When you left teaching, thousands of dollars in pension contributions stayed behind — money that was taken from every paycheck, and that you're entitled to get back. Most teachers 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.
Every paycheck you earned as a teacher, your district took thousands of dollars for a pension fund — money you were required to contribute and that you don't see again until usually retirement. When you moved on, 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 teachers just walk away.
Pension contributions aren't voluntary. They were deducted from your paycheck automatically — up to 11% of your salary in Massachusetts. A teacher earning $65,000 in Boston loses over $7,100 a year to a pension fund that credits just 1–3% interest. And for many teachers, the system is so underfunded they'll never get back what they put in.
When you left teaching, 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 teachers 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 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.
An IRA (Individual Retirement Account) is a personal savings account for retirement. Unlike a pension, you own it and control it — it follows you no matter where you work.
Most pension funds credit your account just 1–3% per year. When your money is in an IRA invested in low-cost funds, it has the potential to grow around 8–10% annually. Over 20 years, that difference can turn $15,000 into over $100,000.
Moving your pension money directly into an IRA (called a "rollover") means you don't pay taxes or penalties. Your money simply moves from one retirement account to another.
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 does the rest automatically.
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.
Have questions first? Book a free 15-minute call — no pressure, no commitment. We'll answer anything about the process, your eligibility, or how rollovers work.
Book a free 15-minute call with our team. We'll answer your questions about eligibility, the rollover process, or anything else — no commitment, no sales pitch.
Or email us anytime at hello@recessfinancial.com
Teacher finances are unique — 403(b)s, TDA accounts, pension systems, and limited Roth options don't work like typical corporate retirement plans. 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, and teacher-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 — the more you share, the more you earn.
Teachers talk. Share in your school group chats, Facebook groups, and with former 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 money directly into your own retirement account (called an IRA). The big benefit: you don't pay any taxes or penalties because the money is moving from one retirement account to another. If you took the money as cash instead, you'd owe income taxes and potentially a 10% penalty. A rollover keeps your money growing for retirement, tax-free.
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.
Hear from educators who recovered their pension contributions through Recess.
Names withheld for privacy. Want to share your story? Email us.
Guides, insights, and everything teachers should know about their money.
Everything you need to know about pension refund eligibility in Maryland, Illinois, and Massachusetts.
Read more →How much growth are you missing by not rolling your contributions into an IRA? We did the math.
Read more →A plain-English guide to individual retirement accounts — no financial jargon, we promise.
Read more →We're currently serving Maryland, Chicago, and Boston — but we're expanding fast. Tell us where you taught and we'll prioritize the districts with the most demand. You'll be the first to know when we're ready for yours.