This page is to keep you, as a Massachusetts teacher, a retired Massachusetts teacher, or a senior citizen informed as to filed legislation that affects you personally and professionally. More importantly, it is my intent to let you know what you can and should be doing at a given stage to help to pass or to defeat a piece of legislation.
Successfully passed is increasing the number of hours one retiring from a public sector job in MA and returning to a public sector job in MA. Those hours have been increased from 960 hours to 1200 hours. This is calculated on a calendar year not a contract year.
Also, we successfully passed the increase in the Estate Tax Exclusion from $1M to $2M and got rid off the cliff Effect which sent back to $40,000 the exclusion amount if you went over the exclusion no matter by how little. The new law excludes $2M and the estate only pays on the amount above the $2M. This saves your estate between $33,000-$99,000.
We also got an increase in the circuit breaker amount and the renter's amount they could deduct from state tax.
H2505 filed by Rep. Dan Donahue(16th Worcester) and S.1638 filed by Senator Julian Cyr(Cape and the Islands). Both bills have the same language. These bills increase the COLA Base. These bills would increase the COLA Base from its present $13,000 to $18,000 in 2023.
In 2024 the COLA Base would be increased to 65% of the Social Security Benefits for those retired at their Full Retirement Age (FRA) under Social Security (the base would be in the high $20,000 range):
In 2029 the Cola Base would be increased to 75% of the Social Security Benefits for those retired at their FRA under Social Security (the base would be in the low $30,000 range):
In 2033 the Cola Base would be increased to 85% of the Social Security Benefits for those retired at their FRA under Social Security (the base would be in the mid $30,000 range):
In 2037 the Cola Base would be increased to 95% of the Social Security Benefits for those retired at their FRA under Social Security (the base would be in the high $30,000 range):
In 2041 the Cola Base would be increased to 100% of the Social Security Benefits for those retired at their FRA under Social Security (the base would be in the low $40,000 range). Assigned to Public Service.
COLA Base increased to $13,000 as a result of Pension Reform Bill April 2012
This Veterans Bill allows those who were retired prior to July 24, 1996 to be able to add to their creditable service up to four years of their military service provided they do not exceed 80%. All these bills have been referred to the Joint Committee on Veteran's and Federal Affairs
A bill that would allow those retired prior to July 24, 1996 and were veterans to receive up to 4 years toward their creditable service providing they do not exceed 80%. If the original bill was to acknowledge the service one rendered for one’s country how could those who rendered the service but were retired be ignored? There are a less than 1200 men and woman classified as veterans, according to the MTRS, still alive who were forgotten when this bill was passed. The best way for each of us to show we appreciate the service they unselfishly gave is to call our Reps and Senators and ask them to support all the way to the Governor’s desk these bills. Please also call your local Veteran’s Agent and ask them to support this measure. It is a small thing we can do for these fine people who did so much for us. Don’t put off making these calls, as they did not put off the call to serve. $1,850 would be the average increase to their pension. This bill has been sent to the Joint Committee on Veteran's and Federal Affairs.
Massachusetts Retirees alone asked to have filed and worked to get passed became law on April 2, 2012. You had to self- identify if this applied to you. If any of the following items apply to you and you are a retired teacher of the Massachusetts Teachers’ Retirement System or a teacher of the Boston Retirement System contact your respective retirement system immediately or Marie Ardito at mardito@retireesunited.org.
Applies to those Retired Prior to September 2000 and at less than 80%
Follows Criteria of Active Teachers’ Maternity Bill
Has No Buy-In as IRS will not allow us to contribute to our pension fund once retired. We are not asking that the bill be made retroactive to Sept. 2000, as retirees amply paid for the benefit.
Affects those who left a Massachusetts classroom prior to January 1975 and had a child within nine months of leaving
Must have returned to teaching in Massachusetts.
Maternity Bill passed and signed by the Governor became law April 2, 2012. Great job Massachusetts Retirees United!
Also passed in 2012, solely at the request of the Massachusetts Retirees United, was a bill filed by Senator Michael J. Rodrigues that would increase by $15,000 the amount that a retiree could earn in a calendar year. It was included in the Senate version of the Pension Reform Bill and became law on April 2, 2012. PERAC added that one had to be retired one full calendar year before receiving this benefit.
H2475 and H2560 An Act Relative to certain Option B/ Option C retirees. Would increase by 4% for those who took Option B and 12% for those who took Option C allowances and retired prior to Julty 2004. This increase is based on the amount of the pension at the time one retires minus any future COLAs. These bills assigned to Public Service.
S. 1629 filed by Senator Brendan Creighton and H. 2487 filed by Rep. Mark Cusick. Both have same language in that they would increase the pensions of those retired more than 15 years by $100 and those retired more than 20 years the increase would be $200. Assigned to Public Service