We asked retired teachers why they went back to work after they retired. Here are some of their stories.
I returned back into the workforce after my 34 years of teaching and retirement. My last year was the year before Covid hit. The cost of living hit us. The cost of gas, groceries, and some unexpected house expenses made us nervous. I tried subbing to help my former teacher friends, but the 70 dollars a day did not help touch the expenses. I took a part time job working at our County WIC office and teach for an on line school. We had dreamed of traveling and visiting children out of state, but the inflated airline fees expenses required me to work to afford seeing my grandbaby. - Michelle Langmeyer
I retired at 30 1/3 years because of the opportunity to get 5 years of 2% COLA each year only to have it gone after 2 years. I have been working "for insurance" since my retirement at an ITC. Much less stress except for worrying about by STRS retirement. - Gary Marion
I retired in 2020 due to mounting burnout from too many extra curriculars that were required. So I did not get my full pension. I got 32 years. I have found I can’t make ends meet without subbing 2-3 days per week, a half day of teaching music lessons per week and a weekly church music gig. Those things bring me up to what I was making when I was an active teacher. I don’t hate them, but I don’t feel retired. - Ellisa Hock
I worked part-time the year after I retired to help with the fact that there's a five year wait period for a COLA. The next year, I sat out because I got my unused sick day pay that January (I had 277 days) and wanted to stay in the lower tax bracket. I got used to not working, so I tried a year without to see if I could survive-- I couldn't survive, with rampant inflation, so I went back to work this school year to help make ends meet. - Joan Bellner
I retired in 2015 after 35 years of high school teaching. Initially, I began substituting to provide for fun travel money. I now work 3 online assessing jobs in addition to substituting, and it is no longer just for travel money! According to the charts, I have lost anywhere from 25 to 40 thousand dollars in the time since my retirement. At some point, I would like to REALLY retire, just NOT … in poverty! - Jeanne Schulte
Without the promised COLA from STRS and increasing inflation, I was forced to go back to work to pay my bills. I initially began using my savings to pay for the costs above what my pension covered, but soon realized that it wouldn't sustain me for long. It is at that point that I had to go back to work. I never envisioned having to continue working, probably for the rest of my life, but that is the position I was put in by STRS when they broke their promise to their retirees. - Rebecca Banghoff
I retired after 35 years in 2015 prior to STRS making changes that would affect my pension. I am grateful for my pension. It allows me financial freedom as long as I budget well, don’t travel, and have no medical emergencies. I have chosen to continue working and enjoy being active. I realize my need to fight inflation since STRS lied about providing a 3% annual cost of living. I advise all active teachers to at least have a Roth IRA in investments such as the S&P 509 index fund to create your own cost of living for your future. STRS needs to be fiduciaries and work for teachers. - Diane Hastings
I retired in 2014 with 30 years of service. I was told that I would have to wait 5 years before I would receive COLAs again. As we all know that didnt happen. So, in order to be able to live I had to go back to work. Currently working under Social Security sector, which I won't get once I reach age 65 or 67 because of WEP. - Diane Dumaret
Unretired, yes I now have that title! I retired in 2013 with 33 years of experience. Initially it wasn’t a financial burden until my husband, also a teacher retired 2 years later. The cost of our medical insurance and the lack of a COLA, forced me to return to work. In addition to the inability to keep up with rising costs, I’m also affected by WEP. I have earned 40 credits in SS but will likely receive very little of what I’m owed. It makes me almost ill to see the money I worked hard for and invested in STRS being used for high salaries, bonuses and perks that teachers could only dream of! - Nanette Sullivan
My story is NOT out of the ordinary, I sure!! I retired June 2015. As usual, cost of living continued to rise but my retirement income certainly did not keep pace!! Three years, ago, I had to make some tough financial decisions.......I needed to seriously 'tighten the belt' AND go back to work. I found a part time job that helped ease the burden. Unfortunately, I'm in that sme financial position, now!! Along with the rising cost of living, my property taxes and homeowners insurance has gone through the ceiling!! I'm forced to consider putting my home up for sale.....I'm devastated!!!! - Theresa Oswald
Are you unretired?
Send your story to strsohiowatchdogs@gmail.com.
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