Retiree Page
Welcome to the retiree information area.
ANNUAL VERIFICATION STATEMENTS
PAYMENT SCHEDULE
INSURANCE INFORMATION
COLA or ANNUAL COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENTS
SOCIAL SECURITY AND THE WINDFALL ELIMINATION
OPTION C RETIREES AND “POP-UP”
RETIREE EMPLOYMENT RESTRICTIONS
ANNUAL VERIFICATION STATEMENTS
* Please note: Verification forms were sent out with your January 2008 pension checks. The must be returned immediately. 2nd notices were sent out at the end of February, we did cancel numerous direct deposits and are currently holding checks in our office. Please realize that this is not an enjoyable part of our jobs. We care very deeply for each and every one of our retirees but are unfortunately bound by law to enforce the return of these forms. Please forgive the inconvenience, however, in the future, be more timely with the return of your form.
Annually every retiree and survivor receiving monthly benefits will receive an Annual verification statement or "THE SMALL COLORED SLIP OF PAPER". Each retiree/survivor must complete, sign and return this form to our offices promptly.
Failure to return the appropriately signed “ANNUAL VERIFICATION STATEMENT” will result in a suspension of retirement benefits.
Special arrangements may be made in cases where infirmities, illness, hospitalization or residential nursing home care prevents the retiree/survivor from providing a form. Please call (978) 794-5836 to make a request for special arrangements.
Benefit payments are payable for the current month on the last business day of the month. We encourage all retirees to have their benefit payments direct deposited to a bank account. We cannot guarantee prompt mail delivery by the Postal Service.
Since direct deposit is available to all retirees/survivors and in consideration of the cost to stop payment and reissue delayed checks, the City Treasurers office will not replace a check for 10 business days following the last day of the month. If a delay in the receipt of a benefit check causes a financial hardship, retirees have the option of electing direct deposit.
TO ALL OUR CURRENT RETIREES We still ask that you give direct deposit a try. Each month there are at least 2 pension checks routed incorrectly and missing for a few days. Going direct deposit eliminates the waiting time for a replacement check and may avoid a $20.00 fee for a replacement. Currently you must wait 10 days for a replacement. WE WILL STILL MAIL YOU A STUB EACH MONTH......
2008 RETIREE MONTHLY PAYCHECK SCHEDULE
JANUARY Thursday, January 31, 2008
FEBRUARY Friday, February 28, 2008
MARCH Monday, March 31, 2008
APRIL Wednesday, April 30, 2008
MAY Friday, May 30, 2008
JUNE Monday, June 30, 2008
JULY Thursday, July 31, 2008
AUGUST Friday, August 29, 2008
SEPTEMBER Tuesday, September 30, 2008
OCTOBER Friday, October 31, 2008
NOVEMBER Friday, November 28, 2008
DECEMBER Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Although this office tries to work in conjunction with the benefit office, the role of the retirement board with health/life insurance is only to deduct the premiums. Health and Life insurance is a benefit that is offered to retirees by the city. Any questions or changes must be made directly with the benefits Coordinator, Judith Perkins. She can be reached via phone at (978) 620-, mail to Benefits office, City Hall, 200 Common Street, Lawrence, MA 01840 or e-mail J_Perkins@cityoflawrence.com .
If you work for either the Lawrence Housing Authority of the Greater Lawrence Regional High School your insurance is through the State GIC program. Your changes or questions should be directed to GIC at (617) 727-2310 ext. 806 for health and ext. 804 for life insurance. Their web sit is as follows : http://www.state.ma.us/gic/
Open enrollment for health insurance usually occurs each May. We will post any upcoming health fairs the city will host.
PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING REMINDERS
* IF YOUR SPOUSE IS RECENTLY DECEASED, PLEASE CONTACT THE BENEFITS OFFICE TO ENSURE YOU ARE NOT PAYING FOR A FAMILY PLAN.
* THE CITY OFFERS MANY HEALTH PLANS. IF YOU FIND YOUR PLAN IS TOO EXPENSIVE, PLEASE CONTACT THE BENEFITS COORDINATOR TO SEE IF THERE IS A BETTER PLAN AVAILABLE TO SUIT YOUR FINANCES.
