MoDOT & Patrol Employees’ Retirement System
Reemployment
For some retirees, returning to work can be appealing. Before saying yes to any opportunity, it is important to understand how reemployment could affect your MPERS benefit.
Accepting a position in the private sector is easy – no special rules apply related to your MPERS benefit. The same is true for most non-state public sector jobs. Situations that create complications generally involve positions with the State of Missouri or a component of the state covered by the Missouri State Employees Retirement System (MOSERS).
Two rules apply regardless of the plan or situation when you plan to reemploy with a state agency. There must be a 30-day separation between retirement and reemployment, and before you retire, there cannot be a prearranged agreement to return to work. These rules apply even if the new job is not benefit-eligible. They also apply to part-time, full-time, seasonal, and temporary positions.
After that, the most important question is whether the new position is benefit-eligible. That is usually what determines whether your current MPERS monthly benefit will continue or be suspended while you are reemployed.
There is also a plan-specific component. For example, a member retiring from the Closed Plan may be able to work for another state employer covered by MOSERS and continue receiving the monthly MPERS benefit, while a member retiring from the Year 2000 Plan may have the MPERS benefit suspended during that same type of reemployment. Because the rules vary, review the working after retirement page for full details.
If you are unsure, contact MPERS before making any commitment. A short conversation can help you understand how a specific opportunity may affect your benefit before any issues arise.