You may return to the workforce after retirement from the State of Wisconsin. If the employment is with a private company, there is no impact on your retirement benefits.
As a rehired annuitant in a WRS-eligible position, you have several benefit options. First, you are eligible to terminate your Wisconsin Retirement System annuity and once again participate in the WRS as an active employee. This option would entitle you to the same benefits you received while you were an active employee. Second, you may choose to remain an annuitant and forego the benefits available to active WRS participants. PLEASE NOTE: Upon return as a rehired annuitant, you are required to complete the Rehired Annuitant Election form regardless of which option you select.
Prior to employment as a rehired annuitant, you MUST HAVE A 30-DAY BREAK in service before working for any State agency. Please refer to the Returning to Work After Retirement Fact Sheet for details about calculating your 30-day break.
If you accept a WRS-eligible position with the State of Wisconsin and choose to remain a WRS annuitant, you may participate in the following benefit programs if you qualify:
University Insurance Association (UIA) - UIA is mandatory for unclassified employees with the appropriate title and salary level. This salary level may have been established in prior service rather than the current appointment.
Employee Reimbursement Account (ERA) - Academic staff are eligible to participate in the ERA program. Limited-term employees (LTEs) are not. A completed application for enrollment must be returned to Human Resources within 30 days of hire.
Tax-Sheltered Annuity (TSA) - You are eligible to participate in the TSA program. Your contributions as an annuitant will be different than they were as an active employee. You must re-activate your TSA deductions upon rehire. If you are interested in the TSA program, please send your name, campus address, and phone number to Jo Ann Kuester to receive a TSA packet.
Leave - If your appointment qualifies, you may accumulate sick leave and/or vacation leave in your position. You will not be able to add this new sick leave accumulation to the sick-leave conversion account you may have established when you retired. The sick leave you earn in your rehired appointment may be used or it will be lost when your post-retirement position ends. Employees eligible for vacation must use it during the contract period. Unused vacation will not be carried over or paid off.
Other important links of interest:
Hiring Retired Faculty, UW-La Crosse web site
Rehired Annuitant
Question & Answer
Returning to
Work After Retirement (ET-4105)