Employment of Retirees

Individuals who have retired from Delta State University (or other State of Mississippi service) may be re-employed in accordance with policies outlined by the Public Employees’ Retirement System of Mississippi.

Retiree: an individual who has met the criteria to achieve official retirement status set forth by the Public Employees’ Retirement System.

Delta State University Retiree: a full-time employee retiring with ten or more years of full-time service or a part-time employee retiring with fifteen or more years of service.

Individuals who are being paid a retirement allowance or a pension from the Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS) cannot be employed or paid for any service by Delta State University or the State of Mississippi, including services as an employee, contract worker, contractual employee, or independent contractor, until the individual has been retired from PERS for not less than ninety (90) consecutive days from his or her effective date of retirement.

After the individual has met the required 90 consecutive day waiting period, he/she may be re-employed for a period of time in each fiscal year not to exceed the following:

1. For a period of time not to exceed one-half (1/2) of the normal working days for the position in any fiscal year during which the retiree will receive no more than one-half (1/2) of the salary in effect for the position at the time of employment, or
2. For a period of time in any fiscal year sufficient in length to permit a retiree to earn not in excess of twenty-five (25%) of the retiree’s average compensation.

State retirement benefits are subject to suspension for retirees re-employed under conditions other than those specified above.  All retirees re-employed under these provisions are reported to the Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS) as required.

The following procedures must be followed when employment of a PERS retiree is proposed:

1. Submit the request to the Office of Human Resources to verify that the proposed work period and compensation are within the provisions of state law;
2. Submit an Electronic Personnel Action Form (EPAF) for the rehire of a retiree or an Employment Action Form (EAF) for a new hire retiree to initiate the re-employment process.
3. After the employment document is received, the Office of Human Resources will initiate the Reemployment of PERS Service Retiree Certification/Acknowledgement form and route the form to the re-employed retiree for signature. Human Resources will then forwarded the completed form to PERS.

Individuals who participate in the Optional Retirement Program (ORP) are not subject to the terms and provisions of Mississippi Code Section 25-11-127 and PERS Regulation 34; nor to the ninety (90) day waiting period in order to become re-employed with Delta State University or other Mississippi State service.

Review:

The Office of Human Resources is responsible for review of this policy every three years or whenever circumstances require immediate review.

Responsible Office and/or Policy Owner: Office of Human Resources

• Mississippi Code Section 25-11-127
• Public Employees’ Retirement System of Mississippi – PERS Regulation 34

Active

Reviewed by the Office of Human Resources:  03/08/2019

Reviewed by the Office of Human Resources: 09/26/2023

Approved by Cabinet: 04/22/2019