Missed the boat for Tier 1
To the Editor:
I am writing this letter for myself and other PEF members who were eligible for state pension Tier 1, but were not asked to join the retirement system and ultimately were declined admission to Tier 1 when we applied. In most cases, the window that would have allowed us to enter Tier 1 had already closed.
So what is unfair about this scenario? Some folks who were never asked to join the retirement system were admitted.
Who wouldn’t want to be reinstated into Tier1? No one I know. It was unfair the public was not properly made aware of this opportunity offered by the retirement system in the early 1990s.
I never saw a memo circulated or a posting on our bulletin board. I first found out about the window in February 2001. That is five or more years after the window had closed.
I work for the state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (formerly the Department of Social Services) and in February 2001 it was brought to my attention that one could apply for reinstatement into Tier 1. All one needed to do was prove prior qualifying employment. I contacted my former employer, assembled all my records, got the necessary signatures and, of course, was declined reinstatement.
It is not at all fair that some people cannot get admitted to Tier 1 when they qualify just as equally as those who were reinstated before 1996. A window to allow Tier 1 reinstatement must be re-opened, even for a short time, to give those of us who worked under Tier 1 what we
fairly deserve.
I understand that Bill No. S.4298B, A.6800B sponsored by Sen. Joseph Robach and Assembly Member Peter Abbate Jr. is addressing this issue. I would like to know The Communicator’s view on this topic as well.
JOSEPH DISALVATORE
Schenectady
Editor’s Note: The bill numbers mentioned above were for “Retroactive Membership” legislation introduced in 2004 which would have allowed someone who was originally eligible for Tier 1, but never invited to join, to apply for and receive retroactive membership in Tier 1. PEF supported this legislation, but it was not passed in 2004 and has not been reintroduced, so far, in 2005. Similar legislation was passed by the Senate and Assembly in 1998, but was vetoed.
A law was enacted in 1999 which allows someone who was previously a member of Tier 1, but who left state service and then returned as a member of another tier, to apply for and receive reinstatement to Tier 1. There is no time limit on when you can apply for reinstatement to Tier 1 if you were previously a member of it.
Tier equity his top priority
To the Editor:
A retirement issue that needs to receive PEF’s highest priority is state legislative bill A.7445. This bill addresses most state pension Tier 3 members’ and some Tier 4 members’ needs for compensation after contributing 3 percent of their salaries to the NYS Retirement system for more that 10 years, and possibly as long as 24 years.
While members of Tiers 1 and 2 were greatly rewarded with two years of service credit after contributing nothing to the system, and newer Tier 4 members are being required to contribute for only 10 years, it appears that most Tier 3 and some Tier 4 members did not receive equal benefits.
I believe PEF needs to consider taking serious action on this matter which affects a large number of its members, many of whom are nearing retirement.
To achieve tier equity for all its members, PEF should seek for these Tier 3 and 4 members a refund of their contributions exceeding the 10 years, or service credits that would be the monetary equivalent.
Almost five years have passed since the unequal benefit was given out; please do not wait any longer to seriously address this issue.
TIMOTHY J. PARKER
Syracuse
Editor’s note: PEF continues to seek tier equity for all of its members and supports legislation to achieve that goal. For more information,
see article on pending legislation.
The Communicator
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Public Employees Federation
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Albany, N.Y. 12212-2414
Editor of The Communicator
Sherry Halbrook, - shalbrook@pef.org
The
Communicator June 2005
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