Educate Yourself
Working for the Technical College System of Georgia
Retired members of the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia (TRS) have the ability to be employed on either a full- or part-time basis under certain terms and conditions. All employment of a TRS retiree must be reported to TRS prior to employment.
TRS will review all work of a retiree on a monthly basis just as it does all active members. All compensation whether on an hourly or salaried basis cannot exceed 49% of the compensation that would normally be paid to you if you worked on a full-time basis in the position.
Before returning to work in any capacity in a TRS-covered position, you must have a break-in-service of at least one month (if the retirement date is July 1, you can begin working no earlier than August 1).
Part-Time Employment
Hourly: A schedule of the maximum hours that a retiree can work during each month of the fiscal year is located below. This calculation is based on the total business days for each month, less the generally observed holidays. This should accommodate all payroll cycles used by TRS employers.
Salaried: You can only receive forty-nine percent (49%) of the normal monthly contracted compensation for the position being held. The employment cannot exceed forty-nine percent (49%) of the full-time status of the position.
Full-Time Employment
Temporary: You can be employed in any temporary full-time position for three months in a fiscal year and continue receiving monthly benefit payments. The full-time position must be paid at the normal contracted compensation.
Employees Retirement System (ERS)/Public Schools Employees Retirement System (PSERS): If you did not retire from a position under the Technical College System of Georgia, you are eligible to work full-time with a technical institution without jeopardizing any benefit payments. You must elect ERS or PSERS within 30 days of employment.
Adjunct Professors: You may be employed as an adjunct professor in a full-time capacity on an unlimited basis. These positions are ineligible for any benefits.
Contractual Employment
Independent Contractor: If you are engaged in an independent contracting relationship with a TRS covered employer, your compensation is limited to one-half of the average annual compensation used to calculate your retirement benefit or the final compensation at the time of your retirement, whichever is greater. A copy of the contract must be submitted to TRS prior to the effective date of the contract.
Employed by an Entity doing business with a TRS Covered Employer: If you are employed by an entity (e.g. partnership, corporation, etc) doing business with a TRS covered employer, your compensation may be limited to one-half of the average annual compensation used to calculate your retirement benefit or the final compensation at the time of your retirement, whichever is greater. Documentation of your duties and responsibilities with the entity and your relationship with the TRS covered employer must be submitted to TRS.
Annual Audit of Employment of TRS Retirees
Department of Audits will be performing detailed audits of employment records searching for TRS retirees. Any discrepancies will be investigated and, if necessary, benefit payments may be terminated and/or funds collected for benefits wrongly paid.
