Reemployment

NOTICE: The information below does not reflect reemployment law changes effective January 1, 2024. Please refer to our legislative summary for more information. The information below will be updated soon to reflect recent legislative changes.

All retired members must adhere to reemployment law. Failure to comply with Kentucky Revised Statutes 61.637 and 78.5540 upon reemployment with a participating agency will void the member's retirement and require repayment of all benefits.

Prior to Retirement

Kentucky law prohibits a member from having a prearranged agreement, prior to his or her effective retirement date to return to employment in any position with any agency participating in any of the systems operated by KPPA (County Employees Retirement System, Kentucky Employees Retirement System, and State Police Retirement System). The member must certify on the Form 6000, "Notification of Retirement" submitted prior to retirement that no prearranged agreement exists. Members should refer to our Reemployment after Retirement Handbook for complete information.

Following Retirement

Reemployment as an Employee with a participating agency: In 2019, the General Assembly passed House Bill 419 amending Kentucky Revised Statutes 61.590 and 61.637 regarding reemployment of a retiree with a participating agency in KPPA. Read More

Reemployment as an Independent Contractor/Leased Employee with a participating agency: In 2019, the General Assembly passed House Bill 419 amending Kentucky Revised Statutes 61.590 and 61.637 regarding reemployment of a retiree as an independent contractor/leased employee with a participating agency in KPPA. Read More

Reemployment as a Volunteer with a participating agency: In 2019, the General Assembly passed House Bill 419 amending Kentucky Revised Statutes 61.590 and 61.637 regarding service as a volunteer with a participating agency after retirement. Read More

Reemployment as an Elected Official with a participating agency: In 2019, the General Assembly passed House Bill 55 amending Kentucky Revised Statute 61.637 to provide that it shall constitute a prearranged agreement if an elected official participating in KPPA retires from office and is reelected to the same office and begins a new term within 12 months of retiring, and his or her retirement shall be voided.

Other Information:

Required Break in Service: For effective retirement dates prior to January 1, 2024, in almost all reemployment situations, the retired member is required to observe a three (3) calendar month break in service from his or her effective retirement date before returning to work for a participating employer. If a member retires from a hazardous position and returns to employment with a participating employer in a regular, full-time hazardous position, the member must only observe a one (1) calendar month break before returning to employment in that regular, full-time hazardous position.

Note that when determining the months for the required break in service, it is important to understand that not all positions appearing hazardous are, in fact, certified "hazardous duty" by the systems operated by KPPA. Please also be aware that a "regular" and “full-time" position does not simply mean working a 37.5 to 40 hour week. If there is any doubt, please contact KPPA.
For effective retirement dates January 1, 2024 and after, the required break in service is reduced to only one (1) calendar month in most reemployment situations. Read more.

Member's Age: The obligation to notify KPPA of employment or volunteer work for a participating agency within twelve (12) months of the member's effective retirement applies regardless of the age of the retired member. There is no exemption based on age.

Health Insurance: If a retired member with an initial participation date prior to September 1, 2008, has elected receipt of health insurance coverage through KPPA but later reemploys with a participating agency in a regular full-time position, the agency is required to reimburse KPPA for the single coverage health insurance contribution provided to the retiree. If a retired member with an initial participation date on or after September 1, 2008, reemploys with a participating agency in a regular, full-time position, the retired member will not be eligible for health insurance coverage from KPPA during the period of reemployment.

Reemployment Exceptions

Kentucky law provides specific requirements for participating agencies reemploying retirees. If the retiree does not qualify for one of the exceptions outlined below and meets the definition of regular full-time pursuant to Kentucky Revised Statute 61.510(21), they must be reported each month to KPPA as Retired/Reemployed and the agency is responsible for paying employer contributions and any required insurance reimbursements.

Postsecondary Institution Employment of Retired Police Officer

In 2019, the General Assembly passed House Bill 381 establishing new exceptions for participating postsecondary institutions that reemploy retired police officers. Kentucky Revised Statutes 164.950 to 164.980 outlines reemployment exceptions for participating postsecondary institutions hiring retired police officers. Effective June 27, 2019, a participating postsecondary institution may be exempt from paying employer contributions and insurance reimbursements normally due on retired members, provided the retired officer meets the specified criteria and the postsecondary institution has completed and submitted the required forms with KPPA. Read more

School Resource Officer

In 2018, the General Assembly passed House Bill 366 establishing a new exception for reemploying certain retirees as school resource officers (SROs), which is defined in Kentucky Revised Statute 158.441. A participating agency hiring a SRO may be exempt from paying employer contributions and insurance reimbursements normally due on retired members, provided the retired member meets the specified criteria. The law was amended by Senate Bill 1 in the 2019 General Assembly to redefine SRO and to allow Boards of Education to hire a SRO directly. Read more

County Employment of Retired Police Officer

In 2018, the General Assembly passed House Bill 366 establishing an exception for participating county police departments that reemploy retired police officers. Kentucky Revised Statute 70.291 to 70.293 outline these reemployment exceptions. A participating county police department may be exempt from paying employer contributions and insurance reimbursements normally due on retired members, provided the retired officer meets the specified criteria. Read more

City Employment of Retired Police Officer

Kentucky Revised Statute 95.022 outlines an exception for participating cities hiring retired police officers. A participating city may be exempt from paying employer contributions and insurance reimbursements normally due on retired members, provided the retired officer meets the specified criteria. Read more

Sheriff Employment of Retired Police Officers

Kentucky Revised Statute 70.291 to 70.293 outlines reemployment exceptions for participating Sheriffs' offices hiring retired police officers. A participating Sheriff's office may be exempt from paying employer contributions and insurance reimbursement normally due on KERS and CERS retired members, provided the retired officer meets the specified criteria. The law was amended in 2015 to incorporate qualified SPRS retirees. Read more

Submitting Forms

Employers can submit the required forms or information by sending mail to us at 1260 Louisville Road, Frankfort KY 40601, or by fax at (502) 696-8822. Employers can also submit forms or information by secure email. Log into the Secure Email Portal and send email to Retired.ReEmployed@kyret.ky.gov. You can refer to our Secure Email Portal User Manual for more information.

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