Adopts Association's Proposal

JULY 2010 VOICE: At a time when much of the public focus has centered on reducing the pension benefits of future retirees, the state Senate moved toward balancing the debate by unexpectedly passing amendments to its Municipal Relief bill and FY11 budget that adopts the Association's legislative proposal (S1044) increasing the minimum pensions of survivors.

The amendments, sponsored by Senator Ken Donnelly (D-Arlington) who is S1044's lead sponsor, increase the minimum pension for  Section 101 survivors of disability retirees (retired prior to November 1996) from the current $6,000 to a new $9,000. Also included are widows of employees, who dying of non-work related causes, who will see their basic benefit increased from $3,000 to $6,000. It is automatic for the state/teachers systems and is subject to local acceptance.

"When Ken Donnelly approached us about offering our survivors' legislation as an amendment to the Municipal Relief Act, we figured success was a long shot at best," said Association General Counsel Bill Rehrey, who worked closely with Donnelly and his staff on the amendment. "But the Senator was adamant that these survivors were being forgotten by time and convinced the Senate Leadership to act."

According to the State Board of Retirement, there are approximately 447 disability widows receiving pensions under M.G.L. Chapter 32, Section 101. These widows are survivors of accidental disability retirees, who did not die as a result of their disability, but of an unrelated cause. The last increase for these survivors came in 1995.

The minimum pension for survivors of active employees, who pass away from a non-work related cause, was last increased in 1984 - twenty-six years ago! There are so few people receiving the minimum amount that retirement systems do not track it as a separate category within their records.

Since the survivors' amendment was not contained in the Municipal Relief or FY11 Budget bills passed by the House in April, this section is subject to negotiations before the Conference Committee. As we go to press in early June, the conferees remain locked in negotiations, formulating a final version of the bill.

"We are hopeful that the House will see the wisdom of this amendment and agree to keep it in the final version of the bill or budget to be sent to the governor, which will likely occur in late June. This has been many years in the making and these folks, mostly women, could really use the small boost this will provide," said Association President Ralph White.