Question:  When can annuitants return to work?

Answer:

There are two types of Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) annuitants, Disability Annuitants and Retirement Annuitants. The following information answers "When can WRS Retirement Annuitants return to work?"

WRS Retirement Annuitants must meet a minimum break in service before returning to work for a WRS participating Employer. What does that mean for the Employer? Three things!

First, was the person hired previously covered under the WRS? *

Second, identify whether the minimum break in service has been met. How?

1. The minimum break in service begins with the termination date and the latest of the following dates.
2. The day after the effective date of the annuity…
3. The thirty-first day after termination…
4. The thirty-first day after the benefit application is received at ETF. *

Example of Minimum Break

An employee terminates on October 1. The benefit application was received on October 15 and the annuity effective date is October 2.

This employee can start after November 15th and will have met their required minimum break in service.

* NOTE: To learn about individuals that have worked under WRS Employers you may either call the Employer Communication Center at 608/264-7900 or utilize your Extranet Previous Service Check capability. To learn when the benefit application was received at ETF you may either call the Employer Communication Center at 608/264-7900 or utilize your Extranet (previous service check information) access.

Third, if the required break has been completed, the employer next determines if the rehired annuitant meets the eligibility criteria for participation in the WRS. This is the same as for any new employee. Information on the eligibility criteria may be found in Chapter 3 of the WRS Administration Manual, ET-1127.

Eligibility and Rehired Annuitant Info

Not Meeting WRS eligibility

If the annuitant does not meet the criteria to be eligible to participate in the WRS, the employer needs to do nothing further at the time the annuitant's employment begins.

Meeting WRS eligibility

If the rehired annuitant does indeed meet the WRS eligibility criteria, the employer must provide a Rehired Annuitant Election, ET-2319 for the annuitant to complete. This Election form must be completed by all eligible annuitants regardless of whether they elect to participate in the WRS. Finally, once the form is completed by the employee and certified by the Agent, it is sent to ETF.

Meets WRS eligibility and electing NOT to participate

If the annuitant elects not to participate in WRS, they will remain an annuitant and can keep working without WRS coverage.

Meets WRS eligibility and electing to participate

If an annuitant elects to return to active WRS participation, the annuity will be cancelled and the WRS account will be reactivated. Once ETF has processed the Election Form, copies will be sent to both the employer and the employee. WRS participation will begin effective the first of the month following ETF's receipt of the election form at which time the employer must begin remitting contributions for the employee.

Additional information on rehired annuitants can be found in Chapter 15 - Employment of Annuitants, of the WRS Administration Manual, ET-1127 (Revised 5/1999).