As a retired member, can you return to public school service in a day-to-day substitute position?
You may have recently heard of schools having difficulty filling positions such as substitute teachers and bus drivers. Have you wondered if you might be able to help in a day-to-day substitute capacity without jeopardizing your PSERS pension?
You can! Act 91 was recently signed into law recognizing the current shortage of personnel in the classroom and making it easier for PSERS retirees to help in substitute positions through June 30, 2023. For the 2021-22 and 2022-23 school years, school administrators have flexibility to staff the classrooms, even with PSERS-retirees in the event of a shortage.
Public school employers can receive pre-approval from PSERS to hire PSERS retirees as short-term or long-term substitutes using our School Year Approval Process. You can check the PSERS website to see if your local school has been pre-approved under our School Year Approval Process and for what positions, like substitutes or transportation drivers. If your school is listed on PSERS website and you're asked to fill a position covered under PSERS pre-approval, then you can return to that position without your pension being stopped. If you don't see your school's name, be sure to encourage your school to seek PSERS pre-approval so you can assist in the classroom without jeopardizing your pension.
Additional information on PSERS retirees returning to work in a different capacity without stopping their pension is in PSERS' Return to Service Exceptions publication.