Returning to work After Retirement

Apr 04, 2016

The Michigan Department of Education has just released its Critical Shortage list for the 2016-2017 school year (see chart below).  If you return to work in a Michigan Public School (or Charter) you can still collect your pension and retirement health benefit if said position is considered a Critical Shortage Discipline.

There are specific rules of who may return to work after they retire.  Please check with the Office of Retirement Service before returning to work – you do not want to jeopardize your pension or benefits.  For information from the ORS website go here http://www.michigan.gov/orsschools/0,4653,7-206-36502_36516-327160--,00.html

Please note that the Critical Shortage List is ONLY good for the 2016-2017 school year, and that retirees looking to work in the 2017-2018 school year should not assume that because a position is listed for next year that it will stay listed until the legislation expires.  If you want to read the legislation (mcl 38.1363) click here.

Please also note, that this is the STATEWIDE Critical Shortage list. Individual districts may or may not have approved additions to the Critical Shortage list based on regional shortages. These exceptions can be approved by the MDE at any time, making the annual retiree compensation limit issue a bit complicated for ORS.

Paul Helder, MEA-Retired Consultant

Academic Year 2016-17 Critical Shortage Disciplines for Employment of Retirees