Learn about the types of re-employment, day limits and keeping track of your days.
Get to know the rules on re-employment. If you return to work, you'll understand the impact it could make to your pension payments. For plan purposes, we consider you a re-employed pensioner if you meet the following conditions:
This definition includes all re-employment, teaching or non-teaching, whether done on an employment, self-employment or third-party basis. If you aren’t sure whether your employer participates in the plan, ask them or check our list of participating employers.
Keep in mind, you can’t forfeit your pay to circumvent the rules. If the position or duty entitles you to compensation and you decline it, your service will still count toward the re-employment limit.
Your arrangement to return to work in education directly or indirectly for a participating employer must be made after your pension starts. You can’t finalize re-employment plans while you’re still working. A bona fide cessation of employment means there must be no re-employment in education between your resignation date and your pension inception date.
A resignation is considered valid only if:
Teaching isn't the only type of work that counts as re-employment. For plan purposes, your work after retirement is subject to the re-employment limit if you:
Work, or are otherwise engaged in an activity, in any capacity for:
Work as a teacher (includes, but isn't limited to, tutor, guidance counsellor, librarian, vice-principal, principal or other supervisory officer positions):
The re-employment rules may apply even if you don't get paid for your work. You can't forfeit your pay to circumvent the rules. If the position or duty entitles you to compensation and you decide to decline it, your service will still count toward the limit. Keep in mind that payments for services rendered may include gifts and gift certificates.
To determine if volunteering for a participating employer counts toward the limit, ask yourself:
If you answer “yes” to either of the above, it's likely re-employment. If you're unsure, contact us.
There are times when you may not work directly for an employer who participates in the plan. If you've made self-employment or third-party arrangements to work after retirement and are unsure if the work is subject to re-employment rules, ask yourself:
If you answer “yes” to either of the above, then your work after retirement is likely subject to re-employment rules. If you're unsure, contact us. Here are two examples to help illustrate the difference between what is and isn't considered re-employment.
You may be able to increase your pension if you haven't worked any re-employment since you started your pension. You can choose to stop your pension and have additional service count toward it. To be eligible for this recalculation option, you must:
* If you’re unsure whether an activity for which you’re entitled to compensation counts as re-employment, contact us before you begin. For example, certain types of volunteer or professional development activities could count as re-employment work.
If you choose to recalculate your pension, you'll contribute while you're working. When you're ready to restart your pension, we'll recalculate it with the additional credit, based on pension rules in effect at the time. While this will usually result in a higher pension, in rare circumstances it can lower benefits for you or your survivors.
Before you decide to contribute immediately upon your return to work, contact us for information on the implications of your decision.
Any re-employment while on a full disability pension disentitles you from continuing the full disability pension. If you plan to return to work, notify us immediately so we can stop your disability pension.
If you're receiving a partial disability pension and return to work, there may be an option to have your pension recalculated under some circumstances. You must also work for the equivalent of two years or more.
You should understand the re-employment rules before you begin working after retirement. If you have a complex situation and you're unsure, contact us. Where questionable situations are discovered, we'll consider the work after retirement subject to the re-employment rules if the arrangement is in place to escape the application of the re-employment rules.
A list of participating employers, including school boards, designated private schools and designated organizations
Double-check your re-employment days
Get answers to frequently asked questions about re-employment