How NJ Teachers Can Restore Their Original Pension Tier After a Break in Service
Many New Jersey teachers were excited to hear that Governor Phil Murphy signed A-1675 / S-2078 into law in October 2025. The legislation allows eligible educators with a break in service to keep or restore their original Teachers’ Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) pension tier instead of being pushed into a less favorable one.
But now many teachers are asking the next logical question:
“How do I actually apply for it?”
The frustrating answer?
Right now, there does not appear to be a simple, standalone application specifically labeled for the new law.
And honestly, that has created a lot of confusion.
What the New NJ Pension Law Actually Changed
Before this law, many teachers who left the profession temporarily and later returned were automatically placed into a newer pension tier.
That often meant:
Higher contribution rates
Longer retirement timelines
Reduced long-term pension value
The new law changed that by allowing eligible educators to maintain or restore their original TPAF tier under certain conditions.
The law is especially meaningful for women educators, who are statistically more likely to step away from work temporarily due to caregiving responsibilities such as:
Raising children
Caring for aging parents
Managing family medical situations
For years, many teachers were quietly penalized for stepping away to care for their families. This legislation finally acknowledges that reality.
Is There an Official Application Yet?
At this point, the New Jersey Division of Pensions & Benefits (NJDPB) does not appear to have released a dedicated “A-1675 / S-2078 application.”
Instead, the process seems to be flowing through existing:
Re-enrollment procedures
Pension transfer paperwork
HR pension processing systems
That means many teachers may need to proactively request a review of their pension tier status rather than waiting for an automatic correction.
And that is important.
Because pension systems are heavily paperwork-driven. If no one reviews your account, mistakes can sit there for years.
What NJ Teachers Should Do Right Now
1. Review Your Current TPAF Tier
Log into your:
MBOS account
Pension statements
Prior enrollment records
Verify:
Your current pension tier
Your original hire date
Your return-to-service date
Your credited service history
Many teachers are surprised to learn they were moved into a lower tier years ago without fully understanding the long-term impact.
2. Contact NJ Division of Pensions & Benefits
Ask the question directly:
“Am I eligible for reinstatement into my original TPAF pension tier under A-1675 / S-2078?”
Do not assume:
your school district already corrected it,
your HR department understands the law,
or the state automatically reviewed your account.
This law is still relatively new, and implementation appears to still be evolving.
3. Gather Important Documentation
You may need:
Original hire date
Resignation or termination date
Return-to-work date
Prior pension membership information
Confirmation that contributions were not withdrawn
The more organized your records are, the easier the process may become.
One Important Detail Teachers May Be Missing
This law may not only help teachers returning in the future.
It may also affect some educators who:
already returned to teaching years ago,
were placed into a newer tier,
and assumed nothing could be done about it.
That could become a very significant issue for many New Jersey educators approaching retirement.
Why This Matters Financially
Your TPAF tier impacts:
Your employee contribution percentage
Your retirement eligibility
Your lifetime pension income
Your long-term retirement planning
This is not a small administrative detail.
Over a retirement lifetime, being placed into the wrong pension tier could potentially cost a teacher tens of thousands of dollars.
That is why reviewing your pension status matters—especially if you had a break in service at any point during your career.
Final Thoughts
This law was a major step forward for New Jersey teachers, particularly women who stepped away from the workforce temporarily to care for family members.
But right now, many educators are still left trying to figure out:
“What do I actually do next?”
The reality is that pension systems rarely move quickly or proactively. Teachers may need to advocate for themselves, ask questions, and request reviews to make sure they receive the benefits they earned.
If you are unsure about your TPAF tier, your pension status, or how this law affects your retirement planning, now is the time to review it carefully—not five years before retirement.
Call to Action
At Canonico Wealth Management, a partner firm of Perennis Financial Planning, we work closely with New Jersey teachers to help them better understand their pensions, retirement timelines, and financial planning options.
If you experienced a break in service and are unsure whether your TPAF tier is correct, it may be worth taking a second look.
Because when it comes to pension planning, small details can become very expensive mistakes later.
Feel free to reach out online: Public Service Employees