Life Events - Retiring from the University of Michigan:
recovering service to retire

You may recover previously accrued eligible service to retire if you meet certain criteria under the policy, Bridging Service Periods and under Standard Practice Guide 201.49, Reinstatement and Prior Service Credit.

Break in Service

Recourse

Termination of employment

Reinstatement

  • When rehired less than one year after termination of employment.  Original hire date is reinstated and continuity of service from original date of hire is maintained toward retirement eligibility.  May be applied for after completing three years of service from rehire.

Prior Service Credit

  • When rehired one year or more after termination of employment; may be applied for after completing 10 years of service after rehire.  The most recent hire date is maintained; the original hire date is not reinstated.  Eligible service prior to termination is added to current service to determine eligibility to retire.

See SPG 201.49 for details on Reinstatement and Prior Service Credit.

Appointment reduction below 50%

Bridging Service Periods

  • Service accrual continues if duration of reduction is less than 12 months.
  • The accrual of service to retire stops during a reduction in effort lasting 12 months or longer but less than five years.  Service prior to the reduction is added to service accrued after an increase to 50% or greater.

Example: Reinstatement
Toni was hired 4-19-1997 and serves as a full-time secretary until she terminates employment on 7-29-2004.  She is rehired on 5-27-2005 as a full-time administrative assistant.  She meets the criteria for reinstatement of her previous service.  Since the gap in employment is less than one year, her date of hire is changed to 4-19-1997.  She does not lose any accrued service to retire with benefits since the original date of hire.

Example: Prior Service Credit
Rick was hired on 2-9-2000 and serves as a full-time systems analyst until he terminates employment on 8-2-2006.  He is rehired on 10-7-2007 as a full-time systems analyst.  He may apply for Prior Service Credit since the gap in employment is more than one year once he completes 10 years of service after rehire.  If granted, his date of hire will remain 10-7-2007 and his eligible service accrued prior to termination will be added to his eligible service accruing after rehire.

 

Next: Bridging Eligible Service Periods