Going Back to Work After Retirement

You can play so many rounds of golf or travel to so many places, but after a while, the desire to return to work may hit you. Here is how it will affect your pension. You can work as much as you want in employment covered by a WGA collective bargaining agreement and still continue to get your retirement benefits with one exception. The only exception is if you retire before age 65, you cannot work the first month beginning on your Retirement Date to be considered retired under the Pension Plan. Additional benefits from your reemployment will start adding up. You don't need to vest for this benefit, since you already vested under the Pension Plan before you started your Retirement Benefits. Benefit and Compensation limits apply when calculating your Second Retirement and additional benefits.

Second Retirement for Retirement before Age 65

You will earn a Second Retirement Benefit if you retired under the Pension Plan before age 65 and work in employment covered by a WGA collective bargaining agreement or are paid residuals for which Contributions are made to the Pension Plan after your Retirement Date. The Contributions received after your Retirement Date will build towards a Second Retirement Benefit until your Second Retirement Date.

The earliest age you can get paid a Second Retirement Benefit is age 65 if you return to work before age 65. If you first become reemployed after age 65, then the earliest you can get paid a Second Retirement Benefit is the January 1 after you return to work for the first time. It works like your first Retirement Date with the Pension Plan except the age requirement is 65. The Retirement Benefit Options (except the Social Security Adjustment Benefit) and Deadlines are the same. You will need to apply for Second Retirement Benefits. Second Retirement Benefits are not paid automatically until the law requires it, usually after age 72April 1 following the year you turn age 70-1/2 (if you were born before July 1, 1949), age 72 (if you were born after June 30, 1949) or January 1 following vesting if you are over age 72 when you vest.. Your Second Retirement Benefit is paid separately.

Things you must know:

• You have to be at least age 65 on your desired Second Retirement Date if you return to work before age 65. Or, if you went back to work after age 65, the earliest you can start benefits is the January 1 following your reemployment.
• Second Retirement Benefit Application forms are NOT available through this website. Each Second Retirement Benefit Application is prepared exclusively for you at your request.
• You should make an appointment for Second Retirement counseling with the Pension Benefits Department at least two months prior to your desired Second Retirement Date. Contact us by mail, fax, or phone.
• You must submit your completed Second Retirement Benefit Application packet so that the Administrative Office receives it by at least 31 days, but no more than 180 days, prior to your desired Second Retirement Date. This is required by law.
• Second Retirement Dates are always the first of a month. Second Retirement Benefit payments are made on the first of each month for that month. Your check will be mailed the business day prior to the first of a month. Or, if you choose to have your benefit payments electronically transferred to your account, the transfer will occur on the first business day of the month. If the first of a month falls on a Holiday or weekend, the timing of your benefit payment will be affected.

Additional Benefits from Reemployment

Your pension benefit will continue to grow if you return to work after your Retirement Date or Second Retirement Date if you were less than age 65 when you first retired. This additional benefit will be payable effective the January 1 following your reemployment. You don't have to apply for the benefit; it will just get added to what you have been getting. The Retirement Benefit Option on the additional benefit is the same as the one from your last retirement date.