* ONCE YOU TURN AGE 75, YOUR BENEFICIARY IS NO LONGER ELIGIBLE TO COLLECT THE ADDITIONAL LIFE INSURANCE POLICY. IF YOUR DEDUCTION CONTINUES TO BE WITHHELD FROM YOUR CHECK FOR ADDITIONAL LIFE, PLEASE CONTACT BENEFITS IMMEDIATELY'
HEALTH INSURANCE RATES MAY INCREASE EFFECTIVE YOUR JUNE 30TH, 2008 PENSION CHECK. THIS INCREASE IS AT THE SOLE DISCRETION OF THE MAYOR AND THE CITY BUDGET AND FINANCE DIRECTOR. ALL INQUIRIES CAN BE MADE TO THE CITY BENEFITS COORDINATOR, JUDITH PERKINS (978) 794-1344. Lawrence Housing Authority rates will also change effective
Section 18 of Chapter 32B It is our understanding that the City Council has removed this item from their agenda for lack of information. In order for this to be discussed again it would need to be placed on the agenda as a new document. The adoption of this law will affect all retirees and their health benefits. Section 18 of Chapter 32B Please Click on this link for more information about Section 18 of Chapter 32B. Recent article from Mass Assoc. on Line.
Blue Cross/Blue Shield please visit www.bluecrossma.com
COLA or ANNUAL COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENTS
We are pleased to announce that at the meeting in December 2007, the board voted unanimously to approve a 3% Cost of Living Increase effective July 1, 2008 and payable July 31, 2008. This Cola is capped on the first $12,000.00 of your retirement allowance. The dates and cap amount are set by our governing body. 3% is the maximum cola allowed.
You must have retired on or before June 30 th , 2007 in order to be eligible to receive this COLA .
ARTICLE - Committee Releases COLA base increase (Mass Retiree Assoc.)
SOCIAL SECURITY AND THE WINDFALL ELIMINATION PROVISION
Benefits received from Social Security may be offset by any pensions you receive from the City of Lawrence. The amount of offset is determined by Social Security. While you do not need to report Social Security benefits to us, you do need to report benefits received from us to Social Security. If you are subject to offset by Social Security, you must also report changes in benefits (i.e. COLA increases) to Social Security. Contact your local Social Security Office with questions regarding the offset. Information may be available at the Social Security Administration Web site under Windfall Elimination Provision: http://www.socialsecurity.gov/ or http://www.ssa.gov/ .
OPTION C RETIREES AND “POP-UP”
If you chose an Option C to provide for your spouse and they have predeceased you, your pension will be considered a part of the conversion commonly referred to as the Option C “Pop-up”. Upon notification and a copy of your beneficiary's death certificate, you will thereafter be paid the full retirement allowance you would have received had you elected Option A at the time your retirement allowance became effective. Any cost-of-living increases that have been granted since your Option C retirement became effective will be reflected in your newly established Option A allowance. All payments will cease upon your death.
RETIREE EMPLOYMENT RESTRICTIONS
As a Massachusetts Public Employment Retiree, there are restrictions on post-retirement employment for any and all Massachusetts Public Employers (including all cities, towns, public schools, fire/water or health districts, housing authorities, state agencies, state colleges and universities). Restrictions also apply to federal grant funded positions with a Massachusetts Public Employer.
Public sector employment for retirees is limited to both aggregate hours and earnings per calendar year. Hours of compensated work are limited to an aggregate of 960 hours per calendar year. Earnings are limited to the difference between your retirement allowance and the compensation paid for the position you retired from. For example, if the position you retired from currently pays $30,000 and your retirement allowance is $20,000, you are limited to the difference - $10,000 of earnings from public sector employment in a calendar year. The rationale – as a public sector retiree, you cannot be compensated (from public funds) more than you would have received had you continued working in the position from which you retired. You, the retiree, are responsible for monitoring your aggregate hours and compensation from all public sector employment. You must cease all public employment when either limit is reached. If you exceed either limitation, you will be subject to reimbursement of all compensation in excess of limits or you must waive receipt of your retirement allowance for the period of re-employment with any public sector employer(s).
For regular “Superannuation” retirees (i.e. regular age/service based retirements) post-retirement employment in the private sector is not subject to restrictions.
For “Disability” retirees all post-retirement earning including private sector earnings are subject to restrictions.
Claudia Maguder - School Department
Joseph Tardif - Lawrence Housing Authority
Catherine DiFiore - Lawrence Housing Authority
Jean Pau l Carrier - Department of Public Works
Sean M cCarthy - Cemetery
Arthur Hayes - Lawrence Housing Authority
James DiZoglio - Lawrence Housing Authority
Henry Berube - Department of Public Works
Orlando Salazar - Community Development
