Retiree rehire
Last updated: April 17, 2024
State law, University policy, and a retiree’s retirement plan govern a retired state employee’s reemployment eligibility and any limits on how much time the retiree can work.
If you are considering hiring a state retiree, become familiar with the retirement program’s reemployment eligibility requirements, as there can be serious consequences if the requirements are not adhered to.
Employing a UWRP retiree
University of Washington Retirement Plan (UWRP) participation includes faculty, librarians, and professional staff originally employed at least 50% for six or more consecutive months. UWRP retirees cannot work greater than 40% of full time in the 12-month calendar year beginning January 1 through the following December 31. This applies to any and all positions worked.
Tenured faculty have specific re-employment rights. Questions about re-employment of retired faculty, academic staff and librarians should be directed to Academic HR.
To rehire a UWRP retiree into a staff or professional staff temporary position, follow the PSTP recruitment process.
Employing a DRS retiree
Post-retirement employment limits for DRS Plan retirees
State law limits the number of hours during a calendar year that a retiree from a Department of Retirement Systems (DRS) plan can work in a state government or state higher education job before the employee’s pension payments are suspended for the remainder of the year. Retirees must wait at least 30 consecutive days after their effective retirement date before returning to work; otherwise, their benefit will be reduced while working post-retirement. For more information about post-retirement employment, see the DRS website.
Retirees are solely responsible for tracking the hours they work and determining the effect on their pension payments if they work beyond their post-retirement employment limit.
Policy statement
It is University policy to comply with Washington State law governing the reemployment of Department of Retirement System (DRS) retirees, and to require that all DRS retirees seeking UW employment follow the normal job application and referral procedures. It is a violation of state law and UW policy for there to be any pre-retirement oral or written agreement between individuals of a DRS plan (PERS, TRS, SERS, LEOFF, or WSPRS) and any state employer which results in the individual being hired into a UW position. Violation of the law results in nullification of the individual’s retirement. Criminal and monetary penalties may also apply.
Hiring a DRS retiree
DRS retirees may apply for any open position at the UW. Employing units are not required to obtain approval to hire a DRS retiree. Departments follow normal hiring practices for the type of position available.
Hiring a DRS retiree into a nonpermanent or temporary position
DRS plan retirees may be hired to nonpermanent positions by following the standard nonpermanent employment process or to temporary positions by following the standard temporary employment process.
This page explains retiree reemployment requirement and is provided to assist you in understanding the rules that apply to the post-retirement employment of DRS plan retirees. However, if there is any discrepancy between this information and the current DRS rules, the DRS rules will prevail.