Reminder: Substitute Teachers Are Exempt from Work Limits through June 2030

PSRS/PEERS retirees who plan to return to the classroom this fall as substitute teachers can continue to do so without affecting their retirement benefits.

Last summer, Governor Kehoe signed legislation extending a temporary waiver of work limits for substitute teaching. This waiver remains in effect through June 2030. Substitute teaching is defined as “instructing or guiding students in a position that requires a valid DESE-issued teaching certificate, filling in for a regularly employed teacher who is temporarily unavailable.” When retirees work in these roles, their hours and salary do not count toward the usual post-retirement work limits.

This waiver applies only to qualified substitute teaching assignments. Work performed in any other district role — such as paraprofessional duties, administrative support, coaching positions, or other non-DESE-certificated jobs — still counts toward PSRS/PEERS work limits.

If retirees exceed the allowable limits with non-covered work, their retirement benefits may be suspended and a recovery of benefits may be necessary. To avoid this, retirees should track any work that is not covered under the waiver and review PSRS/PEERS guidance as needed .

Note: The IRS requires members to provide a clear separation of service between the end of pre-retirement employment and the start of post-retirement work for covered employers. PSRS/PEERS requires you have a separation period of one month from your PSRS/PEERS retirement date, and during this period you may not be under any agreement, written or unwritten, for future employment. For more details on proper termination and rules for working after retirement, visit www.psrs-peers.org.