COLUMBIA, S.C. - A judge ordered the state Wednesday not to deduct pension contributions from paychecks for four state workers suing the state over a change in the state's retirement system.

The four sued the state after the General Assembly changed the rules for the Teacher and Employee Retention Incentive, or TERI, program to help pump more money into the retirement system.

The program had allowed state employees who retire after 28 years to return to work and earn pension benefits and a salary for up to five years without contributing to the retirement system. The pension benefits are set aside until the person retires permanently. The law change required them to resume pension contributions while they returned to work.

Circuit Judge John L. Breeden issued a restraining order blocking that. But the order doesn't affect the rest of the program's participants.

If he had, the lack of those contributions would have jeopardized cost of living adjustments to state retirees that began this month, state Budget and Control Board spokesman Mike Sponhour said.