When members retire and receive a Service, Early Service or Vested Deferred Retirement pension from NHRS, any compensation they earn from employment in a position that is not an NHRS-covered position will not affect their pension. If retirees return to work in an NHRS-covered position, they will be restored to NHRS active service.

Disability Retirement benefits may be subject to gainful occupation offsets regardless of where the retirees work.

It is important that retirees contact NHRS to become fully aware of any possible impact on their pension before accepting any employment with an NHRS participating employer or to learn more about gainful occupation offsets to Disability Retirement benefits.

Legislation enacted in 2011 defines "part-time" employment for NHRS retirees in receipt of a pension who are working for an NHRS participating employer:

“Part-time,” for purposes of employment of a retired member of the New Hampshire retirement system, but excepting per diem court security officers and court bailiffs, means employment by an employer depending on the group classification of the employment as follows:

(a) For group I, part-time employment of the retired member shall not exceed 32 hours in a normal calendar week; except for group I employment which in some instances may exceed 32 hours in any normal calendar week. In such case the part-time employment of the retired member shall not exceed 1,300 hours in a calendar year, so long as such part-time employment does not occur outside of a 5-consecutive-month period in any 12-month period.

(b) For group II, part-time employment of the retired member shall not exceed 32 hours in a normal calendar week; except for group II employment which in some instances may exceed 32 hours in any normal calendar week. In such case the part-time employment of the retired member shall not exceed 1,300 hours in a calendar year, so long as such part-time employment does not occur outside of a 5-consecutive-month period in any 12-month period.

For more information on this topic, see FAQ on Part-time Employment of NHRS Retirees