Short answer: it depends on how soon you go back to a URS employer. Within 60 days, your benefit is canceled. From then to a year, you keep it only under the $21,000 earnings limit with no employer benefits, or, after 90 days, with a 20% cut. After a year, you choose. Related: retiree health, the COLA (paused under the reduced-benefit option) and payment options. Estimate your pension in the calculator.
You must separate from employment (including part-time and contract work) with every URS participating employer for one year from your retirement date. Reemployment means any work for a URS participating employer for pay, including as a contractor. Tier 1 Retirement Guidebook (Sept. 2026), p. 10; Post-Retirement Reemployment brochure (Sept. 2026), PDF pp. 2-3; Utah Code 49-11-1202(7), 49-11-1204
The four time windows
Dates for a July 1, 2027 retirement, as an example.
Within 60 daysbefore August 30, 2027
Reemployed within 60 days: your retirement benefit is canceled and you return to active status, earning service credit if eligible. If reemployed at least two years, a separate benefit is calculated on the new service and added to the original one.
Post-Retirement Reemployment brochure (Sept. 2026), PDF p. 2; Tier 1 Retirement Guidebook (Sept. 2026), p. 9; Utah Code 49-11-1204(2), (5)After 60 daysfrom August 30, 2027
After 60 days and within one year: you keep your benefit only if you get no employer-provided benefits (medical, dental, paid time off, other insurance except workers' compensation) and earn no more than the lesser of $21,000 or half of your final average salary in a calendar year. Going over, or taking benefits, cancels the benefit.
Post-Retirement Reemployment brochure (Sept. 2026), PDF p. 2; Tier 1 Retirement Guidebook (Sept. 2026), p. 9After 90 daysfrom September 29, 2027
After 90 days and within one year (since July 1, 2025): you keep receiving a benefit reduced by 20% (public employees) and get no COLA while reemployed. Your employer pays the normal cost and amortization rates. When the reemployment ends, the full benefit resumes, without back pay of the reduction or the skipped COLAs.
Post-Retirement Reemployment brochure (Sept. 2026), PDF p. 3; Tier 1 Retirement Guidebook (Sept. 2026), pp. 9-10; Utah Code 49-11-1205(5)After one yearfrom July 1, 2028
After one year (with the separation met): choose either to keep your benefit and earn a salary (no service credit or retirement contributions), or to cancel the benefit and earn service credit; after two or more years a second benefit is calculated and added.
Post-Retirement Reemployment brochure (Sept. 2026), PDF p. 3; Tier 1 Retirement Guidebook (Sept. 2026), p. 10; Utah Code 49-11-1204(3), (5)
Sources say 'within 60 days' and 'after 90 days' of the retirement date without saying how the days are counted. Our calculator treats day 60 (or 90) after the retirement date as the first allowed day.
Retirement date + 60 days (or + 90 days).
What would settle it: URS's RTRT-50 restrictions form or Board Resolution 2019-05.
The earnings limit
Between 60 days and one year, without employer benefits:
| Final average salary | Half of it | Limit a year |
|---|---|---|
| $60,000 | $30,000 | $21,000 |
| $36,000 | $18,000 | $18,000 |
Utah Code 49-11-1205(1)(a)(iv) sets the earnings limit at the lesser of $15,000 or half the final average salary, adjusted yearly by the CPI. URS's Sept. 2026 brochure and guidebook print $21,000 (the adjusted amount; neither says for which calendar year). We use $21,000.
Utah Code sets the limit at the lesser of $15,000 or half the final average salary, adjusted yearly by the CPI; going over cancels the allowance for the rest of the calendar year. We use URS's published $21,000.
Utah Code 49-11-1205(1)(a)(iv), (1)(b); Post-Retirement Reemployment brochure (Sept. 2026), PDF p. 2; Tier 1 Retirement Guidebook (Sept. 2026), p. 9
$21,000 is the CPI-adjusted limit printed in Sept. 2026; the calendar year it applies to isn't stated and it changes yearly.
$21,000 or half your final average salary, whichever is less.
What would settle it: URS's current-year limit.
The 20% option
On a $2,000 benefit, you'd get $1,600 a month while reemployed, with no COLA, and the full amount back (without back pay) when the job ends. Post-Retirement Reemployment brochure (Sept. 2026), PDF p. 3; Tier 1 Retirement Guidebook (Sept. 2026), pp. 9-10; Utah Code 49-11-1205(5)
If you're reemployed after 60 days but within one year, the date that reemployment ends becomes your new retirement date for the one-year separation, so you need 12 consecutive months away from all URS participating employers. Tier 1 Retirement Guidebook (Sept. 2026), pp. 9-10; Utah Code 49-11-1205(6)(a)
Before you start
- Call URS at 801-366-7770 or 800-695-4877 and file a Post-Retirement Reemployment Form (RTRT-27a) before you start work.Post-Retirement Reemployment brochure (Sept. 2026)
The restrictions apply to work for URS participating employers (state agencies, counties, cities, local districts, colleges and universities, school districts, charter schools and others). Tier 1 Retirement Guidebook (Sept. 2026), p. 5
No DROP; phased retirement instead
None of our URS sources describes a DROP. Utah law has phased retirement instead: with an employer that offers it, a retiree 55 or older who worked full time for four years before retiring may work half time in one position for the same employer while receiving 50% of the monthly allowance (no COLA, no service credit). Utah Code 49-11-1302, 49-11-1303(1)-(3); table of contents of URS Tier 1 Noncontributory Highlights (2026-27) and Tier 2 Public Employees Highlights (2026-27) (no DROP)
Phased retirement: at least 55, at least 4 years of full-time work before retiring, 50% of your monthly benefit while you work half time. Utah Code 49-11-1303(1)-(3)
The calculator shows your own dates and earnings limit.
Questions
Can I go back to work after retiring from URS?
Yes, but the timing matters. Within 60 days, your benefit is canceled. After 60 days, you can earn up to the lesser of $21,000 or half your final average salary a year with no employer benefits. After 90 days you can instead take a 20% smaller benefit. After a full year, there's no limit.
What is the URS earnings limit?
URS publishes the lesser of $21,000 or half your final average salary, in a calendar year. Utah Code sets it at the lesser of $15,000 or half, adjusted each year by the CPI.
Does URS have a DROP?
No. None of URS's booklets describes one. Utah law has phased retirement instead, if your employer offers it.
Source: URS Tier 1 Noncontributory and Tier 2 Public Employees Retirement System Highlights, 2026-27, effective July 1, 2026. Also: Tier 1 Retirement Guidebook (Sept. 2026); Post-Retirement Reemployment brochure (Sept. 2026); Utah Code §§ 49-11-1202, 49-11-1204, 49-11-1205, 49-11-1302, 49-11-1303. Last reviewed .