2023 Montana Code Annotated › Title 19. Public Retirement Systems › Chapter 20. Teachers' Retirement › Part 7. Benefits in General › 19-20-733. Resumption of employment by retired member -- suspension of benefits

19-20-733. Resumption of employment by retired member -- suspension of benefits.
Except as provided in 19-20-732, and subject to 19-20-734, the following provisions apply:
(1) If a retired member returns to employment in a position covered by the retirement system and becomes an active contributing member, benefits must be suspended until the member terminates all employment and applies to have benefits reinstated.
(2) Upon termination and retirement of a previously retired member who was reinstated to active membership pursuant to 19-20-731 before July 1, 2009:
(a) if the member earned less than 1 year of creditable service, the original benefit and retirement option that the member was receiving at the time of suspension of benefits must be reinstated beginning either the first of the month following termination or on July 1 following the date on which the retired member was reemployed, whichever is later; or
(b) if the member earned 1 year or more of creditable service, retirement benefits must be recalculated under 19-20-804 if the member would qualify for a service retirement benefit under 19-20-801 or under 19-20-802 if the member is eligible for early retirement. The recalculated benefit must include the service credit accumulated at the time of the member's previous retirement, plus any service credit accumulated subsequent to reemployment. The recalculated benefit amount must be increased by the amount of any benefit enhancement received pursuant to 19-20-719 that the retired member was receiving when the member's benefits were suspended.
(3) (a) Except as provided in subsection (3)(c), upon the subsequent retirement of a formerly retired member who was reinstated to active membership pursuant to 19-20-731 on or after July 1, 2009, and earned:
(i) at least 3 years of membership service following suspension of benefits, the member is entitled to resume receiving the suspended benefit in accordance with the retirement benefit option and joint annuitant previously selected, plus an additional benefit based upon the new creditable service and compensation earned. The second benefit must be calculated as provided under 19-20-804 if the member is eligible for a service retirement benefit or under 19-20-802 if the member is eligible for early retirement. The second benefit must be paid under the same retirement benefit option and with the same joint annuitant originally elected.
(ii) less than 3 years of membership service following suspension of benefits, the member is entitled to resume receiving the suspended benefit in accordance with the retirement benefit option previously selected, plus a refund of the employee contributions contributed after the member was reinstated to active service, plus interest.
(b) If a member dies during the period of reemployment following an initial retirement, the member must be considered as retiring on the day preceding the date of death and benefits must be determined according to the following:
(i) If the member elected the normal form benefit prior to reemployment, the member's designated beneficiary must receive an amount equal to the member's accumulated contributions on deposit.
(ii) If the member elected a retirement option pursuant to 19-20-702 prior to reemployment, the benefits due are payable in accordance with the terms of the original option elected and subsection (3).
(c) If the joint annuitant nominated prior to the member's reemployment under retirement option A, B, or C dies prior to the member reretiring, the member will be given the option to select either the normal form retirement benefit or a retirement option as provided in 19-20-702.
History: En. Secs. 1, 7, Ch. 298, L. 2009; amd. Sec. 15, Ch. 59, L. 2011; amd. Sec. 12, Ch. 366, L. 2013.