Pensions: teachers and non-teaching staff

The new Customer Query Form is available to those wishing to engage with the pensions unit.

It is an online form that is easy to access and straightforward to complete. It will prompt you to enter all of the information required so that the Department of Education can ensure that every customer interaction is processed in a timely and professional manner.

You can also complete and attach any of the relevant pension application forms to your online query form to the pensions unit. You can find the pension application forms here: gov.ie - Pension Unit Application Forms

Please note If your query is related to retired teachers payroll you should select payroll rather than pensions when submitting your information.

The Department of Education administers pension schemes for:

• teaching staff (primary, secondary and community and comprehensive schools) and
• non-teaching staff (special needs assistants, certain clerical officers and certain caretakers in primary schools).

The department also has an advisory and regulatory role in relation to pension schemes in Education and Training Boards (ETBs), Institutes of Technology, Universities, Colleges of Education and certain education bodies.

Use the Pensions Modeller / Estimator to estimate your potential pension benefits.

Read more about the Pensions Estimator / Modeller here.

Information and application forms for teachers and non-teaching staff planning to retire is available here.

When a retired teacher returns to work in the public sector, their pension may become subject to abatement.

DPER Circular 24 2022 Guidance on the application of Abatement of Public Service Occupational Pensions

Circular 24 2022 - Guidance on the application of Abatement of Public Service Occupational Pensions

Abatement Waiver

The Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform has approved an extension to the limited waiver of abatement under Section 52 (4) of the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions Act) 2012 subject to certain limited conditions. The extension has been granted for a 2 year period with effect from January 2024.

The abatement waiver applies to the first 50 days worked in any calendar year. For the purposes of this waiver any day in which a teacher works is counted as 1 day regardless of the number of hours worked.

Waiver of Abatement of Public Sector Pensions

Extension to the Waiver of Abatement of Public Sector Pensions under Section 52 of the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions)Act 2012.

Likelihood of abatement

Since retirees are moved to the first point of the pay scale upon returning to employment, the vast majority of retired teachers will not be subject to any abatement as a result of occasional substitute work.

Abatement becomes somewhat more likely for those retirees who have returned to work in a full-time capacity and/or have advanced several points up the pay scale. However even in these circumstances a large majority of retirees will not be subject to any abatement.

Please note that, in order to remain eligible for employment in a state funded teaching post or in order to supervise the State Examinations, a teacher must maintain his/her registration with the Teaching Council. You can maintain your registration using the online portal on https://www.teachingcouncil.ie/en/

For further information regarding teacher registration, pay scales and terms and conditions of employment, which are available on the Department of Education website Item was unpublished or removed

Access important information after retirement, including:

• Retirement Pack
• Supplementary Pensions Application Forms
• Death Benefits

This section provides information on the comprehensive range of pension schemes available for teachers and non-teaching staff.

There is essential information on Superannuation Handbooks, retirement options including Cost Neutral Early Retirement, and benefits such as Death and Supplementary Pensions. Additionally, tools like the Pensions Estimator and details on the Public Service Single Pension Scheme are available to assist in planning your future.

For further details on these topics and more, please refer to the provided link.

Access information and application forms for pension schemes.

See application forms here

The pensions unit may be contacted by:

The new Customer Query Form is available to those wishing to engage with the pensions unit.

It is an online form that is easy to access and straightforward to complete. It will prompt you to enter all of the information required so that the Department of Education can ensure that every customer interaction is processed in a timely and professional manner.

You can also complete and attach any of the relevant pension application forms to your online query form to the pensions unit. You can find the pension application forms here: gov.ie - Pension Unit Application Forms

Please note If your query is related to retired teachers payroll you should select payroll rather than pensions when submitting your information.

E-mail:pensions@education.gov.ie

All emails are acknowledged upon receipt and your query will be dealt with as soon as possible.

Phone line number

090 648-4189

Monday to Friday 2.30pm - 5.30pm

• NB – Please have your PPS number to hand before you call, to ensure your query can be dealt with as expeditiously as possible.

Address: Department of Education, Pensions Unit, Cornamaddy, Athlone, County Westmeath. N37 X659

Staff of ETBs, third level institutions and other bodies under the aegis of the department should contact the Pensions Administrators in their particular ETB/Institution/Body in the first instance

A new Customer Query Formis available to those wishing to engage with the Pensions Unit.