Ariz. Admin. Code § R2-8-117 - Return to Work After Retirement

A. Unless otherwise specified, in this Section:

1. "Commencing employment" means the date a retired member who is not independently contracted or leased from a third party pursuant to R2-8-116(A)(4) renders services directly to an Employer for which the retired member is entitled to be paid.

2. "Returns to work" means the member retired from the ASRS prior to Commencing Employment with an Employer.

B. Pursuant to A.R.S. § 38-766.01(C), a retired member who returns to work directly with an Employer shall submit a Working After Retirement form to each of the retired member's current Employers through the retired member's secure website account within 30 days of the retired member Commencing Employment with an Employer.

C. Pursuant to A.R.S. § 38-766.02(E), within 14 days of receipt of a Working After Retirement form, an Employer shall verify the retired member's employment information and submit the verified Working After Retirement form to the ASRS through the Employer's secure website account for each retired member who returns to work with the Employer.

D. After a retired member returns to work, the Employer shall submit a verified Working After Retirement form to the ASRS through the Employer's secure website account within 30 days of a change in the actual hours or intent of each retired member's employment that results in:

1. The member's number of hours worked per week increasing from less than 20 hours per week to 20 or more hours per week; or

2. The member's number of weeks worked in a fiscal year increasing from less than 20 weeks per fiscal year to 20 or more weeks per fiscal year.

E. The Working After Retirement form shall contain the following information:

1. The retired member's Social Security number or U.S. Tax Identification number;

2. The retired member's full name;

3. The date the member retired;

4. Whether the retired member terminated employment, and if so, the date the retired member terminated employment;

5. The first date of Commencing Employment upon the retired member's return to work;

6. The intent of the retired member's employment reflected as:

a. The anticipated number of hours the retired member is engaged to work per week and the anticipated number of weeks the retired member is engaged to work per fiscal year; or

b. The actual number of hours the retired member works for an Employer per week and the actual number of weeks the retired member works for an Employer in a fiscal year.

7. Acknowledgement by the retired member that the retired member has read the Return to Work information on the ASRS website and intends to submit the Working After Retirement form to the Employer and submit any additional Working After Retirement forms to the Employer as required.

F. Upon discovering that the retired member's employment violates A.R.S. §§ 38-766 or 38-766.01, the ASRS shall send the retired member a Retiree Return to Work Notice of Non-Compliance with ASRS Statutes form.

G. By the due date specified on the Retiree Return to Work Notice of Non-Compliance with ASRS Statutes form, the retired member shall return the completed form and any supporting documentation to the ASRS indicating the action the retired member will take to correct the violation of A.R.S. §§ 38-766 or 38-766.01.

H. If the member does not submit the Retiree Return to Work Notice of Non-Compliance with ASRS Statutes form pursuant to subsection (G), the ASRS shall suspend the retired member's retirement benefits from the date on the Retiree Return to Work Notice of Non-Compliance with ASRS Statutes form.

I. If the ASRS suspends the retired member's retirement benefits pursuant to subsection (H), the ASRS shall reinstate the retired member's retirement benefits upon notice from the Employer that all violations pursuant to subsection (F) have been corrected.

J. Notwithstanding any other Section, a member who meets the required minimum distributions age according to A.R.S. § 38-775, may not elect to suspend the member's retirement benefit.

K. If a member elects to continue receiving the member's retirement benefit when the member Returns to Work according to A.R.S. § 38-766.01, the member's election is irrevocable, unless the member terminates employment with the Employer for which the member made the election.

L. The ASRS shall suspend any Premium Benefit a member is receiving according to 2 A.A.C. 8, Article 2 if the member Returns to Work and resumes active membership in ASRS.

M. A member who Returns to Work is not eligible to request a return of contributions according to R2-8-115 for contributions remitted during the period of employment for which the member Returns to Work.

N. If a member received a lump sum payment according to R2-8-126(P), the ASRS shall not include any compensation and credited service the member earned prior to the date the member Returns to Work when the member re-retires according to R2-8-127.

Notes

Ariz. Admin. Code § R2-8-117

Former Rule, Retirement System Regulation 3; Former Section R2-8-17 renumbered as Section R2-8-117 without change effective May 21, 1982 (Supp. 82-3). Section repealed by final rulemaking at 11 A.A.R. 2640, effective June 30, 2005 (Supp. 05-2). Amended by final rulemaking at 23 A.A.R. 209, effective 3/5/2017. Amended by final expedited rulemaking at 27 A.A.R. 479, effective 3/5/2021. Amended by final rulemaking at 28 A.A.R. 1255, effective 7/17/2022. Amended by final rulemaking at 30 A.A.R. 725, effective 5/17/2024.