The Return to Work Program allows all educational retirees (not just teachers) to return to work after taking a 12 consecutive month layout from any kind of work for an ERB covered employer. That layout must have been in the 12 months immediately preceding the return to work date. This option is the ONLY option for those who retired after January 1, 2001. The re-hired RTW employee continues to receive ERB pension benefits but does not earn service credits toward future retirement benefit improvement. The employee does not make contributions to the retirement fund. A Return to Workapplication must be sent to ERB in Santa Fe and approved before moving to a different employment status.
Employees who retired before January 1, 2001 and are current employees (substitutes, contractors, .25 FTE) may return without any layout period. A Return to Work application (www.nmerb.org/pdfs/RTW_Form.pdf) must be sent to ERB in Santa Fe and approved before moving to a different employment status.
Another Return to Work option is for employees who retired before January 1, 2001 and suspended their retirement. This means you canceled your retirement and became an active, contributing, ERB member after retiring the first time. The employee must have had a 12 month layout at some time and must terminate current employment and complete a 90 calendar day layout period, which does not include scheduled breaks (summer, winter, or spring breaks), vacations, or sick leave. If you qualify and are interested in this option please call your nearest ERB office about specific layout dates. A Return to Work application must be sent to ERB in Santa Fe and approved before moving to a different employment status.
