia’s public school systems, regional and county libraries, the University System of Georgia, and RESA units. Before returning to work in any capacity in Georgia’s public school system, you must have a “break-in-service” of at least one month; i.e., if you retire effective July 1, you cannot begin work in a public school system until August 1, at the earliest. (Penalties apply for non-adherence.)