Back to work after Connecticut TRB: the 45% rule

• Retired teachers can work in a Connecticut public school and earn up to 45% of the maximum salary for the position each school year (July-June) while keeping their pension. Earnings above that must be paid back to Connecticut TRB.C.G.S. § 10-183v(a)(1) (2025 rev.); Connecticut TRB webpage 'Understanding Post Retirement Reemployment'
• In a state-designated subject shortage area or a priority school district (or if you graduated from a reform-district high school or an HBCU or Hispanic-serving institution), you can work with no earnings limit for one school year, and a second with Connecticut TRB approval, two in your lifetime.C.G.S. § 10-183v(b) (2025 rev.); Connecticut TRB Retirement Overview (AI_RETPRESPP_240122), p. 23
• If you did not retire under normal retirement rules and are under 62, you need a six-month break before returning to teach. Any retiree may instead suspend the pension and work full time.Active Teachers' Handbook (2022), pp. 43-44; Post Retirement Reemployment Guide (PR_GUIDE_190910)

The 45% limit

A retired teacher working in a Connecticut public school position covered by Connecticut TRB may earn up to 45% of the maximum salary for the position each school year (July-June) and keep the pension; excess must be repaid. Health insurance from the rehiring district counts toward the 45%. No limit applies to private-school, out-of-state teaching or other work. C.G.S. § 10-183v(a)(1) (2025 rev.); Connecticut TRB webpage 'Understanding Post Retirement Reemployment'; Connecticut TRB Retirement Overview (AI_RETPRESPP_240122), p. 22; Post Retirement Reemployment Guide (PR_GUIDE_190910)

Maximum salary for the position: Teachers/administrators: highest rate in the collective bargaining agreement; superintendents: the advertised salary; state colleges/universities: 45% of the professor (doctorate) or associate professor scale. Connecticut TRB webpage 'Understanding Post Retirement Reemployment'

45% of the top salary, July to June. Health insurance from the rehiring district counts toward it.

Shortage areas: no limit for a while

No earnings limit, pension continues, for up to one school year (a second with Connecticut TRB approval; two school years in a lifetime, all designations combined) in a Commissioner-designated subject shortage area, at a school in a priority school district, or if you graduated from a public high school in an educational reform district or from an HBCU or Hispanic-serving institution. The district must certify no qualified candidates for the second year. C.G.S. § 10-183v(b) (2025 rev.); Connecticut TRB webpage 'Understanding Post Retirement Reemployment'; Connecticut TRB Retirement Overview (AI_RETPRESPP_240122), p. 23

Shortage areas for the 2026-27 school year: CSDE Designation of Certification Shortage Areas, 2026-27 School Year (July 13, 2026), p. 1

• Bilingual Education PreK-12
• History and Social Studies 4-12
• Mathematics 4-12
• Special Education PreK-12
• School Library and Media Specialist PreK-12
• School Psychologist PreK-12
• Science 4-12
• Speech and Language Pathologist PreK-12
• Technology Education PreK-12
• TESOL PreK-12
• World Languages 4-12

The 6-month break

Unless you retired under normal retirement rules or are 62 or older at rehire, you need a six-month break in service (and no prearranged return), or the pension is suspended and duplicate pay repaid. Active Teachers' Handbook (2022), pp. 43-44, Post Retirement Employment; Post Retirement Reemployment Guide (PR_GUIDE_190910); Connecticut TRB Retirement Overview (AI_RETPRESPP_240122), p. 22

Substitutes

Per diem substitutes are not reported. A short-term substitute past day 60 becomes long-term: from day 61, 45% paperwork and salary rules apply, and the first 60 days' pay counts toward the 45%. Substitute Teaching for Post Retirement Reemployment (EM_POSTSUBS_230920)

Suspending your pension instead

Any retiree may suspend the pension and work full time with active-teacher pay and benefits; the pension resumes the month after the job ends. No contributions or new service are earned while reemployed. C.G.S. § 10-183v(a)(3), (g) (2025 rev.); Post Retirement Reemployment Guide (PR_GUIDE_190910)

The alliance-district exception (34+ years, teaching in that district on July 1, 2015) ran July 1, 2016 - June 30, 2024 only. C.G.S. § 10-183v(a)(2) (2025 rev.); Post Retirement Reemployment Guide (PR_GUIDE_190910)

Connecticut TRB has no DROP (deferred retirement option plan). Active Teachers' Handbook (2022), pp. 3-4, Table of Contents; C.G.S. ch. 167a section list (2025 rev.) Check with Connecticut TRB

Questions