When you moved school districts or left education, thousands of dollars in pension contributions stayed behind — money that was taken from every paycheck, and that you're entitled to get back. Most education professionals don't even know they can. Recess handles every form, every phone call, and every stamp to recover what's yours and put it to work for your future.
When you moved school districts or left education, your district kept thousands of dollars you were required to contribute to a pension fund — money that was deducted from every paycheck and that you don't see again until usually retirement. That money didn't come with you. Nobody told you how to get it back. Nobody even told you that you could. You are entitled to a refund of every dollar you contributed — but the system is designed to make it so hard that most people just walk away.
Pension contributions aren't voluntary. They were deducted from your paycheck automatically — up to 11% of your salary in Massachusetts. An educator earning $65,000 in Boston loses over $7,100 a year to a pension fund that credits just 1–3% interest. And for many educators, the system is so underfunded they'll never get back what they put in.
When you left education, no one called. No email, no letter, no reminder. Your contributions have been sitting there — and the pension fund has been using your money like a free, interest-free loan that they never have to pay back unless you ask.
Getting a refund requires hard-copy forms, wet ink signatures, sometimes notarization, and mailing to specific addresses. Almost nothing is available online. The harder it is, the more people give up — and the more money stays in the fund.
Right now, your money is sitting in a fund that someone else controls. If it were in your hands, in your own retirement account, it could be growing for your future. Every year you wait is another year of growth you are missing out on for retirement.
Getting your pension contributions back shouldn't require a second teaching degree
Select the district where you used to work. We'll identify the pension system, check your eligibility, and research your estimated refundable balance.
Free — no commitmentWe pre-fill your refund forms, handle any special requirements, and mail everything to you with clear signing instructions and a prepaid return envelope.
Your contributions are moved into a retirement account you control — where they can actually grow. We can help you set one up if you don't have one yet.
Select your district to see an estimate of how much pension money is sitting there with your name on it.
Compound interest isn't just a math concept. It's the reason leaving pension money behind costs you thousands. $15,000 left in a pension fund earning 1–3% stays roughly $15,000. That same amount in an IRA has the potential to grow to over $58,000 in 20 years. Same money, wildly different outcome. Read the full breakdown →
Compounding accelerates over time. The difference between moving your money now versus five years from now isn't just five years of returns — it's five years of returns on top of returns you'd have already earned. For many teachers, pension systems are so underfunded they'll never get back what they put in even if they stay.
An IRA is a personal retirement account you own and control. Rolling your pension contributions directly into a Traditional IRA is tax-free and penalty-free — the money simply moves from one retirement account to another. Tax situations vary, so we recommend consulting a tax professional. Recess does not provide tax advice.
You don't need to be a stock market expert. Most people choose a single "target-date fund" — you pick the year you plan to retire, and the fund handles everything automatically. Think of it like lesson planning, but for your money.
We research your balance for free. You pay only when you decide to move forward — and if we can't get it done, you get a full refund plus a gift card.
From research to rollover — we handle everything.
Reach out and we'll answer your questions about eligibility, the rollover process, or anything else — no commitment, no sales pitch.
30 minutes · no commitment · no sales pitch
Educator finances are unique — mandatory pension contributions, 403(b) and 457 plans, union dues, limited Roth options, and usually no employer matching don't work like typical corporate retirement plans. After paying for insurance premiums and other deductions, most educators have little left to save on their own. We partner with fiduciary financial advisors who specialize in working with current and former educators and understand these systems inside and out.
As a Recess client, you can request a free, no-obligation introductory call. No one will try to sell you anything.
Advisors who understand pension systems, 403(b)s, 457 plans, and educator-specific benefits
Legally required to act in your best interest — not sell you products
A free introductory call with zero obligation to sign up for anything
For every former teacher you refer who completes a rollover through Recess, we'll send you a $20 gift card to the store of your choice — Starbucks, Amazon, Target, you name it. No limit. Share in your Facebook groups, Instagram, or with old colleagues.
Takes about 2 minutes. We'll research your pension balance and options — completely free, no commitment.
If you left a teaching position before qualifying for full pension benefits (usually 5–10+ years of service depending on the state), you're almost certainly eligible for a refund of your employee contributions. The specific rules vary by state and district — which is exactly why Recess exists. We research the rules for your specific situation, for free.
It depends on your salary and how long you taught. For example, a Maryland teacher earning $65,000 with a 7.5% contribution rate would have about $4,875 per year in contributions. After 3 years, that's roughly $14,600 — and some states add modest interest. Use our calculator above, or just submit your info and we'll find the exact amount for free.
A rollover means moving your pension contributions directly into your own retirement account (called an IRA). Since most pension contributions are pre-tax, rolling them directly into a Traditional IRA typically means no taxes are owed at the time of transfer — the money simply moves from one retirement account to another. If you took the money as cash instead, you could owe income taxes and potentially a 10% early withdrawal penalty. Tax situations vary, so we always recommend consulting a tax professional. Recess does not provide tax advice.
Signing up with Recess takes about 2 minutes. We handle the research and form preparation within days. Once your signed forms are submitted to the pension fund, most districts process refunds in 4–12 weeks. We follow up with the pension fund throughout the process so you don't have to.
We research your balance and confirm your eligibility for free — no commitment. Once we've verified you're eligible and you decide to move forward, you pay the flat fee and we get to work. If we can't successfully complete your recovery for any reason, we'll return your fee in full and send you an Amazon gift card for the trouble. There's zero risk to you.
No problem — and you're not alone. We'll help you open one at Vanguard, one of the most trusted and lowest-cost investment companies. Opening an account is free and takes about 15 minutes. Or, if you'd prefer personal guidance, we can connect you with a financial advisor who specializes in helping educators.
If you return to teaching in the same state pension system, you may be able to "buy back" your service credit — but that requires repaying the full refund amount. For many people, taking the refund and investing it can result in more money over time than staying in the pension. This is a great question to discuss with one of our partner financial advisors, and the consultation is free.
If you're vested in a state pension system (usually 10+ years of service), taking a refund may affect your Social Security benefits under the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP). This primarily applies to people who were eligible for a pension benefit, not those who left before vesting. If you have fewer than 10 years of service, WEP is unlikely to apply — but every situation is different. We recommend consulting the Social Security Administration (ssa.gov) or a qualified advisor to understand your specific circumstances. Recess does not provide tax or benefits advice.
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Guides, insights, and stories about teacher pensions and recovering your money.
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Read more →We currently cover Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, DC, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, and Oklahoma — with more states coming soon. Tell us where you taught and we'll prioritize the next states based on demand.