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Founded in 1968, now in its 52nd year of serving retired Massachusetts public employees of the 104 public retirement systems within the Commonwealth, the Association is widely recognized as one of the strongest independent advocacy groups on Beacon Hill. From public pensions and health insurance, to federal issues such as the Social Security Windfall Elimination Provision, Government Pension Offset and Medicare the Association leads the fight exclusively for all Massachusetts retired public employees. We are The Voice of the Retired Public Employee.

House Approves Largest COLA Increase Since 1992

Local Retirement Systems Empowered to Increase COLA Up To 5%

APRIL 27, 2022: Today, the Massachusetts House of Representatives unanimously approved a 5% increase in the FY23 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for State and...

COLA improvements pending before House

APRIL 22, 2022: After nearly a year of preparation by our Association, debate is about to begin in the House of Representatives on proposals that would make improvements to the annual COLA benefit paid to public retirees. Mass Retirees has sponsored two amendments to...

House FY23 Budget Contains 3% State and Teacher COLA

Amendments Filed to Improve COLA Benefits

APRIL 19, 2022: On Wednesday the House released their version of the Fiscal Year 2023 state budget. This marks the next stage of the budget process, which began in January when Governor Baker filed his...

Very exciting news to share

Weekly Update 4/8/2022: It is always a great day when we can share good news with our members. Since I have two pieces of very positive news to share, I suppose it makes today exceptionally good!

For starters, our in-person AREA MEETINGS ARE BACK! After not...


Experts Expect Stronger Focus on Medicare Price Negotiation Over Drug Importation if Biden Wins	Inside Health Policy
With Washington Deadlocked on Aid, States Face Dire Fiscal Crises	New York Times
State Lawmakers Reach Compromise On $43.1 Billion State Budget	State House News Service
Sound, Fury and Prescription Drugs	New York Times
Once Again State Pension Fund One of the Best	Boston Globe

Latest Articles from The Voice

UNICARE’S INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO BETTER HEALTH CARE

The Shift to Whole Person Health

March 2022 Voice:

As healthcare costs have continued to rise, a major focus of Mass Retirees has been to look for and promote new ideas and solutions aimed at maintaining our members’ health while taking steps to keep insurance costs down.

New WEP/GPO Proposals

Four Bills Now Pending Before the House

Janaury 2022 Voice: Over the course of a week, spanning late October into early November, the number of bills pending before the US House of Representatives to either repeal or reform the Social Security Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) doubled.

The introduction of two new bills to reform the WEP or fully repeal both the WEP and GPO are proof that our national efforts to draw attention to these issues are working – albeit slower than anyone would prefer!

COLA: Rising Inflation Adds to Urgency

Janaury 2022 Voice: In the past two editions of The Voice, we documented the outstanding long-term investment success of our Massachusetts public pension systems and our belief that the success can and should be shared with retirees by way of improved COLA benefits.

However, there is also a downside to a white-hot economy – Inflation!

President's Message: Share the Success!

September 2021 Voice: There is no question that the tremendous investment success of the Commonwealth and local retirement systems should be celebrated. When modern pension funding schedules were implemented in the mid-1980s, no one could have envisioned the high level of asset gains that would come to fruition over the ensuing 36 years.

Retirees

Public Employees

Ralph White Since 1968 the Retired State, County and Municipal Employees Association has been the leading voice for Massachusetts public retirees and their families. Join with our 52,000 members as we continue the fight.