When you retire, you may serve in the Episcopal Church and continue to receive pension benefits as long as:

• You do not work for pay in the church or institution from which you have retired, unless requested by your bishop and approved by The Church Pension Fund.
• Your total compensation from Episcopal Church-related income does not exceed $42,850 during a 12-month period, effective January 1, 2023 (up from $41,700 in 2022).
• Work outside the church does not impact your benefits from the Clergy Pension Plan, unless requested by your bishop and approved by The Church Pension Fund.

For The Church Pension Fund to consider an exception to these requirements, the bishop in the diocese where you are called must:

• Write to The Church Pension Fund, explaining why your service in that position contributes to the mission strategy of the congregation or diocese.
• Complete the Working While Pensioned Exception Application.
• Send the letter and application to:
  • The Church Pension Fund
    Attn: Benefit Policy
    19 East 34th Street
    New York, NY 10016
  • Or by email to: benefits@cpg.org

Learn more about Working after Retirement.

Our Retiree Housing Locator can help you find an Episcopal-affiliated housing or care facility in your area.

You can use our Retirement Spending Calculator to:

• Estimate how much of your retirement savings you can spend
• Develop a measure of confidence around how long your savings will last
• Build a retirement spending budget

If you are planning to retire shortly after you get married, or if you married after you had already stopped earning Credited Service under the Clergy Pension Plan, your spouse may not be eligible for benefits. We strongly recommend that you carefully consider whether to retire if you have not earned at least 12 months of Credited Service while married.

Once you have commenced your benefit under the Clergy Pension Plan, you may not change the form of payment or your beneficiary designation under any circumstances. In addition, if your beneficiary predeceases you after you retire, you cannot name a new beneficiary as a replacement. In that case, no survivor benefit is payable, even if you later remarry.

Learn more about Life Event Changes.

Your former spouse will receive a survivor’s benefit if:

• You divorce while retired, and
• Your former spouse is named as your beneficiary under a Joint and Survivor Annuity.

Learn more about Life Event Changes.