Returning to Work

Your Arkansas Teacher Retirement System (ATRS) benefit may be affected if you return to work in a position covered by ATRS.   Retirees under age 65 cannot return to employment in a position covered by the System without a required termination period or their retirement will be canceled. This includes part-time or full-time employment with any Arkansas public school, educationally related state agency, college, university and/or post-secondary institution. If you are planning to return to work after retirement, please contact our office for information on your termination period. This will insure that there is no loss of benefits. Members age 65 or older may apply for benefits without termination of employment. Termination Periods are: July 1, 2009 or earlier retirees, one (1) month termination period. After July 1, 2009, retirees who have any combination of 38 or more years of ATRS service, years of T-DROP participation, and service with another reciprocal state retirement system, one (1) month termination period. After July 1, 2009 , all other retirees, six (6) months termination period. Members age 65 or older may apply for and receive benefits without termination period. They do not have to terminate from employment in order to draw both salary and a retirement benefit.

Last Updated ( Friday, 07 October 2011 )