News & Tweets

Breakfast with Legislators Jan. 19, 2023

Saturday, February 4

10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Legislative Office Building

300 Capitol Avenue, Room 1A, Hartford

Parking is free at the LOB Parking Garage located behind the building. Coffee and refreshments will be served. Register here!

Ridgefield “BACK HOME” MEETING 2023

Zoom: Tuesday, February 7, 2023 from 6:00-7:30 pm

How can your voice be heard and used to shape the legislative priorities to support our schools, teachers and students?

What is this?
- Those elected officials that represent Ridgefield in Hartford (in the General Assembly) come “Back Home” to visit and hear what is on our minds
  - Aimee Berger-Gervalo, Keith Denning, Julie Kushner, Ceci Maher
- CEA has organized this opportunity for Ridgefield teachers to have their ear and share with them what teaching in Ridgefield is like these days - our challenges, needs, and successes.
Where and when is the meeting?
- Zoom meeting on Tuesday, February 7, 2023 from 6:00-7:30 pm
Why should I volunteer to participate?
- These elected officials are at the start of this year’s legislative session, and will make important decisions about State spending.
- Your voice needs to be heard to help them keep teacher priorities in mind as they navigate that process. Money makes policy happen!
How do I sign up?
- Fill out this google form if you would like to participate in the “Back Home” zoom event.
- Please submit by January 31st!

If you have questions about this event, please email Carla Kahlbaugh: nea-r-legislativechair@ridgefieldnea.com

NEA-R Thanks.mp4

Explore the facts about our candidates!

Teacher Appreciation Game

Legislative Information

The WEP and the GPO – Who is Responsible?

The Power of Congress and Your Money in Retirement

One issue dear to every teacher is protecting their retirement earnings. Life may command our

immediate attention day to day, but we also look ahead to a time when we can choose to stop working with adequate savings to fund our retirement lives! Our pensions are essential to our future financial security and as such, are an important benefit of our employment.

How about Social Security? Isn’t that supposed to be another source of retirement income? Well, as a teacher in Connecticut, maybe not so much. Because Connecticut teachers do not pay into Social Security, a person whose only employment has been as a teacher in Connecticut should not expect to collect Social Security upon retirement.

But what about those of us who have worked other jobs, even had other careers, and have paid into Social Security through that employment? Doesn’t this mean we will get a Social Security benefit in addition to our CT teacher pension? Get ready, this will hurt: the answer to that question is also maybe not so much.

Argh! If you haven’t already heard, “welcome” to the WEP and the GPO! Congress passed an act in 1983 that created the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) which can greatly reduce, though not entirely eliminate, your Social Security benefit. Congress also created the Government Pension Offset (GPO) which likewise reduces or eliminates your Social Security spousal/survivor benefits. Both of these acts specifically – and negatively - impact us as recipients of CT teacher pensions. Not surprised, but angered? You may have been cautioned about this already on your annual Social Security statement. Is there anything that can be done?

Well, yes: what Congress enacts, Congress can also reverse and overturn. Bills proposing a Social Security Fairness Act, which would fully repeal both the WEP and the GPO, have been introduced in both the House and Senate.

Four of the five representatives from CT are co-sponsors of the House bill (Courtney, DeLauro, Hayes, Himes), and both of our senators are co-sponsors of the Senate bill (Blumenthal, Murphy).

You can find much more information on this issue here at nea.org.

You can take direct action, too!

Let your Congress and senators' representatives know this issue is important to you. Email them, and continue to help them keep your priority as their priority, too.

And use your vote! Investigate the position the challengers are taking on this issue.

Keep this issue in mind when you vote in November!

Contributed by Carla Kahlbaugh

Share your voice to CEA’s five new work groups

to impact the everyday of

teachers, students, and our schools.

CEA is creating five work groups to begin addressing key areas affecting our schools each day:

Special Education
Service Providers
LGBTQ+
Recruitment and Retention
Teacher Wellness

Members are welcome to join any of the five groups to discuss, with colleagues from around the state, core issues, solutions, and ultimately make recommendations to CEA’s Board of Directors. All groups will meet virtually at least 4 times this year. If you are interested, please register here

CT Essential Workers

COVID-19 Assistance Fund

This fund is available to CT teachers if you were a resident of CT between March 10, 2020, and July 20, 2021, and contracted covid during this time AND can answer yes to one of the following:

lost wages due to inability to work after Covid-19 diagnosis or related illness,
had out of pocket medical expenses due to Covid 19 or related illness or
had a relative or family member who was an essential worker that died as a result of covid 19 between March 10, 2020, and July 20, 2021.

For more information and to apply for the assistance fund, click here

Sept. 22, 2022