Working After Retirement

When members retire and receive a Service, Early Service or Vested Deferred Retirement pension from NHRS, any compensation they earn from employment in a position that is not an NHRS-covered position will not affect their pension. Note: Disability Retirement benefits may be subject to gainful occupation offsets regardless of where the retiree works.

If retirees return to work in a full-time, NHRS-covered position with a participating employer, they will be restored to NHRS active service.

State law sets an annual limit on the amount of hours a retiree may work "part-time" for an NHRS- participating employer. A retiree who exceeds the limit on hours worked in a calendar year will forfeit the state annuity portion of his or her retirement allowance, and any allocable cost-of-living adjustments, for 12 months.

New retirees shall not be employed on a part-time basis by any participating employer for a period of 28 calendar days from the member’s effective date of retirement. This includes new retirees with existing part-time jobs for a participating employer. 

For more information, see FAQ on Part-time Employment of NHRS Retirees.

It is important that retirees contact NHRS to become fully aware of any possible impact on their pension before accepting any employment with an NHRS-participating employer or to learn more about gainful occupation offsets to Disability Retirement benefits.